Tri-weekly journal. (Evansville, Ia. [i.e. Ind.]) 1847-188?, 1847-11-18
GREAT MEETING AT LEXINGTON.

from high sense of duty to himself and the
country. The momento us question now pre-
sented to the American people, of annexing by
conquest or purchase All immense foreign ter
rtory, inhabited by millions of people of differ
ent races and colors, and placing them on an
equal footing with the FREE WHITE citizens of
this Republic, permitted no man that loved his
country to remain silent, and Henry Clay
would have been unworthy of his past history,
if he had allowed any selfish consideration to
palsy his tongue.
HE would rather be right than be President"
Mr. Clay intended himself to prepare what
he might say for the public press, and he there
fore hoped that no report would be attempted
by any of the gentlemen who were in atten-
dance.
Gen. Coombs then proposed that a president
OF the meeting be appointed, and named the
Hon. Geo. Robertson for that office, and he
was accordingly chosen. He proposed as Vice
Presidents, B. w. Dudley, VIM. Rhodes, John
w. Hunt, John r. Dunlay, Jacob Hughes, r.
S. Todd, G.. G. Moore, Nj. G. Johnson, E. War
field, ST., w. c. Pruitt, G. w. Darnaby, John
Curd, o. H. P. Beard w. p. Browning, JOS
Bryan, G. ]. Hart, and G. w. G. Graves, and
the Hon. Geo. Grotter, Richard Spar, c. d.
Carr, and r. A. Athey were appointed Secreta-
ries.
from the Lexington Observer and Reporter Extra
LEXINGTON, ny. Saturday, Nov. 10, 8 A. NJ
We are permitted to publish the resolutions
to be submitted by Mr., Clay to the meeting to
day, in anticipation of the hour of meeting, II
o'clock. They are as follows:
l. ResOlUed, As the opinion of this meeting,
that the primary cause of the present unhappy
war, existing between the United States of
America, and the United States of the Repub-
lie of Mexico, was the annexation of Texas to
the former; and that the immediate occasion of
hostilities between the two republics, arose out
of the order of the President of the United
States for the removal of the army under the
command of Gen. Taylor, from its position at
Corpus Christi to point opposite Matamoras,
on the East bank of the Rio Bravo; within
territory claimed by both Republics, bat then
under the jurisdiction of that of Mexico, and in
habited by its citizens; and that the order of the
President for the removal of the army to that
point, was improvident and unconstitutional,
it being without the concurrence of Congress,
or even any consultation with it, although it
was in session. but that Congress having, by
subsequent acts, recognized the war thus
brought into existence without its previous au-
thority or consent, the prosecution of it be-
came thereby National.
2. ResolUed, That in the absence Of any for
NAL and public declaration by Congress, of the
objects for which the war ought to be prosecu-
ted, the President of the United States, as
Chief Magistrate, and as Commander in Chief
of the Army and Navy of the United States, is
left to the guidance of his own judgement TO
prosecute it for such purposes and objects as he
may deem the honor and interest of the nation
to require.
3. Resolued, That, by the Constitution of
the United States, Congress, being invested
with power to declare war; and grant letters of
marque and reprizal to make rules concerning
captures on land and water, to raise and sup
port armies, to provide and maintain a navy,
and to make rules for the government of the
land and naval forces, has the fulland complete
war-making power of the United States; and
so possessing it, has right TO determine upon
the motives. causes, and objects of any war,
when it commences, FOR at any time during the
progress of its existence.
4. RcsolUed, As the further opinion of this
meeting, that it is the right and duty of Con-
gress TO declare. by some authentic act, fol
what purpose and object the existing wal
ought to be further prosecuted; that it is the
, duty of the President, in his official conduct
to conform to such declaration Of Congress
and that, if, after such declaration, the Presi
dent should decline or refuse to endeavor, by
all the means, civil. diplomatic, and military
in his power, to execute the announced will o
Congress, and in defiance of its authority should
! continue to prosecute the war for purposes anC
objects other than those declared by that bod
it would become the right and duty of Congress
to adopt the most eficacious measures to ar
rest the future progress of the war, taking car,
: to make ample provision for the honor, The
$ safety, and security of our armies in Mexico, il
every contingency. And if Mexico should de
cline or refuse to conclude treaty with us
stipulating for the purpose and object so de
n clared by Congress, it would be the duty of tn
r Government to prosecute the war with the ut
o most vigor, until they wereattained by treat
ofpeace-
5. RESOLVED, That we view with seriou
, alarm. and are utterly opposed TO any purpos
of annexing Mexico to the United States, in an
) mode, and especially by conquest; that we be
l. lieve the two nations could not be happily gov
erned by one common authority, owing to thei
great difference Of race, law, language and reli
gion, and the vast extent of their respectiv
territories, and large amount of their respeC
tive population; that such a union, against tn
% consent of the exasperated Mexican people
could only be effected and preserved by larg
standing armies, and the constant applicatiO
of military force-in other words, by despoti
sway exercised over the Mexican people, in tn
first instance, cut which, there would be ju!
cause to apprehend, might, in process of tim,
r be extended over the people of the U. States