The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1847-12-04
yet to be developed-there is still Sec
ond volume to be unfolded.
DELANO.
Cecil Co. Nor. Goth, III.
SPEECH OF MR.. CLAY,
At the Mass Meeting in Lex
ingtOn, Ky, on Saturday,
November 13, 1 SLY.
(COncluded.'

(Concluded.)
But I suppose it to be impossible tina
those who favor, if there be any VIII
favor the annexation of Mexico to tn
United States, can think that it ought t.
be perpetually governed by mlltar,
sway. Certainly no votary of human
liberty could deem it right that viola
ton should be perpetrated of the grea
principles of our own revolution, acc ord
! ing to which, laws ought not to be enacted
and taxes ought not to be levied, without
representation on the part of those who
are to obey the one, and pay the other
Then, Mexico is to participate in oul
councils and equally share in our legis.
lation and government. But, suppose
she would not voluntarily choose repre-
sentatives to the national Congress, is our
soldiery to follow the electors to the bal
lot-boy, and by force to compel them, at
the point ofthe bayonet, to deposit their
ballots! And how are the nine millions Of
Mexican people to be represented in the
Congress of the United States of America
and the Congress of the United States of the
Republic of Mexico combinedl Is every
Mexican without regard 10 color or taste,
per capitum, to exercise the elective franz
chise! How is the quota of representation be-
tween the two Republics, 10 be fixed, Where
is their seat of common government 10 be
established? And who can foresee or fore
tell, if Mexico voluntarily Or by force, were
NLl,n tl,., l.,
would be the consequence 10 her or to us!
Cnprepared, as fear her population yet is,
for this practical enjoyment of self COVER
ment, and OF habits; customs, language, laws
and religion, so totally different from our
own, we should present the revolving spec
tacle of a confused, distracted, and molly
government. We should have a Mexican
Party, Pacific Ocean Party, an Atlantic
Patty, in addition 10 the other Parties, which
exist. or with which we are threatened,
each strivu.s 10 execute lis own particular
views and purposes, and reproaching the
others with lhwarting and Disappointing
them. The Mexican representation, in
Congress, would probably form a separate
and impene,rahlo corps, always ready to
tuow itself in the scale Of any other par V.
10 advance and promote Mexican Interests
Such a state of things could not long endure
Those, whom God and geography have pro-
nounced should live Islander, could never be
permanently and harmonlously united 10
gethef.
Do we want for our own happiness Or
greatness the addition of Mexico TO the eX-
ising Union of our States! If Our popula-
lion was loo dense for our territory; and
there was difficulty in obtaining honour
ably the means OF subsistence. there might
be some excuse for an attempt TO enlarge
cur dominions Bu, we have had no such
apology. We have already, in our glori>
Gus county, vast and almost bonndless
territory. Beginning at the North, in the fro>
zen regions of the British provinces, it
stretches thousands of miles along the coasts
of the Atlantic Ocean and the NJ exican Gulf
until ii almost reaches the Tropics. 1t ex-
tends 10 the Pacific Ocean, borders on those
great inland seas, the Lakes, which separate
us from the possessions of Great Britain,
and il embraces The great father OF rivers.
from its uppermos, source 10 the BaIize, and
the still longer Missouri, from its mouth TO
the sorges of the Rocky Mountains: Itcom-
prehends the great variety of the richest
soils. capable OF almost all the productions Of
the earth, eXcepl tea and coffee and the spi-
ces and ii includes every variety OF climate,
which the heart could wish or desire. We
i, tn, n r.
acres of waste and unsettled lands, enough
for the subsistence of ten or twenty times
our present population. Ought we not be
satisfied with such couniry!-Ought we
not 10 be profoundly thankful tot the G!ver Of
all good things for such a vast and bounti'
full land! 1t is not the height Of ingratitude
to Him to seek, by war and conquest in
dulgihg III a spirit OF rapachy. TO acquire
other lands the homes and haiial.ons OF ;
large portion of las common children! /
we pursue the object of such a conquest
besides mortyaeing the revenue and reSour
ces of this country for ages to come, in the
form of an onerous national debt, by all as
sumption of the sixty or seventy millions
the national debt of Mexico. For | take
that nothing is more certain than that;if w
obtain voluntarily or by conquest, toreig;
nation we acquire it with all the incumbran
ces attached TO it. In my humble opinion
we are now bound, in honour and morality
to pay the just debt of Texas. And W
should be equally bound by the same obi
cations, to pay the debt of Mexico if it wer
annexed 10 the United States.
Of,he possessions which apper'a'n TO man
!, his collective or individual condition
, none should be preserved and cherished
( with more seduous and unremilting care
$ than that Of an unsulIied character 1t
t impossible to estimate it too highly, in SC
. ciety, VIXEN attached TO all individual, NJ