The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1847-12-04

view, and that repeatedly avowed, and
plainly set forth by Mr.. Polk in his
message, viz: "to conquer q peace."-
There are,jtis true,incidental purposes
connected with the primary object,and
(which have been as repeatedly declar-
ed as the latter. Chief amongst these
is the design to secure the indemnity
long due to citizens OF the United Safes,
and which has been urged upon the at
tsntion Of Congress year after year by
several Of Mr.. Folks predecessors in
the presidential chair. But, the idea
which possesses Mr.. Clay's mind, that
that the origin of the war is in the Uni.
ted States, unfortunately conceaIs from
his apprehension the wrong that the
United States has to redress in effect
ing a peace; and therefore it is,we find
him expressing a willingness to termi-
nate the war in a manner that would
be exceptionable, we can but think, to
nine-tenths at least of his fellow coun-
-trymen.
Now let us apply the purpose Of Mr..
Clay TO the avowed object of our gov
erenment in the prosecution Of this
war, viz; peace. He says, Congress
should designate the objects Of the
war, and according TO his view Of the
subject, those objects would be two
fold only; irst,the Nueces as the south
ern boundary Of Texas; and second,
the bay Of San Francisco, in Upper
California. This latter as an indemni-
ty for the debt due to u citizens, but.
says Mr.. Clay, if Mexico should refuse
it, the war should not be prolonged ga
solitary hour for the sake Of il. And
Of course, Mexico, under such a decla-
ration, would not be silly enough to
grant it. So we have the one object,
the Nueces as our boundary. And
can it be possible that there is to be
found any considerable number of A.
merican citizens willing to subscribe to
such a p proposition as this? Impossible.
What does it include? The virtual, if
not the express admission, that the war
was produced by the act of the United
States, contrary TO the declaration that
has gone forth TO the world from the
President, the Senate and the House Of
Representatives, that it existed "by
the act of Mexico" The surrender of
the territory between the Nueces and
the Rio Grande, and in relation to
which we manifested a disposition to
negotiate when Mexico declared war,
called her people to arms, and brought
on a1conhict; the very purpose 20 ne
go,iate on our part proving the war to
have been by the act of Mexico. The
sacrifice for ever, of the entire debt
dae from Mexico to our citizens, and
the assumption Of the same by the Uni.
ted States. The entire Abandonment
for ever of indemnity for the blood and
treasure expended in the war. And
last, but most melancholy faulty, to
felicitate ourselves by Standing forth to
the world and exclaiming, "Behold!
what a marvellous people we are! We
have shed rivers of our blood and squan-
dered mines Of wealth, and run our
selves gIoriousiy in debt, to exhibit to
you, EngIishmen, and Frenchmen, and
Germans, and Chinese, and Tonga
islanders, and expatriated worthless Of
New South Wales, a truly original and
republican exposition of the Godlike
virtues Of moderation and m%agnanimi.
ty." And listen TO the response. A
laugh so loud that old Euceladus would
stir in the mighty caverns Of the Ale
ghenies, and the burning blood would
crimson the cheek of every American
citizen, as lie detected in its loudest
tones, the shouts of universal derision.
But would this be all? BY no means.
Mexico would leap with triumph; an.
ticipate in the future a glorious revenge
for her humiliation; and as the means
Of conciliating a powerful ally, strike
hands with England, and balance her
Indebtedness by the early cession of
California, were it only with the hope
Of involving US in a val with III for
mer foe. 1t will not do. Our honor,
our policy,out right,justice to ourselves,
to The word, TO our ancestry and our
posterity, forbid US to follow the coun-
sells Of Henry Clay in relation to this
war. an
From the New York Sun.
The President and the Cabinet.