The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1847-11-16
CITY OF WASHINGTON.
TUESDAY NIGHT, NOV. 10, Is47.
The New Wing Manifesto.--sr. CIay's Resolutions
and Speech.

Webster had already done at Springfield and so far as
the wings concerned the main issues OF principle and
doctrine between the two great parties OF the country
must now be regarded made up, Mr.. Webster's re
cent speech at Springfield is ultra and sectional
than Mr. Clays position, and raises points which
Mr. Clay has not fit to raise; but, far we have
observed, Mr.. Webster has not taken ground IN di-
rect conflict with Mr.. Clay upon single point. Mr..
Clay has evidently done his utmost TO lay down, in his
resolutions partisan platform, broad enough to hold all
the sections of the wing party in national rally; and
we are free to admit that he has shown little ngenui-
ty in the accomplishment OF his task In Judgment,
the wings OF the Union must eventually elect stand
fall together the platform thus laid down This
demonstration at Lexington, considered both in itself
and in reference to the from which it comes evil
IDENTIFY gives prospect of closer and frmer union in the
wing ranks than has yet appeared since the
men of the 1t bchooves the democracy of the
Try, therefore, to give il careful and timely heed.
The main points thus put in issue by Mr.. Clay, by
these Resolutions and their accompanying commentary,
follows:
FIRST That the existing not brought upon us.
affirmed by Congress- by the act of Mexico but that
it was produced by the Executive act of gov
ernment, ordering troops to move towards the Rio
Grande, which order "mprovident and unconstitu
tiona" In relation to this point, Mr. Clay (as repoed)
permits himself to declare that, in voting the WAR
BILL, all the wing Representatives but fourteen and
all the wing Senators but troo, wrongfuy voted "what
they knew TO be LIE-tha the war existed by the act
of Mexico" And he adds, in the most solemn form OF
affirmation that he would never have given such vote
.Secoadlu That the objects and purposes of this war
l. f,,II., IonI in
Mr. Clays judgment, to be declared by Congess) ought
not to embrace the acquisition OF any Mexican territory
but on the contrary only just definition OF the limits
of Texas On this point the concluding part OF the sixth
resolution reads as follows
sWe have no desire for the ACKNOWLEDGMENT the repub
lie OF Mexico but wish only Just and proper xatlon Of
the limits of Texas"
In this connexion Mr. Clay evidently dsclaims all idea
of asking any indemnity from Mexico, for in his speech
he tells us of "the absurdty of asking indemnity for
our losses, of people who have nothing to give u.s."
They have, indeed, nothing to give us, which we
may certainly count, but land; and by idly and gra-
uitousy refusing this, Mr. Clay denies all indemnity
long and so justly due to our suffering caimants-all
indemnity, too, for the expenses of war which Mexico
has unnecessarily provoked-in word, all indemnity
for the past, and all security for the future.
Thrdiy By thus taking ground against the acquisition
of any new territory, Mr. Clay tries to avoid the Pro-
viso issue But it is in appearance only. He substan
tally takes that very ground but in another form; for
if there be territory acquired there can be none Tor
slavery And by this indirect course. he seems disposed
to proptiate the aboonists of the north and some OF
the Proviso men of New York-with what success we
may hereafter. But there is disingenuous posi-
ton he takes, which does him credit. He affects
to disclaim any desire to acquire any foreign ter
ritory for the purpose of propagating or introducing
slavery" upon it, In his last declarations, Mr.. Clay will
find no party and no considerable section Of any party,
at issue with him. Very few maintain that new
territory ought be acquired from Mexico for any such
purpose The avowed purposes and reasons OF the nev
table acquisition of such territory altogether differ
emit And yet by this position he evidently charges the
administration with making this for this purpose, in
order to excite the pejudces of the north against them
and against the war
Certainly no democrat will doubt that, in assuming
these positions in relation 10 the origin and objects OF the
war, Mr.. Clay has placed himself and his party in
an attitude of direct and almost unconceaed opposition
both to the honor and the interest of his govern
ment and on the side of its foreign enemy. 1t is fragrant
dshonor to the American government before the world
for an eminent and influential American statesman to
assert that the responsibility of having produced this
belongs to the public authorities Of this country, and not
to the rulers OF Mexico and that Congress- declaring
the war to exist by the act of Mexico, legsated LIE
IT is direct attack upon high and important interests of
this country-interess the incaluable magnitude OF
which increases and expands in proportion to the
Of craftsmanship with which they
are viewed-to oppose the acquisition of such terrific
rial indemnity as is justly within our grasp, and as
is fully and mperatvey demanded to compensate for
the wrongs and the losses which have borne In
taking these positions, therefore, the whg party plants
itself in direct opposition to the highest instincts and the
most authoritative sentiments of the American people
Yet considering the whole past and present attitude OF
the wings in relation to the war, and the
policy, it is not easy to how they could in
any way avoid these perilous issues, without the
sacrifice OF all party consistency Mr.. Clay, wing
statesman ounl these issues prepared beforehand and
forced upon him by the whole OF his party For
the sure and signal defeat which these issues bring with
Them whenever they shall be tried before the people Mr.
Clay himself cannot fairly be held by his friends TO be
Individually responsible,
But there is another poin, involved in the whole series
of Mr. Clays Resolutions which is beyond question a
capital erroran error too, into which nothing less than
the strange natuaton which has possessed the wing
leaders and controlled their action since the
commenced, could have led so veteran statesman
M a.. f,n ia f,l ,o