The daily national Whig. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1847-1849, 1847-11-17
NH. cLAY,s POLICY.
Subject 10 the decision Of The wing National Oonventio

lnRtOn ReSolutlonS emOouy WHAT may, win
perfect propriety, be called Mr Clay's po-
hey in regard to the Mexican question:
They go beyond the Berrien Resolutions,
and fall short of those adopted in some ofthe
States. They occupy sort Of middle ground
between the extremes of Wing opinion, so
far as it has been manifested.
The basis Of these resolutions appears to
us to be-
/. No more territory.
2. No more slave territory.
If these positions be carried out to their
legitimate consequences, they would neces-
sarily undo the annexation of Texas; for
Mexico, notwithstanding her national power
has been well nigh annhilated, continues
with every breath she can draw to claim
Texas as part Of the integral domain Of the
Mexican Republic. But we do not suppose
that Mr.. Clay contemplated any such con-
struction OF his language, and when he says
that he is I" utterly opposed to any purpose
of annexation of Merico to the U. States"
and has "no desire for the dismemberment
Of the Republic of Merico," we must pre-
sumo that he alludes to Mexico despoied OF
neI province Ol i eNaS proper.
There have been those already who have
pretended to discover an intended difference
in the use Of the expressions "utterly OPP
posed ton and have no desire" They say
that the authors utter opposition is only to
the annexation Of the phOie of MericO, and
that his opposition to the dsmemberment is
not so utter. However this may be, we do
not feel justified in agreeing to any such con-
clusion. We take these three resolutions in
pari materid, and the inference, to our mind,
is irresistible, that Mr.. Clay meant to ex-
press his utter and entire opposition, in any
mode, to either the ACKNOWLEDGMENT or the
absorption Of Mexico by the United States,
Any other construction would be forced, and
to suppose that Mr.. Clay would say one
thing, when he meant another, is to do him
an injustice which his whole life and charac-
ter at once prove him incapable of.
And as following this emphatic declara-
ton Of opposition to the dismemberment or
absorption Of Mexico, it appears to us plain,
that the seventh resolution, which opposes
the acquisition Of ahy foreign territory for
the purpose Of propagating slavery within it.,
must be construed to be equally strong against
the introduction of slavery into anyforeign
territory that may be acquired by the United
States. The proposition is broad enough to
cover the whole ground, and there are no
words Of limitations in it, If it is not to be
taken in this sense, it would be mere abb
straction inapplicable to the matter in dis
pute.
When we come to read his speech on the
occasion, we shall better be able TO ar
rive at the orators precise meaning; but putt
ting aside all disputation as to the objects
which we have considered him to have had
in view, the resolutions as they stand are
calculated to exert mighty influence upon
the public mind for veal or for woe. A very
distinguished Wing remarked to us yester-
day |: Mr.. Clay has secured, beyond the pro-
liability Of a doubt, the absorption of tho
,rhole Of MEXICO BY The United States.-
When asked for the reason Of so extraordi-
nary declaration, he said: Mr.. Clay an
nered Teras By his Raleigh letter. There
is food for reflection in these observations.
They carry in them more philosophy than
appears at first blush. Whatever may be
the result of the Lexington Resolutions, there
cannot be doubt that the Raleigh letter
defeated Mr.. Clay in the last Presidential
election and annexed two fatal gifts to the
Union-James X. Polk as President there
of, and Texas with her Mexican war. The
hostility Of an apparent majority of the Ameri-
can peopctowards Mr.. Clay is so deep-rooted,
so confirmed, that it seems to be only neces-
sary for him to speak, and his enemies at
once rally in force that overwhelms him and
his friends beyond escape. The enmity to
this great man arises from his purity of cha
racter. The envy Of the people is aroused
against him, because he stands before them
as man free from selfishness and popular
passion, and because he prefers to speak the
truth to Aattering them in their errors.
1t may be, it is possible, that the policy
now proclaimed by Mr.. Clay will become
national Wing policy, but all our experience
leads us to predict its abandonment by the
next Congress, and by the people. 1t seems
to us to be too violently opposed to the grain
of the peoples feelings to secure their APP
probation--we mean the Wing peoples feel
ings. If the public voice could declare against
Mr.. Clay, and for Texas, it is capable Of
any achievement. That decision has proved
to us, that, right or wrong, the American is
the greatest land-robber on earth It is his
nature. 1t is part Of his existence. Will
the people Of the United States, will the
Congress of the United States practice the
virtue and moderation which Mr.. Clay calls
upon them to practice, in order to get peace
from our "discom6ted foe ~ We do not
believe they will, but the sequel will show.
1t would be Of no Importance, perhaps,
what decision the Wing House of Represent
tatives, or the people, would come to upon
this subject, or any other,if it were not, that
in the rejection by the people Of the policy now
proposed, the Wing party, if it adopted that
policy, would be prevented from welding the
energies of this vast Government. Itisno part
Of patriotism to sacrifice the country for the
sake of being abstractly right on any given
question We would rather have it in our
power to serve it and do good toit, by meet
ing evils as they surround it, and tolcrating
them and extracting all the possible good out