Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1847-12-03


After the organization Of the meeting,
Mr. Clay rose and addressed il substantially
as follows -
LADIES AND GENTLEMEN;
The day is dark and gloomy. unsettled
and uncertain, like the condition Of our
country in regard TO the unnatural war with
Mexico. The public mind is agitated and
anxious, and is filed with serious apprehen-
sions as to its indefinite continuance, and
especially as 10 the consequences which its
termination may bring forth, menscing the
harmony, IL not the existence, OF our Union.
IL is under these circumstances l present
myself before you. No ordinary occasion
would have drawn me from the retirement
in which | live but, whilst a single pulsa-
ton Of the human heart remains, il should,
if necessary, be dedicated to the service OF
ones country. And ! have hoped that, al
though am a private and humble citizen,
an expression of the views and opinions l
entertain might form some little addition to
the general stock Of information, and afford
a small assistance in delivering our country
from the perils and dangers which surround
il.
have come here with no purpose 10 at
tempt TO make a fine speech, or any ambi-
tious orstorical display. l have brought
with me no rhetorical boqueis to throw in
to this a~ssemblage. In the circle 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. aud
j too am in the autumn OF life, and feel the
frost Of age. My desire and aim are to ad-
dress you, earnestly. calmly. seriously and
plainly. upon the grave and momentous sub
iects which have brought US together. And
| an most solicitous that not a solitary word
may fall from me, offensive 10 any party or
person in the whole extent OF the Union.
War, pestilence, and famine, by the COM
mon consent of mankind, are the three
greatest calamities which can befall our spe-
cies and war, as the most direfnl, Justly
stands foremost and in front. Pestilence
and famine, no doubt for wise though in
scrutable purposes, are infections Of Prov.
idence, TO which It is our duty, therefore, to
bow with obedience, humble submission
aud resignation. Their duration is not
long. and their ravages are limited. They
bring, indeed, great Affections whilst they
last, but society soon ecoyer from their eE-
fecis. War is the voluntary work Of our
own hands. and whatever reproaches it may
deserve, should be directed TO ourselves
When il breaks out, its duration is indef.
mite and unknown-its vicissitudes are hid
den from our view. In the sacrifice Of hu.
man life, and in the waste OF human treas
ure, in its losses. and in its burihens. it az
fects both belligerent nations and its sad
effects Of mangled bodies. Of death. and Of
desolation, endure long after its thundcrs
are hushed in peace War unhinges socie-
ty. disiurbs its peaceful and regular industry,
and scatters poisonous seeds Of disease and
immortality, which continue 10 terminate
and diffuse their baneful influence long af.
ter it has ceased. Dazzling by its glitter,
pomp and pageantry, it begets a spirit Of
wild adventure aud romantic enterprise, and
often disqualiies those who embark 10 IL.
after their return from the bloody fields of
hattie, from engaging IN the industrious aud
peaceful vocatiOns OF life.
We are informed by a statement, which
is apparently correct, that the number Of
our countFymen slain in this lamentable
Mexican war, although il has yet been Of
only eighteen months existence, is equal to
one half Of the whole Of the American loss
during the seven years war of the Revolu-
ton And | venture TO assert that the ex-
penditure Of treasure which il has OCCASION
ed, when it shall come TO be fairly ascertain
cd and footed up, will be found to be more