Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1847-12-03


For THE ESPECIAL BENEFIT OF THE FEDE-
RAJ PAPERS OF NORTH CAROLINA WING VS..
WH1C-THE New York COURIER AND Mr..
CLAY-Every one knows that the New York
Courier + Enquirer is the leading Wing pa
per OF the great city of New York, and one OF /
the most influential and ably edited papers
belonging to that party in the United States,
!, Well, what does this leading Wing paper say
of the war, and Mr.. Clay's views OF the war;
t as put forth in his great Lexington speech
and endorsed by the Federal papers OF North
Carolina' In that paper we find long and
= eloquent editorial, devoted to Mr. Clay and
his present position, as defined by his speech
| ard resolutions The Editor, Col. Webb, at
ter stating that he has been the supporter OF
Mr.. Clay since 1882, and after eulogzlng his
s talents and patriotism, makes the following
e remarks with regard to Mr.. Clay's position on
3 the war policy of our government. Now, re-
collect flat the following comes from the pen
: of one of the leading Wing Editors of the
= country-not from s'vile Locofoco.s And here
S We would especially call the attention OF our
: neighhors of the Observer and Chronicle to
: these able and eloquent Wing remarks"
s upon that speech and those resolutions which
n they have so cordially endorsed. We wish
!, our limits would permit US to give the whole
" article -
q 1t is an ungrateful task to review unfavor-
ably speech from one we esteem and admire
: as we do Mr. Clay; but we do not hesitate TO
pronounce his late effort such one as he
r. would never have dreamed of making were he
Y now of the same age as when IN 1912 he no.
r bly sustained the government of his country
u in its war with the mistress of the ocean,
Z That, he very Justly says, "was war OF
lie national defence required for the vindication
N of national rights and honor 5" and yet, at the
very commencement of that war, we invaded
Z Canada, and carried desolaton and death to
Re the homes and affairs of the unofending Cana
er dams who had never harmed US! But this
IN did not make ita war OF aggression or OF con-
:. quest, according TO Mr. Clay and Mr.. Clay
10 is right But when Mexico gives orders to
er her generals to attack the American army
n wherever it may be found in Texas, south of
ne the Sabine; and when, because we go into
~ the disputed territory, the NleXicans cross IN
=, to it also, and make war upon our army, and
II we repulse and follow her beaten forces into
in her own territory, behold it is no longer war
as of defence but one of aggression and conquest!
bo Now, we do not desire to Justify the sending
OF General Taylor to the Rio Grdnde. That
~ was a rash and wicked act; but it gave no
e. justification to Mexico to assa us on the left
oh bank of that river. When she did so assall
~ us, she became the aggressor; and when we
" add to this the historical fact that her generals
aJ had positive orders to invade TEXAS, and drive
ne us north of the Sabine, and were actually pro-
to ceeding to execute thcm-it is, indeed, q
so strange infatuation which denomnates this 9
war of aggression and conquest, and which
l.. in the same breath, proclaims our invasion o.
~ Canada in 1912 war of defence! The peo
M pie do not so understand it. Their instinct:
Ith do not lead them to such conclusions. They
vs know and feel that Mexico struck the frs
: blow; and when they are told that 1t 4
Merico that is detending her fresides, her cas-
he ties, and her AFFAIRS not wc," they fee
90 that it might have been us if we had not, a.
in 1912, carried a defensive war into the enc
ed my's country; and large is their benevo
ND lence, they prefer that it should be as it is
~ rather than that IRE should now be resistin!
en- her intended and proclaimed invasion of gu
Is territory. And when this speech of Mr.. Cla,
er- shall have been read throughout the length
and breadth of this great country, many will b.
Ms. who so nobly stood by his country in 1912
49,, and even to this day defends the invasion o
'"' Canada-should have denounced this war a
we 60 u1naturdl'-a war of &C offensive aggres
lie sion.'' in which Merico, not IRE, is &c defend
pa ing her fresides, her CASTLES, and her AL
g. TARS"-aganst whom? Why, against tn
- gallant and patriotic spirits who have so no
bly, offered up their lives in defence Of thei
,oa countrys honor, and shed upon our arms
halo of glory which has elevated our nationa
VI character in the estimation of the civiliZe
we world, and called forth feeling of gratitud
ich and pride in the bosom of every man who's
Nv, heart is capable of beating in response to chi
:. various deeds and gallant bearing And We
it is Henry Clay who thus characterizes thi
Let war-who thus defends Mexico against tn
we acts of her chivaric invaders-vho thus un
mt Intentionally endorses the abominable senti
ments of the New York Tribune, and wi
~ shortly be quoted by it as sanctioning its de
no. nuncaton of our gallant army as band G
and robbers, plunderers, and murderers, for who's
asi defeat and dispersion that editor and his cola
INV, borers are justified in praying as they have
ny the God of battles
ats We cannot subscribe to such doctrines; w
UGH cannot with all our reverence and respect fc
,ers Mr.. Clay, unite with him in his seeming re
toll Spouse to the heartless assaults upon thos
who have covered our country with glory
IS and in our sympathies for Mexican suferng
We we cannot forget the suferings and death {
en- our own gallant sons. If it be, indeed, We
,or- of conquest and aggression if we have wick
edly assaulted g the firesdes, the castles, an
the ALTERS of Mexico )" if we have robbet
veil plundered, and murdered her peaceful people
- who and what are the men who have Uolu1
'eu' teered to do this devilish work , When tt
out news of the victories of Palo Alto and Resae
lille, de la Palma reached New Orleans, if we mi
the take not, Mr. Clay was there, and avowe
: - that, if younger he would himself uolunte
I u to take part in the war; His gallant son
but so volunteer, and nobly offered up his life fl
his country. But would he have done so,
he had believed that he was waging such
ION war as Mr. Clay describes? Never-neve
will In censuring, as he had right to do, Il
the folly of the Executive in Fastening this wa
NOR and seemingly inviting invasion and attack
~ the march to the Rio Grande, instead of quie
Tie ly waiting for the invasion threatened, inte
lon ded, and aro,red by the Mexican governmer
< to Mr.. Clay has gone too far, and put Next
the altogether in the right, his own country alt
IT. gether in the wrong He has by his speec
ne in our opinion, held out inducements for Me
exl- leo to withhold the peace he SO ardently d
IS is sires; and thus, very nnintentionally, pursu