Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1847-11-25
Correspondence of the Courier and Enquirer.

assembled this morning; and at precisely |
O'clock the hour designated, HENRY CLAY mount
ed the platform, amidst the shouts and cheers of
the assembled thousands Il had rained all the
morning, and every thing looked like November
With several other gentlemen, | had seated my
self a. table on the platform, with pens, ink
and Oper-prepared TO make full report of his
remarks when Mr. Clay came forward, and stat.
ed he was opposed TO having any report of his
speech made for tile press, as he had been fire. |
quently mlsrepresented. He said he intended |
to have it printed under his own supervision, and |
would furnish copies TO all who wished them In !
vain we demonstrated, and offered to submit our
report to his revision. lie declined peremptor- |
y, and said that if we persisted in reporting him,
he would not speak.
Gen. Leslie Combs called the meeting to or.
der, and said he hoped that perfect silence
would be observed, as it was probably the last
time tina! the illustrious individual now before
them would address popular assembly; and he
resolved to do it on this occasion from a high
sense Of duty to himself and the country. The
momentous question now presented to the Amer
lean People, Of the annexation, by conquest or
purchase, OF an immense foreign territory inhab-
tied by millions of people of different races and
colors, and placing them on an equal footing
with the free white citizens CT this Republic
permitted no man who loved his country to re-
main silent; and tiENRY CLAY would have been
unworthy of his part history, if he had allowed
any selfish considerations to palsy his tongue.
He had rather be right than be President.
On motion of Gen. Combs, The Hon. George
Robertson was appointed President, with long
array of Vice Presidents and Secretaries.
Mr. Clay then rose and offered the following
! /. Resolved, AS the opinion of this meeting,
that the primary cause of the present unhappy
war existing between the United States of A.
merica and the United States Of the Republic
of Mexico, was the annexation OF Texas TO the
| former; and the immediate occasion of hostili-
ties between the two Republics arose out of the
order Of the President Of the United States for
the removal of the Army, under the command of
General Taylor, from lis position at Corpus
Christi, to a point opposite Matamoras on the
east bank of the Rio Grande, within the terrific
ry claimed by both Republics, but then under
Jurisdiction OF Mexico, and inhabited by It's citi.
zens that the order OF the President for the re-
movai OF the army to that point, was improvident
and unconstitutional, 1t being without the con-
currence OF Congress- or even consultation with
H. tthough II was IN session but that Congress
having by It's subsequent acts recognized the
war, mus brought into existence without Its pre-
Vious consent, the prosecution oil 1t became there
ny hatioha'
- hesoiVcu, ihit 10 lhe absence OF any Tor
hai ana puDlic declaration by Congress, OF the
OBJECTS Tor when the war ought to be proseout-
ea' me PRESIDENT oil the United States, as Chief
niaslsua'e, ann as COMMANDER IN Chief OF the
army ana navy OF the United States, is left to
the guldance oil ms own Judgment to prosecute
II, aor SUCH purposes ana ooJects as he may deem
the honor ana interest OF the Nation to require
r., .. hesolVeu' dhal' ny me Constitution OF the
Ohleu States congress Oelng invested with
power 10 ueciare war ana grant letters OF inarqne
ana rePrisd,, u MAKE Iu'es concerning captures
oy land ana water, TO ralse and support armies
10 provide ana MAINTAIN navy, ana to make
rules lot the government OF Inc iand ana naya
FORCES, nus Tue iuiest ana most complete wal
making power on ,he part OF inc people oil the
oh'eo 0ta'es' ana 50 possessing II, mas right
10 ue'ei,ni"e o" '"e "o'Nes' causes ana OBJECTS
OF the war, wheh once commenced, or at any
'ih,e our'ng 'ne progress. OF us existence.
t. Neso"eu' III we iar'her opinion OF TINS
heetins' 'ia' IL 10 .ie eu'y OF congress TO de-
clare, oy some authentic act Tor what purposes
ana ooJects the eXlstlhg war ought to be fur
tner prosecuted ;-,hat II % the uu'y OF the Pres
iaen' III MS oilIcIal capacity, 10 conform TO suct
aeelarauoh OF congress ana II after such dec
iara'ioh inc PRESIDENT should Decline or refuse
10 ehdeaVor, by all Inc means, civil, diplomatic
and military, IN his power, to execute the an
nornced VIII oil Congress, and, IN defiance of itt
en'hority, should continue TO prosecute the Wa
'or purposes ana ooJects other than these de
ciared by that body, 1t would become the righ
ana duty OF Congress TO adopt the most efiica
cious measures TO arrest the further progress o.
inc war; taxing care TO make the most ample
provision Tor the honor, The safety and security
OF the Armies IN Mexico, IN every contingency
and II Mexico should decline or refuse to con
clude treaty with us, STIMULATING for the pur
poses and objects SO declared by Congress- il
would be the duty ct the Government to prose
cuie the War with tile utmost vigilance, unit
they were attained by treaty OF Peace
D. Resolved, That we vie" with serious a
arm and are utterly opposed TO any purpose like
the annexation OF Mexico to the United States
IN any mode and especially by conquest that we
believe the two nations could not be happily gov
erned by one common authority, owing to theii
great dIferences OF Race, Law, Language, and
Religion, ana the vaet extent OF their respective
territories, ana the large amount OF their respec-
tive populations tnat such nnon, against the
consen, OF ire exaspera'ed Mexican people coulc
only be effected and preserved by large Standing
Armies, and the constant application of Military
force in other words, by despotic sway, exer.
clsed over the Mexican people IN the first in,
stance, but which, there would be just cause tC
apprehend might, IN process of time, be extern
ded over the people OF the United States thai