The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1847-11-24

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II is with small degree OF satisfaction that we have
observed the general regret and modification with which
these resolutions and speech have been received We
did not anticipate less but vet we are pratifed that our
antcpaions have been so fully realized The feeling of
the country IS sound II is alive to its honor and well
fare and VIII not permit these to be sacrificed under the
mantle oil any name The appeal has gone forth; it has
been answered by general expression of opinion and
will be more completely answered at future day by the
ballot,box AND what is that appeal That Americans
should retire from not of their own seeking
should voluntarily give up their conquests should yield
that winch has cost so much blood and treasure and
without indemnity Tor the past security for the future
should De content with the boundary which theirs
before the wal commenced In word, the Clay ban
ner is peace and no indemnify. The democratic ban
sons as II peace were the only desirable object and
| he proposes to obtain it by yielding to the enc
my everything that he asks. A very simple mode
of making peace truly, and one which we would not
have supposed would have required serious an effort
such labored reasoning, and such solemn pledges from
the sage OF Askand-uness indeed, he felt conscious
of its Woprety There would be difficulty in fndu
cling Mexico to accede to such terms. They all that
she desires Would that noble son of his who shed his
blood on the Held OF Buena VISTA have left his home for
such an obect' Would those patriotic citizens who
have rushed 10 the field of slaughter and of death, and
who are now rushing there have been animated by their
heroic feelings such to be the object of their
erions and suferngs' Would this war have been car
red on by the whole country it has BEEN if its prnc
pal results were TO retire to the boundary which
before the war began This, indeed, would be trifng
with the feelings and character of people-would be
robbng the war Of all its national aspects-would be
| ual display and individual glory. The nation is to
reap no rut from ITS treasure expended and its pre-
cious citizens killed. 1t is to derive no advantage
from It's victories, but the mere glory to its Ii is
to show that il fought for nothing, expended life and
treasure Tor nothing, waged successful of years for
nothing, but boundary which ours before the war
began Had we been beaten at every point and we
reduced to the defence of the Rio Grande less than
Mr.. Cays proposition would hardly have been offered
to by enemy and less certainly could not have
aCCeded Is, IF
onal character and concession of territory. Mr.. Clay
refers TO the war of 1912 Let him point out the national
have gained and the manifestation of our ability to fight
the powerful enemy whom encountered. What treaty
secured those "saors rights of which he speaks They
remained as underlined and unacknowledged as they
were before the war; and unsecured except in the moral
impressions which that war established Has any principle
for which that war was waged been acknowledged by our
antagonist! The practice Of impressmen has not been
continued because there have since been no European
wars to make that practice necessary; and it may
not hereafter be renewed because increased strength
since tina period, would make the renewal of it
rather dangerous experiment reference to the OF
1912 49, however, rather unfortunate 1t recalls to our
mind the force OF opposition which attempted to
barrass exerons and to coerce the Executive into
peace. Does Mr. Clay desire similar exhibition at the
present day. Then, were the invaded party, defend
ing our soil from the mroals of enemy devastating il
wherever he moved An active and extended opposition
attempted then to parayze the executive and to
cree upon the country peace-leavng u.s., in all the
Favowed objects OF the war, were before the war
commenced Does MIR. Clay desire repetition of such
tactious movements AT that day he was the great
champion OF the nation. What is he now' How are
the mighty fallen He yielded to strong necessity and
aided in making that peace We find no fault with him
for that But we had then powerful antagonist to
counter abroad, and an equally powerful opposition to
cope with at home.
Does Mr.. Clay desire to head similar opposition now
Let him reflect upon the judgment which the country
passed upon that opposition, from which il never escaped
and from which it never escape Who of that party
has ever risen TO power and influence snce More than
thirty years have passed away, and yet the leaders Of
fart1n fha
estimation of the country. Would Mr. Clay be the
leader OF similar party now' We make these remarks
ment that great should have fallen from galaxy
IN which it once shone with much brightness. Mr..
Clay was once democratic leader in this land child
OF democracy, he rose to fame and power at its head
Admired followed, and relied upon, he stood prominent
" forth one OF her favored sons But in evil hour
he abandoned the cause from which he had derived so
much distinction; and what has he been since! He
made the great mistake of supposing that his power
in HIMSELF instead OF in his and dearly has he paid
edge hun no longer He stands comparatively alone
an isolated beacon from which others may take warning
but which no one is DESTROYS to follow.
Independent OF these views of Mr. Clays propositions
and speech, they are pregnant with other and most
grave considerations They aro in fact adapted to pro-
tract the war We have had partial negotiation dur
ing the armlstlce, in which it clear that Mexico had
imagined the necessity of yielding territory an
indemnity, reluctantly yielded generally, and coupled
In some respects with rather offensive conditions. But,
now, what is Mexico taught to believe! That there is
great party in our country, at the head Of which
Henry Clay, who are opposed to her yielding any thing
and are ready to make peace with the boundary
we had before the war began
Such an impression is calculated to have other effect
than to prorac the war; 1t is saying to Mexico, "Per
severe in your resistance continue refuse any cession
OF terrltory-we 40 not want any-and we will coerce the
present Executive into peace, with the Rio Grande, or
rather the Nueces, as boundary" Will not Mexico
hold out under such encouragement! Would not any
people do so And not the tendencies of such prop
osons, therefore, directly to protract the war; Will
the wings take upon their shoulders the odium of such
n thp fOrcp Of thQIrn m
position to the protacton of this war One would say
It was impossible; For the honor of the country we
hope not Already we strong symptoms of disgust
with the plan among the wings themselves. Many of
them will shake from their skirts the odum of plan
fraught with such mischievous tendencies. Some such |
evil, however, will be produced The impressions which
such propositions will create in the minds of the enemy
Mr.. Clay will unquesonably have the merit of produ-
cling such consequence although may find among
results the catastrophe of separating of his party into
wings and Clay wings, and of leaving him as the
leader OF comparatively diminutve faction
10 our Judgment, it is very clear that Mr. Cays prop
osons, so lar from promoting peace, will tend to pro-
tract the war. Mexico is looking anxiousy to u.s.
She sees no hope OF strength in herself She can hope
only to save herself by the force of divisions
and she assured by Mr. Clay that he will head party
against our demands and in favor of her pretensons.
Deuded and deceived she will be the end yet she
will probably catch at this straw and refuse treat,
der the hope that the Clay propositions will guaranty
her an escape from the without any loss of territory
Misguided people, it is not only your own errors of
which you will have to reap the bitter fruits, but
into which you are led by the folly of others.
is well known that the present administration cannot
yield to such terms Mr.. Clay has proposed and is
equally well known that the democratic p3rtv which