The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1847-11-24
CITY OF WASHINGTON.
WEDNESDAY NIGHT, NOV. "a, Is47.


and authentic form, before readers and we ask for
careful perusa Its origin, its character its we'll known
object and It's probable influence upon the future policy
and position OF the wings, all ene it to such attention
It is the wing manifesto, drawn up evidently upon the
most mature advsement and consideration by the most
experienced, renowned and influential of all the wing
statesmen 1t is intended to shape, and IT must go far
towards shaping the counses of the wings in the APP
preaching Congress and in the next presidential cam
paign 1t is the only demonstration issuing from the
whig ranks which can even pretend to be regarded an
adequate basis for the national rally of that party In
that view it has been waited for with anxious Impotence
as the main, if not the sole hope of wing unanmity
The various sections of the party must unite upon the
policy it embodies, or must fail to unite at all
AS whig, and opposed to the war, Mr.. Clay has
been constrained to assume his fundamental position
that the has originated in the unusted act of
government and that the guilt of it and the responsibility
for it upon us, and not upon our enemies Deny this
postulate- that Mexico has wickedy forced the
upon us-and there is imaginable justification for
the attitude which the wings have from the first assumed
in relation to its its prosecution its
close If Mexico forced the upon us without Just
cause, them in failing to unite in its most vigorous prose
cuon till it be closed in full reparaon and indemnity,
we should be undeniably false to our highest national
dues and should thus bow down the proud crest of our
country to foul shame and dshonor In the nature OF
things, issue between two parties can be more vital
than this and this point the OF the wings is thus
stated by Mr. Clay:
But Notwithstanding of virtual necessarily
resulted from the fact of annexation of of the beger
TO the United States, actual hostes might have been
probably averted by prudence moderation and wise
manshiD III General TaVlOr had been Derined
where his good sense prompted him believe he ought
toreman at the point Corpus Christi and if negotiation
had been opened with Mexico, in spirit of amiy and
conciaon, possibly might have been prevented But
instead OF this pacific and moderate course whilst Mr. Sill
dell was bending his way to Mexico with his diplomatic
credentials, General Taylor ordered transport his
cannon and to plant hem in warke attitude, opposite
TO Maamoras, the east bank of the Rio Bravo, within
the very disputed territory the adjustment of which
be the object of Mr. Sidel's mission. What else could
have transpired but a conflict of arms
The position of party is indeed deplorable when to
Justify its position on question involving the most
cred rights and the good name of the country, its chief
statesman is forced into palpable and fragrant mis-
representation OF well known facts General Taylor or
dsred his opposite to Matamoras "chile Mr. &i-
dell bending his avay to Merieo wih his diplomatic
CREDENTIALS" When we saw this stupendous misstate-
ment in the published sketch of Mr. Clays speech, we
corrected from the record, suspectng, however that
there might be naccuracy in the report But what
the same language given is here, almost word
for word in the revised and authentic speech Mr..
Sde arrived at Vera Cruz the Both OF November ls45
On the sth of December following he presented himself
with his diplomatic credentials" in the city of Mexico to
the Mexican government On the lst of that same month";
hatgovernment defnitiuely refused to receive him. And
not until all these facts wce kown at Washington did the
rJar, Al mi
Taylor to move from Corpus Christi But more than
this: Paroles came into power in Mexico by the over
throw OF Heres administration, the first of Janua
ry, ls46 Mr. Sidell was then there Instead of re-
cevipg our minister Paroles himself tells us, in his
proclamation under date OF the 18th of April 1885, that
having determined Gin the beginning of that year" to
adopt more vigorous policy, he had ordered his army to
attack troops This order thus referred to as issued
"m the beginning of the year." was aimed at Gen
eral Taylor while he was yet encamped at Corpus
Christi, which place he did not leave till the nth
OF March, 1916, just ten days after Mr. Sldel already
once repulsed by Herrera's government had made in
vain his second application to be received with his d
plomatic credentials" by the usurpng administration of
Paroles In the face of these facts the official records
both Of Mexico and the United States Mr. Clay de-
nounces his own government having by its own act
brought the war; and offers for proof the astounding
assertion that army ordered to plant its cannon
IN battery against Maam oras while Mr. Slidell was on
his way to Mexico! But Gen. Taylors "good sense"
says MIR. Clay, prompted him to believe that he ought
to remain at Corpus Christi" Just the reverse General
Iaylors good prompted him to write to the War
Department the 4th of October, 1915, abusing if
we meant to claim to the Rio Bravo to make forward
movement to the Rio Grande more than three months
before the order for that movement was issued We
have already how Mr. Clay states facts This may
show how he cites authorities.
Having, on such grounds as these charged his own
country with the wrongful commencement of the war,
Mr. Clay proceeds assert that the objects of the war
on our part have not been made known-hat we are at
war bndy and without any visible object" Let us
see then, what's, Mr. Clays own showing, sufficient
declaration OF the objects Of Here what he says
on this point relation to the war of 1912, of which he
was himself one of the foremost champions:
In the instance of the last with Great Britain the
act OF Congress by which declared was preceded by
u message Of President Madison enumerapg the wrongs
ana injuries Of which complained against Great Britain
mat message thereioreand without it the wellknown
OoJecs OF the war, which purely of defence
nuefed unnecessary that Congress should parfcudrf-e,
'he act the specific objects for uhieh proclaimed
Inc whole world knew that was a war waged for free
trade and sailors rights.
nave we had, then, presidential messages "enumer
su"s the wrongs and injuries complained of against
ieA'cof Was not the act of May 18th preceded"
W JUST such message Is not Indemnity for the past
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