Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1847-11-19
TTT RICHMOND ENQUIRER,


til, assembled thousands. II had rained all the
morning and everything looked Novembcrlsh.-
The fourth es,ale represented BY gentlemen rom
Louisville and The writer hereof had obained
comfortable seals al a table on The platform, win
pen,, ink aud paper, all ready, when Mr. Clay
came forward, and stated that he was opposed 10
any report OF his speech being taken, a. ne hao
been so frequently misEepTcsencd; ana mat NE IN
tended 10 have printed under his Own sGpersis-
ion, and wouli furnish copies then 10 all. In rain
We demonstrated aud offered 10 allow him 10 re.
wise our notes. The fiat had gone forth, and ne
declared that il We persisted in reporting, he
would not speak mention these circumstances
in order that you may account for the slight
sketch only which have deemed il proper 10 give.
Gen. Leslie Coombs called the meeting TO OF
der, and hoped that perfect silence might be Oh
served as il was probably line last time that The
lus,rious individual now before them, would eY-
er address populous assembly, and ne had re-
solved IL do il on This occasion, from high sense
oil duty 10 himself and the country. The mo-
menlous question now presented 10 the American
people, Of annexation by conquest or purchase,
immense foreign territory inhabited by millions
of people Of different races and colors, and rlac-
ing them on al equal footing with the free white
ciliz-ns Of this republic, permitted no man VINO
loved his country 10 remain silent, and Henry
Clay would have been unworthy oil his paaI his
tory il he had allowed any selfish considerations
TO palsy his tongue. lie had rather be right
than be President"
On motion OF Gen. CooMss, The Hon. w. Ro-
BlssoS was appointed President, with a long ar
ray OF Vice Presidents and Secretaries.
Mr.. Clay then rose and submitted his rcsolu-
tions. They are Of The deepest interest and i'm
porlancr, as they imbody the text or principles q
his great speech.
In the commencement, OF his remarks upon
these resolutions, Nj. Clay again stated his Oh
eclions 10 having them reported and made &C.
neraliy known, uni, they had undci gone his o%n
supervision, as The sutjecl upon which bc was
abuu 10 speak was one upon which he wished
not 10 be misunderstood lie then proceeded 10
compare the gloomy state Of The weather 10 The
present condition Of The country. We are now,
he SD, engaged in bloody var, that most desc
lating Of lerrors, which, when associated with
peslilence and famine, was placed in The foremost
rank. Many persons had compared the oppo-
nenls OF The present war with those who had OPP
posed the war oil 1912 with Great Britain, but he
denied hat such comparison was just. In 1872
the war was one which originated On our part
from The aeglessols Of England. Il was a
war whose objects were most empha;ica'ly
and truly summed up in these few words
Free Trade and Sailors Rights" We
sought 10 defend our sailor, from being drag
eed from our ships, ami being compelled 10
fight against their country; il was war BY
which, in amily with one another, We sought 10
preserve our rights upon the high seas, aud no; 10
allow Great Britain Ia sweep us OF. This was
4 war Of Inc peoplc-lhey wi!lrd il. and they were
in favor OF is being carried on. He spoke from
actual knowledge, when he stated that Mr.. Madi-
son was personally opposed 10 the war Of 1912 =
How would the p esent war contrast with that
For what object was il declaredl II was created
by The acl OF Mr. Polk, ratified, il is true, BY he
act Of Congress. Ii was created in consequence
Of the order o! The President 10 Gen. Taylor 10
march upoa the Rio Bravo, 10 point opposite
Ma,amoras The President acted thus while
Congress was in session, Willou, consulting that
body when, however, supplies were asked Tor
our army, ard is dangerous condition stated
Congress voted, Wings and all, (and in this they
did as he would have done, the necessary sup.
