The examiner. [volume] (Louisville, Ky.) 1847-1849, 1847-11-20

part from the aggression Of England. II was |
a war whose objects were most emphafically |
and truly sumnled up in these few words:-l
"Freo trade, and Sailors Rights" We sought
TO defend our sailors from being dragged from |
their ships, and compelled % fight against
coun4ry with which we were in ainity' we
sought TO preserve cur rights upon the high
seas. and not allow Great Britain TO sweep us of.
That war WAS war of the people. They will
ed il, and they In favor Of its being carried
on He spoke from actual knowledge, when he
stated that Mr.. Madison was personally opposed
10 the war.
War now exists, but we have made no decia-
ration Of the objects Of that war IL therefore
behooyes Congress to declare what are the OBJ
jects, and upon what terms the war with Mexi--
co will cease. tf
How would the present war contrast with
thatf For what object was II declafedl IL was
created by the act Of Mr.. Polk-rsti6ed 1t is true
by Congress. 1t was created in consequences Of
the order to General Taylor TO march upon the
Rio Bravo, TO point opposite Matamoras. The
President acted thus while Congress was in ses-
sion without consulting that body. When,
however, supplies were asked for our army, and
its dangerous condition stated, Congress voted,
wings and all, land in this they did as he him
But they were wrong in his opinion-and
never, so help him God, wouldhe have done so-
they were wrong in voting for what they knew
| TO be lie,--the preamble Of that bill, which
stated that war existed by the act of Mexico
So great, continued Mr. Clay, was his regard for
truth, that sooner than subscribe to such false
hood, he would lay down life itself
They had been warned when the annexation
Of Texas was first m0oted, that If they took
Il IL. l.
The assertion was hooted at. No such fears
need be entertained, il was said. The bounda-
ries could all be amcably settled What, how
ever, was the fact2 Was not the present war
in consequence Of a boundary disputed AT the
very time when our army was ordered to march
to Matamorss TO take possession of the disputed
boundary. Mr.. Slidell was on his way to the
city Of Mexico to enter into negotiations for the
settlement Of the dispute. Why not have wait
ed till Mr.. Slidell's mission had been full
illedl
1t had been stated over and over again that
the Wings were enemies &C the country, for
speaking against the war--that they deserted
her. Was this the casel Have not the Wings
been as prominent in fighting on the bloody
fields OF Mexico as the Democrats Have they
not spilled their blood as freelyl
In monarches the war-making power is vest
ed in the king. In this country il rests with the
people, through their representatives in Con-
gress. This is distinctly avowed in the Con-
stitution. Ii is true the President has the power
of making treaties; bat they are always foundei
upon acts or resolutions Of Congress. He re-
ferred to the resolution regarding reciprocity
and upon which some ten dozen treaties
have since been founded. IL, therefore, on such
comparatively uuimportant subjects trade and
commerce the President takes his instruction
from the people, how much stronger IN the ar,
gument when applied to the prolongaton OF
war! II it remains solely with the President
when war is once declared, to say when II shall
stop, and what are its objects, then may you
| call the President by what name you please, he
is in effect powerful as Czar, an Emperor
or a King. You give to one man a power thai
the Constitution never contemplated.
Mr., Clay continued TO dilate, at considerable
length, upon this topic;-expressing IL as his
conviction, that Congress should declare, at its
coming session, what are tlie objects Of the
war, and what should be the conditions Of a
peace. If the President then remained opposed
TO treaty, upon the terms specified, there wa
a way by which even he could be reached, anC
made 10 feel that the peoples will gOyerned-hs
meant, By Impeachment.
Mr.. Clay said he was opposed entirely to an
nexing any Mexican territory. We do moi
want il. We have already millions of acres OF
unOccupied lands. We do not want elbow room
extending, our limits do, from the Lakes "a
the Gulf Of MexhsO, and from the Atlantic 10 the
7 Pacific. IL Congress stated that they would be
satisfied with certain limits, establishing what
they considered the proper boundaries OF Texas
he did not believe the President would refuse 10
accede TO their wishes. He was already hearth
ly tired Of the war, and would doubtless BE-
glad enough to adopt any plan by which peace
would be restored.
i As to having difficulty in settling boundary
line, he Mr.. Clay would be willing to under
take. in sixty hours to secure their cooperation
The truth was that Mr.. Polk imagined that
when MatsmOras fell, the Mexicans would sue
cumb. Such has been the expectation after eve-
ny battle. But now, even when we are in the
"Halls Of the Montezumas," we appear TO be as
far as ever from our object. He referred 10 the
obstinaey Of the Spanish character. as proved BY
their struggles for eight hundred years with the
| MOors in Spain.
He spoke of the abslrdity Of asking indemni-
ty for our losses, of people who have nothing
to give us. As TO annexing them, he consider
ed II would be little short Of madness to intro
duce eight or nine millions Of people, speaking a
different language, and of different religion,
amongst US, 10 assist in governing our Republic.
Suppose, said he, they do not choose TO send
delegates, could We appoint themf Would that
be carrying out our Constitution, which declares
that sYery citizen shall have a voice in govern
! ing himself
Mr.. Clay came out strongly against the ex-
tension Of slavery-deploring its existence--but
declaring that il was an unavoidable evil where
it now exists. He regarded the determination
not 10 acquire territory, as the most certain
means Of avoiding the difficulties which surround
this important but delicate subject.
The speech occupied two and half hours in
its delivery, and but sketch Of its most impor-
tant points is here given The speaker confined
himself closely 20 bis resolutions, and they en-
discussed.