The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1847-11-20

war, which we are wagng against our near
est neghbor, TO those who opposed the wal
: oflsI2 with Great Britain. lie denied The
\ justice of such n comparison. In 1912, the
v war was, OH our part, one OF defence against
the aggressions ofEngand. 1t was war, the
objects Of which were most emphatically and
truly summed up in these few words-
"Free Trade and Sailors Rights" We
sought r. defend our sailors from being drag
ged from our ships and compelled TO fight
against country with which we were in am
ty. We sought TO preserve our rights upon
the high seas, and not TO allow Great Britain
to sweep us off that highway of all the ma
TONS That was War of the people,
They wlIed il, and they were in favor of its
being carried on. He spoke from actual
knowledge, when he stated that MIR Madison
was personally opposed 10 the Wdr.
How would the present War compare with
that? For what object was it declared? 1t
was created by the act of Mr. Polk-ratifed,
it is true, by the act Of Congress. II was
created in consequence of the order of the
President to Gen. Taylor to march upon the
Rio Bravo, TO point opposite Matamoras.-
The President acted thus willie Congress
was in session, without consulting that body.
When, however, The perilous condition of
our army was made known, aud supplies
were demanded for il, they were voted by
Congress---by the Wbigs, as well as Others
In this, they ucted as he would have acted.
They voted the supplies which were needed
for safety ofthe army. But they went beyond
/ this-and they were wrong in voting for the
preamble to that bill. Never, so help him
God would lac have given such n volc!-
They were wrong in Uotjng for 'chat they kneiU
10 be a He-iOr the declaration that "war eX-
listed by the act ofAleXico" So great was his
regard for truth, that he would have laid
down life ITSELF before he would have sub
scribed his name TO such falsehood.
The people had been warned, when the
movement for the annexation of Texas was
first commenced, that if they took Texas they
would also take her war. Ire assertion was
hooted at. No such fears, it was said, need
be entertained The boundary difficulties,
il was declared, could be amicabIy settled
And now what has proved to he the iact?--
Was not the present war; in consequence Of /
boundary dispute? AT the very time when
our army was ordered to march on Matamo-
ras, to take possession of the disputed terrific /
ny, Mr. SlideD was on his way to the city of |
Mexico, to enter into negotiations for the set.
Element Of the same dispute. why not wait ,
until his mission had been fulfilled?
1t had been stated over and over again, that |
the Wings were the enemies oftheir country,
for speaking against the war,-that they had |
deserted her. Was this tue case? Have not
the Wings, he asked been as prominent as
the Democrats in fighting on the bloody
fields ofMeNco? Have they not shed their |
blood as freely?
War now eXists:-but we have us yet made !
no declaration ofthe objects of that war. 1t, |
therefore, behooves Congress to declare what
are those objects, and upon what terms the |
war with Mexico will cease. In monarchies,
the war-nIalking power is vested in the king
In this country, IL rests with the people,
through their representatives in Congress as
4 Il.
Constitution itself. 1t is true the President
has the power of making treaties; but these
treaties are always founded on the acts or
resolutions of Congress. In support of this
statement, he referred TO certain resolutions
Of Congress regarding Reciprocity in Trade,
upon which some ten or dozen treaties have
since been founded. If therefore, OH such
comparatively uuimportant subjects as Trade
and Commerce, the President take his in
structions from the People, through their
representatives i'll Congress, much stronger
is the argument, for his doing so, in regard
10 the prolongation of war. II Congress re-
main silent, shall the President have power,
when war has been once declared to say
what are its objects and when il shall stop?-
lfso, then you may call the President by what
name you please; but he will be in fact ms
powerful as n Cesar, an Emperor or King
You, give to one man power which the Con-
stituton never intended should belong to
him.
Mr. Clay continued TO dilate at considerable
length upon this topic, expressing his convic-
ton that Congress should declare, at the com
ing Session, what are the objects of the War,
and what should be the conditions of Peace.
If the President then remains opposed to
Treaty upon the terms indicated by Congress,
and refuse to conclude one, there was a way
by which even he could be reached, and made
to feel that the will of the people is the SOW
ereign power. He meant by impeachment.
MIR Clay said he was entirely opposed TO
the annexation of Mexican territory. One
half of our territory stillremained unoccupied.
Millions of acres ofland are still in the mar.
ket. We do not want more, although some
desire that our limits should be extended from
the Atlantic 10 the Pacific seas. If Congress
should pass resolutions, declaring that Peace
should he concluded upon certain terms, fix
ing the boundaries from Texas ut what they
consider the proper lines, he did not believe
the President would refuse to accede to their
wishes. He was himself already half tired
of the War, and would doubtless be glad
enough to adopt any plan by which Peace
might be restored.
As 10 there being any difficulty in settling
uponla boundary line, he would be willing TO
undertake in sixty hours to secure their con-
sent and cooperation. The truth was Mr.
Polk imagined that, after Matainoras fell, the
MeXicans would succumb. Such has been his
expectation after every battle. Butnow,when
we are even in the Halls ofthe Montezunlas
our object is as far from attainment as ever
He referred to the spanish character, as
evinced in their struggle, protracted for eight
hundred years, with the Noors in Spain. He
spoke ofthe absurdty ofasking indemnity for
our losses, of u people who have nothing to
IL, A 81, - ho..