The Mississippi Creole. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1841-1851, 1847-12-04
CANTON, MISSISSIPPI, SATURDAY, DECEMBER 4, 1saz.

for the settlement Of the dispute. Why not
have waited till Mr.. slidelrs mission had been
fulfilled?
II had been stated, over and over again, that
the wings were enemies of the country, for
speaking against the war-that they deserted
her. Was this the case? Have not the wings
been as prominent in fighting on the bloody
fields OF Mexico, as the democrats? Haye
they not spilled their blood as freely?
In monarchies the war-making power is vest
ed in the king In this country it rests with
the people, through their repres natives in
Congress, This is distinctly avowed in the
Constitution. 1t is true the President has the
power o. making treaties; but they are always
founded upon acts or resolutions Of Congress.
He referred to the resolution regarding recipro.
city, and upon which some ten or a dozen
treaties have since been founded. II, there
fore, on such comparatively unimportant sub
jects as trade and commerce., the President
takes is instruction from the people, how
much stronger is the argument whe, applied
to the prolongation of war! If it remains
solely with the President, when warts once de-
clared, to say when 1t shall stop, and what are
its objects, then may you call the President
by what name Won please, he is in effect as
powerful as Gear, an Emperor or a King You
give to one man a power that the Constitution
never contemplated.
Mr.. Clay continued to dilate, at considerable
length, upon this topic; expressing it as his
conviction, that Congress should declare, at
its coming session, what are the objects Of the
war, and what should be the conditions of a
peace. If the President then remained oppos-
ed TO a treaty, upon the terms specified, there
was a way by which even he could be reached,
and made to feel that the peoples will govern.
ed-he meant, By Impeachment.
Mr., Clay said he was opposed entirely to an
"exing any Mexican territory. We do not
want it. We have already millions of acres Of
unoccupied lanns. We do not want elbow
, room; extending, as our limits do, from the
Lakes to the Gulf of Mexico, and from the
Atlantic to the Pacific. If Congress stated
that they would be satisfied with certain Ii.
mits, establishing what they considered the
proper boundaries of Texas, he did not be.
lieVe the President would refuse to accede to
their wishes. He was already heartily tired Of
tho war, and would doubtless be glad enough
to adopt any plan by which peace would be
restored.
AS to having difficulty in settling a boundar,
line, he (Mr. Clay would be willing to under
take, in sixty hours, to secure their co-opera
y ton
The truth was that Mr.. Polk imagined tina
e when Malamoros fell, the Mexicans would
: succumb. Such has been the expectation at
ter every battle. But now, even when we are
y in the ''Halls Of the M~ontezumas,'' We appear
to be as far as ever from our object, He re
ferred to the obstinacy OF the Spanish charac
g ter, as proved by their struggles for eight hun
dred years with the Moors in Spain.
He spoke OF the absurdity OF asking indem
nifty for our losses, of a people who have moth
"S W Sl'O o " uHhVAl1B iHeulS Nc COu
o sidered it would be little short Of madness Il
n introduce eight or nine millions of people
speaking a different language, and of a differ
n ent religion, amongst us, to assist in governing
II our Republic. Suppose, said he, they do no
choose u send delegates, could we appoin
" them? Would that be carrying out our Con
: stitution, which declares that every citizeI
shall have a voice in governing himself?
= Mr.. Clay came out strongly against the ex
tension of slavery-dePloring its existence
but declaring that it was an unavoidable eTi
: where it now exists. He regarded the detel
minatiOn not to acquire territory, as the mos
: certain means Of avoiding the d~ificultie
which surround this important but delicat
subject.
The speech occupied two and a half houl
in its delivery, and but a sketch Of it's most 10
portoni points is here given, The speaker cot
= fined himself closely to his resolutions, an
they embrace all the principles which he az
!, vanced and discussed.
al From the Ncksburg Wing.
, Slavery Declared tn he Constitutional and b.