The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1847-11-16

!
MIR. Ciay's Speech and RESOLUTIONS.
Mr.. Clay's speech and resolutions, presented
at the Lexington meeting on Saturday last, have
created great establishment in this community
His proposition to abandon all the brilliant adj
vantages gained in the war--to throw up Cali
fornia and both sides of the Rio Grande--to heat
the poker for Mexico, without asking indemnity
for the fuel used in the operation--are beginning
| to be considered the emanations of mind OPP
pressed with years, or with misfortune Among
the democrats, such a policy is, of course,
laughed at and ridiculed; among some portions
of the wing party the same feeling Is almost dis
played, besides among the great mass of indie
pendents and stragglers belonging to every camp
In short, every party seems TO be astonished,
contounded, paralysed at the propositions and
movements of Mr.. Clay, with the exception of
certain branch of the wing party-;hat amiable
and philosopic branch which advocates abo-
litlon, antl-rentism, short pantaloons, long HAIR
white hats, and other outre Indications, inwards
end outwards. =
! Mr. Clay's resolutions are plain and distinct
propositions. His Speech such as has been re-
ceived, corresponds with the resolutions, and we
have no doubt, when full report reaches U.S. it
will be eloquent, impressive and startling. But
no eloquence, no years, no wisdom, can sanction
course of policy which will throw ridicule and
contempt upon the two brilliant campaigns in
Mexlco-the one by Gen. Taylor, and the other
by Gen. Scott In eighteen months an army of
American volunteers, fresh from their mountains
and their valleys, and without any previous dsci-
pine, have met in nearly fifty battles, five or six
times their number Of military race, conducted
by military officers thirty years in the field, and
have defeated them in every engagement-in
every campaign-and ended by taking possession
of all their principal sea ports, and their magnifi
cent capital. This campaign exceeds, in certain
points of Importance, any military or era.ions
that the world has ever seen in it's past history.
The conquest OF Persia by Alexander the Great,
presents no such daring and wonderful deeds,
against such odds, as the American arms have
performed in Mexico. Gen. Scott and Gen.
Taylor, and their associates, have accomplished
in eighteen months what took the old Roman
legions one hundred and fifty years, and three
Punlc wars, to accomplish in the conquest of
Carthage. In modern history there is nothing
that can be compared with it but the two early
expeditions OF Napoleon, and the victorious
career of his legions in Italy; and yet, instead
There is not general officer in the American
army who is not just as capable as Gen. Taylor
or Gen. Scott to occupy the positions held'by
| those officers There is hardly private in this
army, that is not fit to command, in some rank
or other. Europe and the world may we'll be
astonshed. All this has been accomplished by
volunteers, moved and directed by few mill
tary leaders of the last war, and aided and assist.
ed by the cadets of the West Point academy
The British government is so astonished at
these things, that at this moment, it has sent
out instructions TO its consuls in this country to
procure the laws and regulations which govern
the volunteers and the militia of the United
States.
Now, after such a campaign as we have briefly
lndicated-lfter an expenditure of fifty millions
of dollars, and a loss Of ten to fifteen thousand
of as brave men and generals as ever fell-after
reaching the capitol of Mexico, and possessing
all her seaports-is it possible that any man, pre-
tending 10 be a statesman, claiming to be an
American, and willing to stand by his country,
can come forward, and with the Lords prayer on
his lips, and "a grace before meat" on his tongue,
calmly propose that all these advantages-allths
blood and treasure-that all these fruits should
be abandoned and thrown away, and that we
should call back our armies, evacuate the
country, and retire to our own borders without
exacting indemnity for the past and security for
the future =! 1t would be children's play. We
do not believe there is fraction OF the
people of this country that wou sane
ton such a course of action on the part of
their government, their President, or Congress
There is, to be sure, a small faction of fanatics
who din the world about the colored race, that
would sanction the widest notions, under the
name of humanity and moderation; but beyond
that rump, it is our firm belief there exists
among the American people not the slightest
disposition to adopt such policy as that indi-
Gated by Mr.. Clay. The measure he proposes
does not settle the Wilmot proviso question
it lodges it altogether; but we conceive the Will
mot proviso to be mere straw in the way of
a railroad car 1t is no impedmen to the great
movement Of the age. II is all talk and buster,
and will end IN smoke.
In this part Of the country, therefore, the
speech and resolutions of Mr.. Clay have fallen
on the public mind like hand grenade. The
first effect of it will be to rend into two factions
the wing party, just flushed with the victory it
has accomplished in this State There is por-
ton Of the wings who will adhere to Mr. Clay,
as their candidate, up to the day of judgments
but theresa large section of them, with American
feelings and American principles, who will never
follow the course pointed out by him; and who
will support any other candidate for the Presden-
cy, in preference TO man who would take such
course. Gen. Taylo heretofore, has been named;
hut he has written letters enough to injure
his prospects. We are persuaded, therefore
that the name of General Scott, instead, in con
necton with future events, will be brought for
ward with great force, and this, too, by sec.
ton Of the wing party who will support him in
preference to any other candidate. Such, we
believe, will be the result Of Mr.. Clay's singu-
lar movement. We will, however, wait, and
watch, and report the progress Of things as they
are developed. But, rely upon it, Gen. Scott