Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1847-11-25

subscribe to such falsehood, he would have laid
down life itself They had been warned, when
the Annexation of Texas was first moved, that
If they took Texas they would have to take her
war also, The assertion was hooted at. No
such fears need be entertained 1t was said then
the boundaries could all be amicablv settled
What, however, was the fact1 Was not the
present war consequence of a boundary dis
pute! AT the very time when our Army was
ordered to march on Matamuras to take posses
sion Of the disputed territory, Mr. Slidel was
on his way to the City of Mexico to enter into
negotiations for the settlement Of the same dis
puted question. Why not wait until Mr. Sill
dels mission had been fulfilled? 1t had been
stated, over and over again that the wings were
enemies of the country for speaking against the
war-thlt they deserted her. Was this the case!
Have not the wings been as prominent in
fighting on the bloody fields of Mexico as their
opponents Have they not spilled their blood
as freely? War now exists; but we have made
no declaration of the objects Of that war. 1t,
therefore, behoyes Congress to declare what are
the objects and upon what terms the war with
Mexico will cease In Monarches the war-mak-
ing power is vested in the Kng in this coun-
try it rests with the People through their Repre-
sentatves in Congress. This is distinctly avow-
ed in the Constitution 1t is true, the President
has the power of making Treaties, but they are
all based upon the acts or resolutions of Con
gress He referred to certain resolutions of Con
gress regarding Reciprocity in trade, and upon
which some ten or dozen treaties have since
been founded If, therefore, on such compare
lively unimportant subjects as Trade and Com
merce, the President takes his instructions
from the People represented in Congress, how
much stronger is the argument when applied to
the proongation of War! If Congress remain
silent, will the President when war is once de-
clared say what are its objects and when shall
it stop? Then may you call the President by
what name you please, he is in effect as power
tuI as a Caesar, an Emperor, a KING. You give
to one man power that the Constitution never
contemplated.
Mr.. Clay continued to diatc at considerable
length upon this topic, expressing his conviction
that Congress should declare at the coming SEES
sion, what are the objects of the War and what
should be the conditions of Peace. If the Pres
ldent then remain opposed to a Treaty upon the
terms prescribed there was way in which even
he could be reached and be made to feel that
the Peoples will governed, he m amt by impeach-
ment
Mr. Clay said he was opposed entirely to the
annexation of Mexican territory. One-half al
ready of our own territory was unoccupied,-
Millions of acres of lands were in the market
We did not want more, although some are de-
sirous Of extending our limits from the Atlantic
to the Pacific. If Congress decided that it
would be satisfied with certain limits, establish
ing what they consider the proper boundaries Of
Texas, he did not believe the President would
refuse to accede to their wishes He (Mr. P.l
was already half tired of the war, and would
doubtless be glad enough to adopt any plan by
which Peace would be restored
As to any difficulty which would occur in set
ting boundary line, he would be willing to un-
dertakc in sixty hours to secure its adjustment.
The truth was, Mr. Polk imagined, when Mata-
mOras fell, that the MeXicans would sucCumb.-
Such has been the expectation after every battle;
but now, even when we are in the Halls of the
Montezumas, our object is as far from attainment
as ever.
He referred to the Spanish character as cyinc-
ed in their struggles for eight hundred years
with the Moors in Spain He spoke ofthe alb
surdity of asking indemnity for our losses of
people who had nothing to give u.s. AS to an
neXatlon, he considered it would be little short
of madness to introduce Eight or Nine Millions
; Of people, speaking different language and pro-
Tossing different religion, among us to assist in
governing our Republic. Suppose, said he, they
would not choose to send delegates, can we APP
: point them? Would that be carrying out the
f principles of our Constitutions, which declares
+ that eyerp citizen shall have voice in the gov
: eminent which he is required to support and
n obey!