plies Bul they were wrong; and never, 50 help
him God would he have done so-lhey were
wrong in voting for what they knew 10 he lie
;ha, war exs ed by The act Of Mexico. ST
great was his regard for truth, that sooner
than subscribe TO such falsehood, he would
lay down lie Itself They had been warned
when The annexation Of Texa, was first mooled
that il they took Texas they wond have 10 take
her wars. The assertion was hooled al; no such
fears, il was declared, need be enlerlained il was
said The boundaries could all be amicably settled
What however, was the iact} Was not The pre-
sent war The consequence Of boundary disputes
AT the very time when our army was ordered te
march into Matamoras TO lake possession Of Int
disputed boundary, Mr.. Sldell was on his way
10 The civ o! Mexico 10 enter into negotiations
Tor The settlement Of The question Why not have
waited until Mr.. Slitcis mission had been !ul
4, hoj IL M 1ypr IN
that the Wigs were the enemies Of The country
for speaking against the war-ihat they had Dc
serted her Was This the case2 Have not IN;
Wings been d. psonincnt in lighting on the BLOODY
fel!s OF Mexico as the Democrats? Have they
noi spilled their blood as trcey2
War now exists, bu, We have made no secara
lion The objects ot that var! il therefore behove
Congress 10 declare what are the objects, AMI up
on what terms the war with Mexico will CEASE
In monarches, The var making power is vesieC
in the kIng-in this country il rests with The pco
PIE, through their representatives in Congress
This is distinctly avoucd in The Constitution. |
is true the Presidenl has the power Of making
treaties, bu. they arr always formed upon an &C
or resolutions Of Congress. lie referred 10 lht
resolutions cgarding reciprocity, and upon which
some ten or dozen treaties have since been ioun
ded II, therefore, in such comparatively unim
por,ant subjects as trade and commerce, The Pre-
sident takes his instructions from he people, how
much stronger is the argument when applied Il
the proongaton OF war. If it remains silently
with The President when war is once declared, Il
say what are its objects and when i, shall stop
then may you call Re President by what nam,
you please-hc is in effect as powerful as Cesar
an Emperor, King! You give 10 one mar
power that the constitution never contemplated
MIR. Clay continued 10 dilate al considerable
length upon this topic, expressing j, as his con
viclon that Congress should declare al The com
ing session what are the objects OF The war, ant
what should be The conditions CT peace. II iht
President then remained opposed 10 treaty up
on The Terms prescribed, there was way b.
which even ac could be reached, and be made I,
feel that the peoples will governed he meant By
mpeachmenl. MIR. Clay said he was opposed
entirely TO annexing Mexican territory. One
half oil the millions Of acres We had already We
did not want. Ii Congress would be pacifeo
with certain limits establishing, where they con
coded, the proper boundaries Of Texas, he die
| no, believe the President would refuse TO acceds
10 their wishes; he was already half tired Of The
| war, and would, doub less, be glad enough L
adopt any plans b. which peace would be re-
stored. AZ 10 any difficulty which would occur il
settling boundary line, he would be willing to
| undertake. in sixty hours 10 secure cooperation
| The truth was, alr. Polk imagined, when Mata
moras lell, the hcSicans would succumb Suct
has been The expectations after every battle; bu
now, even when We are in The halls Of the Mon
,ezuma> We appear 10 be As far as ever from on
| jec,. He referred 10 the Spanish character a
evidence, in their struggles Tor 500 years with hi
Moors in SPAN. He spoke OF the absurlily o
asking indemnify for our losses Of people W.T.
had nothing 10 give US. As 10 anneIing, lie COZ
siered i. would be lille shor, Of madness to IL
troduce eight or nine millions Of people, speak
ing different language and possessing differ
eni religion, amnngsl US, TO assist in governin!
our Republic. Suppose, said he, they would nc
| choose 10 send delegates, can we appoint them
! Would ha, be carrying ou GU. Constitution
which declares that every citizen shall have
! voice ia governing himself
I Mr. Cay avowed himself IL be strongly or
nosed 10 the extension Of slavery, teporcd is e.
| slcnce, hut remarked il as universal evil
lie considered lhc refusal 10 accepi rev lcrri!or
As The best means q anes,ing The difficulties Tia
surrounded this important bat delicate subject.
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