Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1847-11-26
SPEECH 0ss 1sEa. a,LAY,
AT THE MASS MEETING n LEXINGTON, KY.


lows:
Ladies aud Gentlemen:
The day is dark and gloomy, unsettled and un-
certain, like The condition OF our country, in
regard 10 the unnatural war with Mexico. Inc
&dblic mind is asi,a;ed and anxious, aud IS filled
i.h serious appichensions as To lis Indefinite con-
tinuance and especially as 10 The consequences
which lis termination may bring forth, mcnacins
The harmony, il not the existence Of our Union.
II is under these circumstances, present my,
self before YOU No ordinary occasion Wouia
have drawn me IRON me ic''ledieh' IN witch
live: but. whilst single pulsaiiun oi me human
hear, remains, ii should, il necessary be aeaicai-
ed TO The service Of ones country. And have
hoprd that, although am a private and humble
citizen an expression OF The views and opinions
| entertain might form some li,ie addition 10 the
general stock Of information, and afford small
assistance in delivering our country from The Pc
Iils and dangers which surround II.
have come here with no purpose 10 at,emp!
10 make fine speech, or any ambitious oraori-
cal display have brought with me no rheori.
cal bouquets 10 throw into this assemblage. In
The circle OF the year autumn has come, and the
season of flowers has passed away. In the pro.
gress of years, my spring time has gone by, and
loo am in the aI,umn OF life, and feel The irost
of age. My desire and aim are TO address you
earnestly, calmly, seriously and PLAINLY, upon
the grave and momenious subjects which have
brought us together And am most solicllous
that no, solitary word may fall from me, ofen,
sive to any party or person IN lhe who're eA'eh VI
The Union.
War, peslilence and famine, by The common
consen, OF mankind, are the three greatest Gala
mites which can betal our species; and war, as
The most diretul, Justly stands foremost and IN
front. Peslilence and famine, no douol Tor wise
although inscrutabic purposes are infections ol
Providence, 10 which j, is our duty therefore, 10
bow with obedience, humble submission and re-
sena,ion. Their duration is not long, and their
ravases are limited. They bring, indeed, great
afi ,clion whilst thew last, but society soon reco-
yers from their effects. War is The voluntary
work OF our own hands, and whatever reproaches
il NAV deserve, should BE- directed TO ourselves
When il breaks uut, lis duration is Indefinite and
unknown-iis vicissudes are hidden from our
view. In the sacrifice Of human lie, and IN The
waste o, human treasure in lis losses and IN lis
buuheu.. i. affects both belligeren! nations; and
ils sad effects of mansed bodies, OF death, and OF
desoiation, endure long after lis thunders are
hushed in peace. War unhinses society, disturbs
its peaceful and regular industry, and scalters
poisonous seeds ofdseasc and immortality, which
continue 10 terminate and diffuse their baneful
influence long after it has ceased. Dazzling by
lis glitter, pomp and paseantry, it begets spirit
OF wild adventure and romantic enterprise, and
often disqual6es those who embark in H. alter
their return from the bloody fields OF battle from
engaging in the industrious and peaceful voca-
lions OF life.
We are informed By a statement, which is APP
pareny correct, that the number Of our country
men slain in This lanenlable Mexican war, al
though il has We, been Of only is months exist.
ence, is equal TO one-halt OF the whole oil The
American loss during the seven years war OF tho
~ 49, \ ~ ihn
expenditure of treasure which il has occasioned,
when il shall come to be fairly ascertaned and
footed up, will be found 10 be more than half OF
the peculiarly cost OF the war OF our lndepend-
ence. And this is The condition OF the party
whose arms have been everywhere and constant
ly victorious!
How dill we unhappi!y get involved in his wara
Il was predicted as he consequence ,. the an
nexalion OF Texas TO The United States. II We
had not Texas We should have no war; The peo-
pie were lold that il that event should happen,
war would ensue. They were told that the war
between Texas and Mexico had no! been leIm.
mated by a treaty OF peace; that Mexico stall
claimed Texas as a rcvolled province; and that
if we received Texas in our Union, we took
along with her. The war existing bsiween her and
Mexico. And the MiaiS.er oi Mexico formally
announced to Inc Government al Washington,
that this nation would consider The annexation OF
Texas 10 the United States as producing state
OF war; But all this was deniei by IN" parzans
OF anne ation. They insisted we should have 10
war, and even imputed 10 those who foieioid II,
sinister motives for their groundiess prediction.
