Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1841-1853, 1847-12-10
Correspondence Of the Indiana State Sentinel

Mr.. Cay'S speech, fully reported and prepared Tor
the press by himself has been the almost exclusive
subject of remark, for the last week, in Washington
II will be adopted by the politicians and editors of
his party, throughout the country, with very few ex
captions.
Lord Morpeth remarked. Immediately upon the
peal of the English corn laws that he should always
have respect for rotten potatoe; because it had
struck the shackles of protection from the toll and
labor of an empire. Although | am not in the habit
of borrowing either ideas or expressions from an ad
vocate of Monarchica government, yet | cannot
sist the remark that similar feeling prevails with
me, for the great embodiment of wing principles he
never makes political speech, the perusal of which
does not confirm me, more and MORE in the princ-
Piles of democracy, and increase my opposition has
principles Of federalism.
Some editors and others seem astonshed that such
a great statesman and experienced politician Mr..
Clay. should appear before the American people, the
open and avowed advocate of the public enemy of his
country; and, as a ground for their astonshment,
appeal to the speeches he made, and the course he
pursued In Congress, upon the question Of the late
war with Great Britain, in 1872; and ask how he
be inconsistent with that former course, and
the speeches he there made, in many of which he
pronounced the very expressions he adopts, to
be, in Others who then uttered them, moral treason.
Such men may, perhaps, find aid in the solution
of the problem, by bearing in mind the old ''appeal
from Philip drunk to Philip sober - or the marked
difference between Mr. Clay ,ohig. and Mr.. Clay
democrat Inconsistency of Henry Clay Why he
has nothing else in bis character; unless except his
the United States. Who, conversant with the pO-
ltical history of his country any greater in
consistency in Mr. Cay's friendship for bis country
in 1912, when he democrat, and his enmity for
her now, when he is wing, than he can see in that
politicians upon the Bank question He then
pronounced such establishment unconstitutional
and inexpedent: he pronounces the same con-
Germ both constitutional and highly expedient. He
was then democrat: he is nol0 wbig and to this
cause must be referred the difference, and explained
the mystery.
While place great confidence In the sober second
thought of the people mass, am precisely the
reverse with individuals: with the latter think the
very first impulse of the heart, is the honest
subsequent opinions can be made up with an admix-
ture of craftiness. What was the first impulse of
Mr. Clays heart upon hearing of the invasion of our
soi and the murder of our citizens by the Mexcans!
That expression is record, and he cannot rub it
out nor make the honest people of the country forget
it. He wished, old as he was, that he could find
some corner even in this war, where he might Kill
a Merican.'' He made this remark in a speech that
he delivered at New Orleans, at public dinner and,
admitting that, prior to his taking the floor the
h., 4bo -
have done at temperance meeting; STILL reader, do
you believe that he was little too much "stowed
by the head to know what he was about! Do you
believe that he was not rational when he made that
remark Do you believe he then, upon the first hon.
est impulse of his heart before he had time work
out the upon the principles of loss and gain, be-
eved this to be just the part of Mexico, and
unjust on our part, he said, than year af-
ter at Lexington, in speech intended for nothing
earth, but to get the votes of the abotionists
the next presidential electonl
So far from being astonished, that Henry Clay is
opposed to this war, and declares it unconstitutional
unjust unholy, and wicked on part; SO far from
being astOnished, that he pronounces it war our
part of rapacity, rapine, conquest and aggrandze-
ment, and one that brought by our govern
zneat instead Of Merico; am not at all astonished
that the whig party Ii. e. its leaders, editors, and
politicans) entertain the same view Men, whose
souls entirely wrapped up in the acquisition of
money, Offices, both, are not in favor of war; under
any circumstances whatever. They ,couH be, if none
of the new Offices created thereby, were fighting off
ces have often been told here, by wings, that, if
Henry Clay had been elected President in 1874, in
g ToI
Mexico. In this, l believe they right; and
have always conceded the point. If Mr. c. had been
elected have no doubt but ne would have acknosCl-
edged to Mexico, that people committed very
henlous crime when they received without her con-
sent, of the independent powers of the earth into
our Union. He would have yielded to all her de-
mands, to the retrocession of Texas and pray,
what nation could not, upon such terms, preserve
peace with her neghbors, and avert the horrors of
war! Our revolutionary patriots, who fought and
bed and suffered for eight long years. to achieve our
independence, might, upon suc principles, have saw
ed their lives, their money, and their property; and
the same remark applies TO our difficulties with Great
Britain, that resulted in the of 1912.
Surrender all your rights, and you will never have
difficulty with any one; but cannot consider it,
for the life of me, very manly way of avoiding diff
cutes
! If had the faculty of being sarcastic, or had a
relish for it, would devote few lines to the pietg
of Mr. Clay's speech bat he has admirers that vii
attend to that, without my poor aid; and l accord
ngly pass the privilege over to them, with full as
surance, that it will not be neglected. | think in
fact, it is their duty to eulogize pious treason.
i G.. w. K.
p 8 I am under rnanv ohlioations tn vou for tbs