Boon's Lick times. [volume] (Fayette, Mo.) 1840-1848, 1847-12-11
SPEECH OF MIR. CLAY,
AT THE MASS ETIN G
AT LEXINGTON, KY,
On Saturday November 18Th, ls47.

Amer the organization of the meeting, Mr..
Clay rose and addressed il substantially as
follows:
Ladies and Gentlemen:
The day is dark and gloomy, unsettled
and uncertain, like the condition of our
country, in regard to the unnatural war
with Mexico. The public mind is agtated
and anxious, and is filled with serious ap-
prehensions as to its indefinite continuance,
and especially as to the consequences
which its termination may bring forth,
menacing the harmony, if not the exis.
tence, of our Union.
II is under these circumstances, l pre-
sent myself before you. No ordinary &C.
casion would have drawn me from the re.
tirement in which live; but, whilst sim
gle pulsation Of the human heart remains.
Il should, if necessary, be dedicated 10 the
service of ones country. And l have
hoped that, although l am private and
humble citizen, an expr ession Of the views
and opinions entertain, might form some
little addition TO the general stock of infor-
nation, and afford small assistance in de-
iivering our country from the perils and
dangers which surround it.
have come here with no purpose to at
tempt TO make fine speech, or any ambi-
1ious oratorical display. l have brought
with me no rhetorical bouquets 10 throw
into this assemblage. In the circle of the
year, autumn has come, and the season of
flowers has passed away. In the progress
of years, my spring time has gone by, and
! too am in the autumn of life, and feel the
frost of age. My desire and aim are to ad.
dress you, earnestly, calmly, seriously and
plainly, upon the grave and momentous
subjects which have brought us together.
And / am most solicitous that not solita-
~ word may fall from me, offensive 10 any
party or person in the whole extent of the
union.
War, pestence, and famine, by the com.
mon consent of mankind, are the three
greatest calamities which can befal our spe-
cies; and war, as the most direfu, justly
stands foremost and in front. Peslilence
and famine, no doubt for wise although in.
scrutable purposes. are infections of Prov.
idence, to which it is our duty, therefore,
10 bow with obedience, humble submission
and resignation. Their duration is not
long, and their ravages are limited. They
bring, indeed, great affection whilst they
last, but society soon RECEIVERS from their
effects. War is the voluntary work of our
own hands, and whatever reproaches it
NAV deserve should be directed 10 our.
selves. When it breaks out, its duration is
indefinite and unknown-its vicissitudes
are hidden from our view. In the sacrifice
of human life, and in the waste of human
treasure, in its losses and in its burlhens, it
affects both belligerent nations; and its sad
effects of mangled bodies, of death, and of
desolation. endure long after its thunders
are hushed in peace. War unhinges socie-
", disturbs its peaceful and regular indus.
try, and scatters poisonous seeds Of disease
and immortality. which continue to germi.
nate and diffuse their baneful influence long
after it has ceased. Dazzling by its glitter,
pomp and pageantry, it begets spirit of
wild adventure and romantic enterprise,
and often disqualifes those who embark in
il, after their return from the bloody fields
of battle, from engaging in the industrious
and peaceful vocatons of life.
We are informed by statement which
is apparently correct, that the number of
our coun,rymen slain in this lamentable
Mexican war, although it has yet been OF
only 10 months existence, is equal to one
half of the whole of the American loss du.
ring the seven years war of the Revolution!
And l venture to assert that the expendi-
ture of treasure which it has occasioned,
when il shall come to be fairly ascerlained
and footed up, will be found to be more
than half of the pecuniary cost of the war
of our independence. And this is the con-
di,ion of the party whose arms have been
every where and constantly victorious!
How did we unhappily get involved in
this war; 1t was predicted as the conse-
ouence of the annexation of Texas TO the
Unit ed States. If we had not Texas, we
should have no war. The people were told
that if that event happened, war would en-
sue. They were told that the war between
Texas and Mexico had not been termina.
ted by a treaty of peace; that Mexico still
claimed Texas as a revolted provinces; and
that, if we received Texas in our Union
we took along with her, The war existing
between her and Mexico. And the Minis
Ter of Mexico formally announced to the
Government al Washington, that his nation
would consider the annexation of Texas to
the United States as producing state OF
wur. But all this was denied by the par
tixaus of annexation. They insisted we
should have no war, and even imputed to
those who foretold il. sinister motives fol
their groundess prediction.
But, notwithstanding a state Of virtual