The northern tribune. [volume] (Bath, Me.) 1847-1855, 1847-12-02
SPEECH OF MIR. CLAY,
At the Mass Meeting in Lexington, KY
Oh Saturday, Nov l3, l847.


Oh Saturday, Nov 10, l847.
CONTINUED
But the havoc of war is in progress, and the
no less deplorable havoc of an inhospitable
and pestlential climate. Without indulging
in an unnecessary retrospect, and useless re-
proaches on the past, all hearts and heads
should unite in the patriotic endeavor to bring
it to satisfactory close. Is there no way
that this can be done Must we blindly con-
tinue the conflict, without any visible object,
or any prospect of definite termination p
This is the important subject upon which 1
desire to consult and to commune with you.
Who, in this free Government, is to decide
upon the objects of a war, at its commence
ment, or at any time during its existence ;
Does the power belong to the Nation, in the
collective wisdom of the Nation, in Congress
assembled, or is it vested solely in single
functionary of the Governments
A declaration of war is the highest and
most awful exercise of sovereignty. The
Convention, which framed our federal Con-
stitution, had learned from the pages of history
that it had been often and greatly abused
1t had seen that war had often been COM
menced upon the most triaing prete KITS, that
it had been frequently waged to establish or
exclude dynasty; to snatch crown from
the head of one potentate, and place it upon
the head of another; that it had often been
prosecuted to promote alien and other interests
than those of the nation whose chief had
proclaimed it, as in the case of English wars
for Hanoverian interests and, in short, that
such vast and tremendous power ought not
to be confded to the perilous exercise of one
single man. The Convention, therefore re.
solved to guard the war making power against
those great abuses, of which, in the hands of
monarch. it was so susceptible. And the
security against those abuses, which its wis
dom devised, was to vest the war.naking
power in the Congress of the United States,
being the immediate representatives of the
people and the States. So apprehensive and
jealous was the Convention of its abuse in
any other hands, that it interdcted the eAer-
else of the power to any State in the Union,
without the consent of Congress. Congress,
then, in our system of Government, is the
sole depository of that tremendous power.
The Constitution provides that Congress
shall have power to declare war, and grant
letters of marque and reprisal. to make rules
concerning captures on land and water, to
raise and support armies, to provide and MAIN
tain a navy, and to make rules for the govern
ment of the land and naval forces. Thus, we
perceive, that the principal power, in regard
to war, With all its auxiliary attendants, is
granted to Congress. Whenever called upon
to determine upon the solemn question of
peace or war, Congress must consider, and
deliberate, and decide upon the motives,
objects and causes of the war. And, if
war be commenced, without any previous de-
claration of its objects, as in the case of the
existing war with Mexico, Congress must
necessarily possess the authority at any time.
to declare for what purposes il shall be fur
Their prosecuted. If we Spouse Congress
does not possess the controlling authority at
tributed to it if it be contended that war
having been once commenced, the President
of the United States may direct it to the aac-
comrlishment of any objects he pleases, with
out consulting and without any regard to the
will of Congress the Convention will have
utterly failed in guarding the nation against