Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1847-11-26
THE WING PLATFORM.

We commend to the careful perusaI OF the
reader the following pointed and able commu-
nication, which we find in the Union of Sat
urday. The subject is one which, at this Pc
cular Crisis is of the deepest importance-a
subject about which every man should tho
roughly inform himself =
Mr.. CLAY AND THE WAR-Like Mr. Clay,
am In the decline of life, and hold no office
in the government Unlike Mr. Clay, no vi
sions of Office fit before my imagination |
expect none-hope for none-want none
] am disappointed in the positions taken by
that gentleman in relation to the Mexican
war thought him patriotic; and when it
was announced that the " Farmer of Ash
land the "greatest living statesman of the
ge"-was about TO come from retirement
and give counsel to his countrymen, did ex-
pect display of lofty patriotism, as we'll as
which sacrifices country to party-something
of which the true American, wing or demo-
crat, might be Justly proud. Alas how diff
ferent is the result
Let US consider how Mr. Clay proposes to
put an end 10 the war:
Mr.. Clay said, he ,Oas opposed entirely to
Gnnering Mexican territory one half the mil
lions had already we did not want" He
our losses of people 'Uho had nothing 10 pay"
" Mr.. Clay avowed himself strongly opposed to
the extension of slavery-deplored its existence -
but remarked it was an unavoidable evil. He
CT nstdered the efusal to accept territory
the best means Of arerting the difficulties that
surrounded this important and delicate subject"
These passages are extracts from the &C
count OF Mr.. Clay's speech given by his
friends. The resolutions offered by him de-
clare that eve anxiously hope that each ma
ton may be left in the undisturbed possession
of its own labors, language, cherished religion,
and territory" and that " ne haze no desire
for the dismemberment Of the republic Of Mer
lco, but only the just and proper .frat'on Of
the limits of IeraS"
Now, what is 10 be the result of Mr.. Clay's
plan, if adopted
We are not to demand indemnity for our
plundcred citizens, because the robbers are not
able to pay 1t.
We are not TO take any Of their land, be-
use IRE haze more than enough already, and
may quarrel about it 1rhen 1Ve get it!
What then? Nothing is left but to retreat
within our own limits, amidst the triumphant
shouts of the Mer,canS, and the derislon of the
civilized world! "Ah," the Mexican chiefs
may we'll say, "our perseverance has con-
quered you 1ce knou ho1U to deal Nth you
hereafter; we will plumber and murder your
citizens as we list, and you will not ask us for
indemnity, because we are poor; nor take any
of our territory, because you do not want it;
and if, perchance, having favorable opportu-
nifty, we murder your officers and attack your
troops, and your government blockade our
ports, defeat our armies, and take our capital,
we have only to Persevere untI one OF your
statesmen rides into heDpresidency upon an
anti-1rar hobby, a0hen you 1ciU surrender all
you haze 1ron, and be glad to forgive US for
the robberes we have committed"
| Mr.. Clay virtually says &C we are a brave
nation, and can afford to let corrards butcher
us 1Cith ampunty; we arc a rich nation, and
can afford to let robbers seize and retain our
property without Indemnity"
Worse than in vain will be the blood shed
at PaIo Alto, Resaca de la Palma, Monterey,
Buena Vista, Vera Cruz, Cerro Gordo, Con-
treras, Churubusco, and the city of Mexico,
if this policy shall prevail. The spirits of
the gallant dead will haunt the recreant states
men of their dishonored country, if they shall
give up the contest without treaty securing
indemnity for the past 1t would establish a
new Algiers upon our borders it would en-
courage continual outrage. plumber, and war E;
and, in the end, our country would be obliged
to fight over-agan the glorious battles of the
existing war, under more adverse circumstan-
ces, again watering the fields and mountains
of Mexico with much of our noblest blood.
am as much opposed to the annexation
of Mexico" as Mr.. Clay, and more the enemy
of slavery. AS to territory, | want Upper
California for its ports, and the readiest ap-
proaches to itfrom Missouri by land | know
that no black slave will ever set his foot in
that region, whether prohibited or not; and
that our people and their institutions will soon
set free the 1rhite slaves which there exist un-
der the name of poems. But throtc behind
me all such questions, rrhen the present honor
and future security Of my country are at stake.
" Sufficient to the day is the evil thereof" II
we retreat from Mexico without indemnity,
ire are disgraced nation. Thenceforward
we may expect the "sicks and cuffs" the
pocket -pickings and stabs of every upstart
power on earth The whole world will ask
in wonder, why we ever crossed the Rio
Grande-why Mr.. Clay sent his son to die at
Buena Vista-and why the old man himself
felt as if he would like to "slay Mexican %
1t is IRE, and not our adversary, who will cry
0"o"S"1 VIC, dHu hui utAECOs VIII OO InC
party trhtpped her braggadocio generals and
VAN people will Justly claim the victory, and
the world will accord it to them More inso-
lent than ever, perchance with monarch at
their head, sustained by European alliances,
they will consolidate their power, strengthen
their defences, replenish their stores, and then
force US to fight over again all our glorious
battles, and pour forth increased torrents OF
blood to conquer permanent peace
Away with all the factious and irrelevant
issues about slavery and all that, until tht
honor of our country be U'ndicoted, and its fu'
if there be occasion, it will be soon enough to
quarrel among ourselves. If the American
people feel as do, they seiN put dorm, WITH
A STRONG HAND, President-makers and
candidates for the Presidency, whig or demo.
crat' IN the north or in the south, who, fol