Juliet signal. [volume] (Juliet [i.e. Joliet], Ill.) 1844-1???, 1847-12-14
JOLIET SIGN AL.
JOLIET ILL.
TUESDAY. DECEMBEIs m, Is47.
Mr.. CIay's Speech.


lished i, in full, and requested all to "read,
read, and re.read it," as it contained the
correct sentiments of whiggery. This
speech will exert great influence upon
the public mind, from the position its au.
thor occupies in the wbig party. The
distinguished station which he has filled
his commanding abili,ies-his long expe.
rience in public life, give him an influence
over the wing party which no other man
has ever possessed. 1t is truly humilia.
nng' to see that portion of the wing press
which has heretofore supported the coun.
try and war. endeavoring to explain away
The dishonoring sentiments of Mr.. CLAY as
to the origin and guilt Of the war. This.
h0wever.is to he mainly attributed TO their
having heretofore been in The habit of re-.
celvIng his sentiments unchaIenged upon
all the questions of dispute between the
two parties. Whatever Mr.. Claws SER
vices to his country, heretofore may emit.
tic him to, he has forfeited all claim by
trying to Iasten the guilt of tie war upon
his nation and country.
The following extract from his speech.
will show tho grounds upon which Mr..
Clay endeavOrs to free our enemies from
the censur" Of bringing on the war:
'Bnt Notwithstanding state of Virtual
war necessarily resulted from ihe tact of
GnneanfiOn Of one of The helIigerents IL
the United States, actual hosi.Iitirs mishf
h're bcen probably acert'd By prudence,
mOdrrGfiOn, and mtSe Sfaieynaunsh,p #
General Taylor had been permitted to
remain where his good sense prompted
him to believe he ought 10 remain. nj the
point OF Corpus Christi. and iGa negoiia
ton had ben Openfd miih Mrr,co in a
true Sp'ru or Gmity and c0nrliinaOn, uar
possibly NIGH haze BEEN prerrnied But
INSTEAD OF this pacific and moderate
course, uhiiSt Nr SI1dpH wdS uemding
his m0s to Merico with has diplomatic
credentials, General Taylor was ordered
TO transport his cannon,and to plant them,
IN warl'ke attitude, opposite TO Mata.
moras, on the east bank ufiEe Rio Bravo,
within the very dipuied territory the ad
JuStment OF which was to he the object of
Mi. SIdeII's mission. What else could
have transpired hut conflict ofarms?
IL hns the war commenced, and the
President. after hari"g producpd IL, ap,
pe0|edt0 Congress-. A bill was proposed
TO raise fifty thousand volunteers, and, H.
order to commit all who should vnte for
IL, preamble was inserted, falsely at.
trtbutang the commencement of me war TO
the ac' Of NericO. have no doubt ofthe
patriotic motives of those who, after
struggling to diyest the hill of that fla.
grant error, found themselves constrained
to vote for it. But must say that no
earthly consideration would have ever
tempted or provoked me to vote for a
bill ruth q paIpabIe talSthoOd stamped on
as face. Almost idolizing truth, as do.
| never, never could have voted for that
bill"
Thus has this great recognized leader
of the wing party, upon the grounds ad-
vanced above, seen fit 10 deliberately
charge upon this government the must
heinous crime a nsiion can commit. In
the charges which Mr., Clay makes. he
seems to have forgotten that dates and
facts are OF use in matters Of great na,inn.
al moment. Instead ofGeneraI J'ayIor's
good sense prom ting him Ia believe that
lie ought TO remain at Corpus Christi, lie
was the first one that advised n forwurd
movement nfour troops To the Rin GraDde
This he did in n letter dated ut CorEu:
Christi. four m"nlhs previous TO The move
mrni of orr .roups from that point. Al
To the assertion that Gen. Taylrr wa.
ordered to The ri" Granhe, whilst Mr.
| StideiI was vending his way Ia Mexic,
with his diplomatic credentials " this i,
also without foundation, rs the facts vii
show. The facts in relation to this mai
ter are these: General Taylor advised
that the army should be moved, on the 4tl
| Of October, IS45. which was declined b,
The President. who in November sent Mr.
Sidell to Mexico. Mr.. Slidell was per
empiorily refused a recognition. Nearl,
two months atier Mr.. Slidell was rejected
iy the Mexican government, Gen. Taylo
received orders 10 march to the ri,
| Grande with bis forces. II is Indeed de
piorabIe, when the Trader Of a party /
compelled. in order to justify lis position
ON question involving The most sacIpC
rights. honor and interests Of the country