The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1847-11-24
THE GREAT SPEECH
THE
Ill ON. III en- RY CLAY,
AT THE
M a s 8 M = y = 7 N q
Lexington, Kentucky,
ON SATURDAY., NOVEMBER Ii, Is47.

Lexington, Kentucky,
ON SATURDAY, NOVEMBER Ii, Is47.
After the organization of the meeting Mr. CALY rose
and addressed Il, SUBSTANTIALLY, as follows
LADIES AND GENTLEMEN
The day Ia dark and gloomy, unsettled aud uncertain,
like the condition OF our country Ia regard to the un
natural with Mexico The public mind Is sgitated
to it's indefinite continuance and especially to the
quences which its termination may bring forth
menscirg the harmony, If not the existence, Of our
Union.
1t is under these circumstances present myself be-
fore you. No ordinary occasion would have drawn
from the retirement in which live; but whilst single
pusation of the human heart remains 1t should, II
cesary be dedicated to the service Of ones country
And have hoped that, although am private and
humble citizen expression Of the views and opinions
entertain might form little addition to the gene
raj stock of information and afford small assistance in
which surroundit.
have come here with purpose to attempt to make
have brought with me no rhetorical bouquets to
ioto this assembage In the circle Of the autumn
has come and the season Of flowers has passed away
progress of years, spring time has gone by,
and too in the autumn Of life and feel the frost Of
age My desire and aim to address you, earnestly
calmly seriously and plainly, upon the grave and mo-
msntous subject which have brought together And
am most solcitous that not solitary word may fall
from offensive to any party or person in the whole
extent of the Union
War, pestence, and famine, by the co mmon consent
Of mankind the three greatest caamties which
stands aud in front Pestilence and famine
doubt for wise although inscrutabe purposes are nc
ons OF Providence to which 1t Ia duty, therefore,
10 bow with obedience humble submission and resigna
ton Their duration not long, and their ravages
limited They bring, indeed great aficton whilst they
last but society from their effects. War
is the voluntary work Of own hands and whatever
reproaohes it may deserve should be directed to
selves When it breaks out, its duration Is indefinite
and uuknown-its vcisstudes hidden from our
view In the sacrifice of life and in the waste Of
human treasure 10 Its losses aud in its burthenr 1t
taty m
ged bodies Of DEATH and OF desoation endure long az
ter It's thundsrs hushed in peace. War unhinges
society disurbs its peaceful and regular industry, and
scatters poisonous seeds Of disease and immortality,
which continue to terminate and diuse their Danefu
ter pomp aad psgeantry, 1t begets spirit of wild ad
venture and romantic enterprise and often dsqualaes
those who embark in it, after their return from the
bloody fields Of battle, from engagngin the industrious
and peaceful vooatons Of lite
We ara informed by statement, which is apparently
correct, that the number of our countrymen slain
ths Mexican war, although it has yet been
only IL months existence ID equal to half Of the
whole of the American loss during the seven years war
of the Revolution. And venture to assert that the
penditure of treasure which 1t has occasoned when 1t
shall be fairly asosrtained and footed up will be
Of Independence. And this Is the condition Of
the party whose have been every where and CON-
How did We unhsppily get involved in this war, It
predicted the consequences Of the annexation Of
Texas to the United States II we had not Texas,
event happened, would They told that
the between Texas and Mexico had not been term
Texa. ~ revoted province; and that, We received
Texas In Union took along with her, the
listing between her and Mexico And the Minister Of
Mexico formally announced to the Government at Wash
ington that his nation would consider the annexation
of Texas the United States producing state Of
atien They insisted should have war, and even
imputed to those who foretold It, sinister motives for their
groundless prediction.
