The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1847-11-27
SPEECH OF MR.. CLAY,
AZ tHrc Mass 2ife:aGag ia EEK
iDgeGn. FAY. oEa Saturday,
SNA nIiElpH isE 1917

y
0scniEser i3, 1917.
After the organization OF the meeting,
Mr.. Clay rose and addressed it subStan-
tail y as follows:
Lndjas end Go,tlfmo0:
The day l,''darll and gloomy, unsettled
and uncertain. like the condition of our
country, in regard to the unnatural war
with Mexico. The public mind is agi-
tated and anxious, and is filled with serl-
Gus approximations as to its indefinite con
sequences which IT'S termination may
bring forth, mcnacing the harmony, ifnot
the existence, OF our Union.
1t is under these circumstances, pre-
sent myself before You. No ordinary
occasion would have drawn me from the
retirement in which live: but, whilst
a single pulsation Of thr human heart re-
mains, it should, if necessary, be dedica-
ted to the service OF ones country. And
I have hoped that, although | am d pri-
waite and humble citizen, an expression
of the views and opinions ! entertain,
might form some little addition to the
| IL
small assistance inilclivering cur country
from the pcris and dangers which sur
rgurd it.
have come here with no purpose to
attempt to make fine speech, OF any
ambitious oratorical display. | have
brought with me no rhetorical boqucls to
throw into this assemblngc. In the cir
Gle of the year autumn has come, and
the season of flowers has passed away.
In the progress of years, my spring time
has gone by, and | too am in the autumn
Of life, and feel the frost oI'agc. My de-
sire and aim are to address YOU, earnest
! ", calmly, seriously and plainly, upon
the grave and momcntous subjects which
| have brought US together. And | am
most soicitous that not a solitary word
/ may fall from me, offensive to any party
or person in the whole extent Of the Tn
/ ion.
War, post.cncc, aud famine, by the
common consent OF mankind, are the
| three greatest calamities which can betal
our species: and the war, as the most
/ dircluI, justly stands foremost and in front
/ Pcstlcnce and famine, no doubt for wise
although inScrutablo purposes, are atllic-
/ ti,ns Of Providence, TO which it is our
duty, therefore to bow with obedience,
humble submission and resignation.
| Their duration is not long, and their raw
ages are limited. They Irjn-, indeed,
great aiiliction whilst they last, but So
ci"ty soon RECEIVERS from their effects.
War is the voluntary work of our hands,
and whatever reproaches it may deserve
should be directed to ourselves. When
it brt axis out, its duration is indefinite and
unknown-ils vicissitudeS are hidden
from our view. In the sacrifice of hui
man life, and in the waste of human trea-
sure, in its losses and in its burthenS, it
affects both belIigcrcnt nations; and its
sad effects of mangled bodies, Of death,
and of deSolatloD, endure long after its
thundcrs are hushcd in peace. War I'M
hinges society, dlsturbs its peaceful and
regular industry, and scattcrs poisonous
seeds Of disease and immortality, which
continue to terminate and dilIuse their
banclul influence lon@ after it has ceased.
Dazzling by its glitter, pomp and pa
gcantry. it brgets spirit of wild advcn-
ture and romantic enterprise, and often
diSqlu!inrs those who embark in it, after
their return from the bloody fields Of
battle, from engaging in the Industrious
and peaceful yocations Of life.
We are in!ormcdb Ivy a statement, which
is apparently correct, that the number OF
our countrymcn slain in this lamcnablc
Mexican war, although it has yet been OF
only IS months existence, is equal &c
one hall Of the Whole Of the American los.
during the seven years war Of the Rev
olution, And | venture to assert that
the expenditure of treasure which it has
occasioncd, when it shall come to be fair
ly ascertaincd and footed up, will be
found to be more than half of the pecu-
mary cost OF the war Of our lndepcn-
dcncc. And this is the condition Of the
! party whose arms have been every where
nnd constantly victorious,
How did we unhappiIy get involved
in this war! 1t was predicted as the con
sequence Of the annexation of Texas to
the United States. five had not Texas
we should have 10 war. The people
were told il that event happened, war
would cnsue. They were told that the
war between Texas and Mexico had not
been terminated by treaty Of peace;
that Mexico still claimed Texas as a re-
voltcd province: and that il we received
Texas in our Union, we took along with
her, the war existing between her and
Mexico. And the Minister OF Mexico
formally announced to the Government
At Washington, that his nation would con-