Southport telegraph. [volume] (Southport, W.T. [i.e. Kenosha, Wis.]) 1840-1850, 1847-12-10
GAYS SPEECH

which makes publication Of it, III lis whole extent
superlGous
1t strikes us that the speech is receiving moro
commentators from lis friends, and more condem-
nations from It's enemies than its intrinsic merits
defects, cntItlc ii to- 1t owes It's notorety both
among friends and enemies, more, we apprehend, to
ITS source, than 10 its merits Its Mr. Claws fate
or rather a result of his character, to be ardentv
loved and as ardenty hated; hence, whilst one side
can see nothing but beauty and wisdom in all he
says, the other can nothing, except 10 condemn
We arc no admirer of CIays Wisdom and politi-
cal honesty we never thought he could Justly lay
claim to and the brilliant genius which he undoubt
eddy has we think was we'll touched of by Ran
dolph, when lie said !" it shines and stinks and
stInks and shines like rotten mackerel by moon
light" In reading this speech, we have endeayored
10 divest oursclf of all undue prejudice we know
not to what extent we have been successful, or to
what extent the conclusions we have come to are
free from this peculiarly
| That this speech is the spontaneous outporing of
Mr. Clays heart, OVERLOOKING with an ardent love
OF his country and desire for her welfare we do not
believe On the contrary we feel confident that it
is the result of calculation among many wing lea
ders; the declaration OF policy which has been
carefully worked out the end Of which is party not
country The face of the political affairs OF the
country has been carefully scanned and elements Of
dscord and DISCRIMINATION were found at work
among all parties How We combine the grea-
test torce-upon what platform can we best rally
the dlsorganized opposition existing to the admins
ton and to the democratic party generally was the
question. Eureka-we have found it--cXclaimed
the knowing ones this shall be our platform, and
Henry Clay shall tie our oracle to deliver il to the
people The oracle like the oraclcs of DID, has
spoken what it was directed to- and the wing multi
tude, like the multitude of old, cXclam with one
voice great is the oracle, let US obey its commands
not question them. The ideas, the positions, and
principles, which have been di>jointcd common pla
ccs among the wings ever since the commencement
of war are here elaborated with some degree of de-
fncness and order, and wings failing to recognise
the familiar friends, cxclaim with one voice, great
is Henry Clay. We would ask some admirer Of
Clay and Of this speech, to point out single idea
or principle or position, which has not been again
again preached discussed and worn theadba!c in
said withdraw your troops and cease the war, and
this is all that Clay says, if he says any thing; and
we don't know bat it might be more proper to say
that on this point, although he leaves great deal
to be inferred, he in reality, lays down conclu-
sons The war he says is wrong. Now if this be
the case, why does he not say without palaycr
cease the wrong. But we infer from the language
that it is wrong only because the President conducts
it. If Congress will but take the war out Of the
Presidents hands and make proclamation of their
purpose in conducting il, though that purpose be
conquest it will he right and all the energies Of tic
nation should be employed i'll It's prosecution This
is what he says, but he evidently means that Con,
grcss in making proclamation OF purpose, shall de
clare only that they wish permission to get out of
the invaded country with she least possible trouble
1t is the no-;erritory pocy,these well knowing
that IN advocating no indemnify they advocate no
territory
Mr.. Clay deprecatcs strongly the idea Of conquc
ring and anneXing the whole of Mexico. The idea
OF such a result at any period soon, has seriously
entered into no mans mind. Mr.. Clay has in this
fought phantom of his own creation. He dcpie
Gates the idea of acquiring territory Jorhc pp1p0sc
OF extending slavery nor is he aware innocent and
unsophsticated soul that he is that any person en-
tcrtains such purpose in acquiring territory. Mr.
Clay deliberately blinhs the whole question at is
sue lie knows that the people Of this country to
lcrate this only because they believe it to he
right and SO believing they will not discontinue it
without indemnity, and that this indemnity must
come in the shape Of territory. He knows all this
therefore why does lie not say what shall be done
with this territory after Its acquisition 1t is quite
possible he does not want territory for the purpose
Of extending slavery, but the probability CT having
territory is certainly imminent enough TO demand
of him an expression of his views on the subject
and particularly when it is the main question now
agtating parties and tie country. Mr.. Clay has
exhibited good deal more of the politician than
the patriot on this question, according to way of
thinking.
Mr. Clay dcprecates slavery a great curse
What, let us ask, makes slavery but Shareholders
Mr. Clay is Shareholders and therefore Of course,
OF the authors and upholcrs Of this great wrong
lie says he would lay down his life in defence Of
truth and yet in this case, he refuses to lay down
even his property in its defence for he clings to the
error by keeping his slaves in bondage, when the
cause OF truth demands their immediate and unqua-
lifted emancipation, Yet his liberty loving friends
in the north, will doubtless fail TO see any inconsis-
tcncy here any cause for abating one ot Of their
admiration for the man.
But these inconsistencies in the speech, if such
they be are unimportant. It's the design and pur-
pose OF the whole thing, which gives itimportance.
We feel confident that it is trick of the south
to cheat the north. Henry Clay is to be the SOU
them candidate for the Presidency He hates sla-
very, do they ALL but neither he nor the rest OF
them will voluntarily emancipate their slaves
On the contrary if needs be they viii guard the
" curse and the institutions which uphold it with
muske;s in their hands lie is with nine-tenths Of |
the south in this pect aud in opposition to man