ly resulted from the fact Of annexation Of Of the
bsigsrsis the United States actual hosttiss might
been probably averted, by prudence, moderation
and wise statesmanship. II General Taylor had been
permitted to remain, where his own good sense prompt
ed him believe he ought to remain at the poiat Of
Corpus Christi; and II negotiation had been opened
with Mexico, In true spirit Of amity and concation
possibly might have been prevented But, instead
of this pacific and moderate course, whilst Mr. Sidell
was bending his way to Mexico with his diplomatic
dentss General Taylor ordered to transport his
site Matamoros, on the east bank Of the Rio Bravo
within the very disputed territory, the adjustment Of
which was to be the object OF Mr. shdels mission
What else could have transpired but conflict of
Thus the commenced, and the President after
having produced it. appealed to Congress- bill was
proposed to raise 900 volunteers and In order to
nit all who should vote for it, preamble inserted
falsely atributng the Of the war to the
ao. Of Mexico have no doubt Of the patriotic mo.
that fragrant error found themselves constrained to
for it, But must say that no earthly considers
for bill with pslpabs fAsehood stamped its face
Almost idolizng truth, as do, never, never, could
have voted for that bill
The exceptonsble conduct Of the federal party dur
ing the last British war; has excited influence in the
prosecution Of the present war; and prevented just
discrimination between the two wars That was .
of national Defence required for the vndcaon of the
national rights and honor, and demanded by the indig
nant voice Of the people PRESIDENT Madison himself
know at first and with great doubt and he
station brought himself to the conviction thatt ought
to be declared A leading, and perhaps the most innu
the time of It's declaration opposed to It, But nothing
could Withstand the irresistible force Of public sent
nounced at the time, was, Free trade and sailors
against the intoersbe and oppressive acts Of
esh power on tbs 0cs.n the Iustio: Of the war ar
the federal party which only questioned 1t on conside-
rstions policy Being deliberately and constitution
ally declared il think their duty to have given It
their hearty cooperation. But the mass of them did
not They continued to oppose and thwart It, to dis
General government to march the militia beyond our IL
Iuts, and to hold Hartford convention, which, what
Its real objects, bore the aspect OF seeking
dissolution of the Union itself They lost and justly lost
the public confidence But has not apprehension OF
similar fate, In state OF case widely different, re-
pressed fearless expression Of their real sentiments in
some Of our public menl
How totally variant Is the present war This Ia no
Of defsnce but unnecessary and Of offensive ag
gresson 1t Is Mexico that If defending her re-sidss
her castles and her affairs, and not And how diff
ferent also conduct Of the wing party of the pre-
sent day that Of the msor part of the federal par
~ dur1g the war Of 1912 Far from interpreting any
obstacles to the prosecution Of the IL the wings in
oce reprouchabe OF ALL 1t for having lent too
the objects Of the And, out Of office, who have
rushed TO the OF the with ardor
aud aacriy than the whigsl Whose hearts have bled
more freely than those Of the wings? Who have more
occasion to the loss Of husbands brothers,
fathers than whg parents, whig wives and whig bro
Tiers, Ia his deadly aud Improbable strife
But the havoc Of Is In progress, aud the no less
depotabe havoc Of an nhosptahle and pestilental eli
mate without INDUCING In an unnecessary retrospect
and useless reproachs the past all hearts and heads
should unite 10 the patriotic sndeavor to bring to
satisfactory close Is there no way that this can be
done? Must blindly continue the conflict, without
sny Wis be object any prospect OF definite termina
ti5n This the important subject upon which desire
to consult and commune with you Who In this free
government lie to decide upon the objects Of war, ct
ts commencement ct any time during its existence!
Does the power belong to the nation, In the collective
wisdom OF the nation In Congress assembled or Is 1t
vested solely in single functionary Of the government
A declaration Of war Is the highest and most awful
exercise Of sovereignty The convention which framed
our federal constitution, had learned from the pages Of
history that IL had been often aud greatly abused 1t
had Ii at had often been upon the
most i ans pretexts that 1t had frequently been wa
Qed to establish exclude dynasty to snatch
,f~t. 81 "a tba