But notwithstanding stale etvi!lual war Ge-
cessarily resulted from The fact OF annexation 81
one of the belliserens 10 the United States, ac-
lual hosii;ies might have been probably ayer;ed
by Prudence moderation, ard wise statesman
ship II Gen. Taylor had been permitted 10 re-
main where his own good sense prompted bin
10 believe he ought 70 rcmain al The point q Cor
pus Christi and il negotiation had been Open
ed with Mexico, in q true spirit OF ami,g aud con-
citation, war possibly nigh! have been prevent
cd. But, instead OF this pacific and moderate
course, whilst Mr. Slide was bending bis way
10 Mexico, with his diplomatic credentials, Gen.
Taylor MAS ordered 10 transport his cannon, and
10 plant i!..:n, in i warlIse altitude, opposite 10
Mata,ncras. on the cas-, bank OF the Rio Bravo,
waa -: very dispute! territory, The adjustment
o! whgn vas 10 te the ohjec' Of Mr.. SiiGe!i's mis-
sion. Wna: else could have ,ranspired hul a
conAlc. ci arms
Thus The war commenced, and The President,
after having produced il, appealed 10 Congress.
a bin was proposed 10 raise $4,000 volunteers.
and in order 10 commit all who should vote for
il, a preamble was inserted falsely ailribuling the
commencement 0! the war to the act of Mexico
who after struggling To divcst the bill oi that Ma
grant error, found themselves constrained 20 vote
tor it, But must say thai NJ e,!.h.y conside-
ration would have ever tempted or provoked me
10 vote Tor a bill with palpable ialsehood stamp
ed on ils face. Almost idolzing truth as do,
| never never, could have voted Tor thai bill.
The exc spiouable conduct OF the Federal par
~ during 'he las' British War, has excited an in
fuence il NE prosecution OF the present war; and
~ mi al wpan n ~
wars. That WAS war Of National defence,
required Tor the vindicaion OF The Nation.
al rights and honor, and demanded by tue irdig-
nan, voice of the people. Presden, Madison
himself | know, Ill first reluctantly and With
great doubt and hesitation, brought himself 10 lhe
conviction that il ought 10 he declared. A lead
ing, and perhaps the most influential member u
hi. Cabinet, Mr.. GallaliD,] was, up 10 The time
its declaration, opposed to il. But nothing could
withstand the irresistible force Of public senti-
ment II was just war, and its great object as
announced at The time, was, "Ffec Trade and
Sailors Rights" against the intolerable ard op.
pressve acts oil British powe! on The ocean. The
Justice oil the war. lar from being denied or con-
lroverled, was admitted by the Fed sal party
which only questioned i, on considerations ui n,-
icy.
Being deliberately and coslitu'ioHaiy declared
j, was, think, their duty TO have gwen 70 II hei
hearty co-opefaion bus int mass "a 'uehi oii
not They continued TO oppose and thwarl it, ic
discourage loans and enlisiments, 10 deny ths
power of the General Government 10 march The
militia beyond our limits. and 10 hold Hartford
Convention, which, whatever were its real OBJ
Jets, bare the aspec, Of seeking dissolution @
The Union itself. They lost and justly lost ths
public confidence. Blu, has not an apprehension
of similar fate, in a state OF case widely diff
ferent repressed fearless expression OF theirrea
sentiments in some OF our public men2
How totally variant is the present war? Thi.
is no war of defence, but Que unnecessary and o
offensive aggression II is Mexico that is defend
ing her firesides. her castles and her al'ars, no
we. And how different also isthe conduct OF lbs
Wing party of the present day from that OF the
major parl Of The federal party during the war o
1912! Far from interposing any obstacles 10 the
prosecution Of the war, il the Wings in office are
xaaraachahla I'll i L :r ha zinc lert rc2d.