Richmond palladium. [volume] (Richmond, IA [i.e. Ind.]) 1839-1854, 1847-12-08
Mr. <'iay's Speech and the Wash
inEtOn Union.

ingtOn Union.
No part of Mr.. CIay's speech hns given
more offence TO tho administration, than
that in which he treats of the manner ir
which tho war was brought on by Mr.
Polk. He trnces it directly to the order
given by Mr.. Polk for moving tho army
givon whilst tho administration was III II.
ter ignorance Of the result Of Mr.. Sidell's
mission-and which, under tho circum-
stances. could not have fnilcd to bring on
actual hos,li,ies. Mr.. Clay said this or
der was given willis, Mr.. S!idel was "wen.
ding his way TO Mexico, with his diplomat
&c crcdcntin 81
The Union denies that this is literally
correct, and states that Mr.. Sldeli had nc-
.ually arrired in Mexico thirty days be-
fore tho order for tho movement of the
army was issued! And it thinks that this
is the rcal question ut issue between Mr..
Clay End itself
Tho point in tho case is this: When
Mr. Polk issued the order FIR tho move
ment Of the army from Corpus Christi 10
tho Rio Grandc, did he knor what had
boon tho result, of Mr.. SlidoI's mission!
This is the que s,ion. and this is VIVA,
Mr.. Clay has remarked upon.
In tho s.rictnoss of langn,r &c, NJ. S'dci
might no. have been "wendlng his why To
tho Cav Of NJ xico' at the time the order
was issued, but. rs the National lniclIi-
genccr suggests, he must have been con
5idcrci as on his WV 10 Mexico, Tifh his
Myionla.ic Credentials, so iongas i, was
uncertain whether or not he would be re-
celved bv Mexico in his diplomatlc char.
acter. What Mr.. Clay designed 10 bring
homo upon the administration was the fact.
tina, they gave the order for tho movement
of tho Army. not knowing whether Mr..
SiiGell had or had not been received by
tho government Of Mexico; and 10 tho
der, thus given IN utter ignorance OF what
was going on in tho City of Mexico, mus,
Be ,raccd the actual commencement! of
hoS,Iitics.
From this charge Mr.. Polk cannot cs-
pc: Tho order to General Tay lor TO
na,ch from Corpus Christi 20 tho Rio
Irnnlc was issued in Wa 'hington on the
18Th day Of January. On tho 2o,h OF
Janu,ry, Mr.. Buchanan, writing from
Washington to Mr.. Sl;dcll, saws .&hoHld
tho Mexican government, by fnaily rc'ns
ing t. receive you," &c.--thus showing
der was issued, tho Cabinet in Washington
knew nothing of tho mattcr-but Mr.. Bu
chsnar, in tho Same despatch. advises Mr..
Sidcll rs follows:
"ln the cnntinc, tho President. MAN
rrCiPATIo.J OF tho final refusal of tho Mex
icnr government 10 receive you. has
dcrch the army IF Texas 10 advance md
t,kc position on tho left bank of tho Rio
G.andc; & has directed that n strong feet
shall DO Immediately assembled in the
Gulf of Mexico
Bat no, only dill Mr.. Polk nat know.
when ho issued this order, whether Mr..
Sli!cll had been received, but even At that
timo and long after, he had reason ~ sup
pose that no had or would b7--if the Union
may DO relied on for expressing his views:
Ia that paper Of Tho 10Th of February,
nearly n nculh nficr the order was issued.
the editor says no; only ,hni Mr.. Slide'i
had not been trl .ctod, but thnt ''hc had
been received with much courtesy. and
welcomed III the society of tho metropolis
~ an elegant and accomplished gentle
man. llc had not yet been received by
tho Government in an otiit.ial capacity:
acifhcr hui they dcciincd his rccrption.'
After these proofs. nothing is wanting
80 sustain tho Statement, Of Mr.. Clay. tha,
the Cabinc. III washington gave the order
for the movement o! tho Army. without
knowing, md. we fcar, without CARING
" neither Mr.. Slidcll had been or had no.
boon received. That tho movement of
tho Army brought on nctual Eos,lllt'es. is
not to be denied; and hence it follows,
,ha, Mr.. Polk brou.h, on Tho war. AMI is
rcsponsj bio for all tho consequences of II.
In pom, of fact. also. Mr.. Sii1t Ii had
not boon rel cited wien tho order was given.
The Natona! ln.oliigcncer proves this, by
quoting from despatch from Mr.. SlIdclI
himself, dated nj Jalapa. February @
thrco weeks 0firr the order to General
Fay lori which he says
'.Since my despatch Of the / ith ut..
(January.) nothing has occurred to midi
cate tho course likely to DO taken by the
existing Government rs TO my reception.
but think II will BIO mainly controlled by
shc aspac, of tho Mexican question:
Il was not until tho 18th of March
doris 10 Gen. Taylor-that Mr.. Siidcll was
in tlIy refused 10 be received in tho capa-
city of Envoy Extraordinary and Minis
ter Pienlpo,en,iary by the Mexican Govern
mont. " hich refusal was officially com
mur;catcd 10 Mr.. Buchanan. in despatch
of Mr.. SiIoll. dated N,rch IS, 1916.
Memory Returning After Rciia:
Lost.