The Lancaster gazette. (Lancaster, Ohio) 1846-1852, 1847-11-26
fssAtke 0bserser and Reporter ef NoV 20.
SPEECH OF Mr.. CLAY,
AT THE
MASS M Z ETING
At laxINGTcNT ZE.,
ON SATURDAY., NOVEMBER I3lh, Is47

Ladies and Geaticmea:
The day is dark and gloomy. unsettled
and uncertain, like the condition of our
country. in regard to the unnatural war
with Mexico. The public mind is agI-
tated aud anxious, and is filled with Sc
rious apprehensions as to the indefinite
continuance, and especially as to the con-
seonences which its termination may
bring forth. menacing the harmony if not
the existance, of our Union.
1t is underthese circumstances pre-
sent myself before You. No ordinary
occasion would have drawn me from the
retirement in which live; but, whilst a
single puIsation of the human heart re-
mains, it should, if Unnecessary, be dedica-
ted to the service ofone's country. And
have hoped that, although | am pri-
vate and humble citizen, an expression
of the views and opinions [ entertain,
might firm some little addition to the
general stock of information, and afford
small assistance in delivering our coun-
try from the perils and dangers which
surround it.
have come here with no purpose to at
tempt to make fine speech, or any am
bilious oratoricalGisplaY. Ihaye brought
with me no rhetorical boquets to throw
into this assemblage. III the circle oil
the year, autumn has come, and the sea.
sonof flowers has passed away. In the
progress of years, my spring time has
gone by and too am in the autumn oi
life, and feel the frost Of age. My de.
sire and ann are to address you earnest.
ly, seriously aud plainly, upon the grave
and momentous subjects which have
brought US together. And am most So
licitous that not solitary word may fal
from me, offensive to any party or person
in the whole extent Uf the union.
War, peslilence and famine, by the
common consent Of mankind, are the
three greatest calamities that can befal our
species;and war as the most direlul Justly
stands foremost and IN front. PesliIence
and famine, no doubt for wise although
inscrutable purposes. are iuictions of
Providence, to which il is our duty, there.
fore, to bow with obedience, humble sub.
mission aud resignation. Their dura.
ton is not long and their ravages are
limited. They bring, indeed, great af-
Fiction whilst they last. but society soon
RECEIVERS from their effects. Wai is the
voluntary work of our own hands and
whatever reproaches it may deserve
should be directed to ourselves. When
IL breaks out its duration is indefinite and
unknown..its vicissitudes are hidden from
our view. In the sacrifice of human life,
and in the waste ofhuman treasure, in its
losses and in its burthens, it effects both
bellgerant nations; aud its sad effects of
mangled bodies, Of death, and Of desoa.
lion, endure long after its thundcrs are
hushcd in peace. Warunbinges society,
disturbs lis peaceful and regular indus
try, and scaiters poisonous seeds of dis
ease and immortality. which continue to
germinato and diGTuse their bauefuI innl.
ence long after il has ceased. Dazzling
by It's glitter, pomp and pageanlry, it be-
gets a spirit of wild adventure and ro-
mantle enlerprize, and often disqualifes
those who embark in it, after their return
from the bloody fields of battle from en-.
gaging in the industrious aud peaceful
vocalions ofife.
We are informed by statement which
is apparently correct, that tho number of
our countrymen slain in this lamentable
Mexican war, although it has yet been of
only Is months cxistauce, is equal To one
halfthe whole Of the American loss du.
ring the seven years war Of tbe Reyolu.
tlonl Aud venture To assert that the ex-
penditure oftreasure which it has occa.
stoned, when it shall como to be fairly
ascerainod and footed up, will be found
10 DO more than half ofthe pecuniary cost
Of the war of our independence, And
this is the condition of the party whose
arms have been every whero and con.
stnully victorious!
How did wc unhoppily getinvolvcd in
this warl Il was predicted as the con.
sequence of The annexation of Texas 10
the United States If wo had not Texas.
we should have no war The people
we're told that if that event happened.
war would onsue. Thoy were told Tint
the war between Texas and Mexico had
mol been terminated by a treaty of pence;
that Mexico still claimed Texas as re-
vplted province; and that. if we received
Texas inour Union, we took along will,
her, tho war existing between her and
Mexico. And the Minister of Mexico
formally announced to tho Government
at Washington, that his nation would con
slider the annexation Of Texas to the q.
nited States as producing state of war.
But all this was denied by the partizans
Enumeration. They insisted we should
have no war, and even imputed to those
who foretold il, sinister motives for their
groundless prediction.
But, Notwithstanding a state ofyirtual
war necessarily resulted from the fac, of
the annexation ofihe bclIigerunts to iheU.
States, actual hostilities might have
been probably inverted by prudence. mod
eratinn and wise statesmanship. IfGcn-
eral Taylor had been permitted To re.
main where his own good sense promp.
ted him to believe no ought to remain at
The point Of Corpus Christi and ifa nego-
iintion had been opened with Mexico, in
a true spirit Of amity aud conciialion, war
possibly might have ben prevented.
But instead ofthis pacific aud moderate
course, whilst Mr.. Slidel was bending his