Southport telegraph. [volume] (Southport, W.T. [i.e. Kenosha, Wis.]) 1840-1850, 1847-12-01
SYNOPSIS OF CLAWS LEXINGTON SPEECH.

enled. He then proceeded 10 compare the gloomy
state of the weather to the present condition of the
| country, We were now, he said, engaged in bloc
dy War that most desolatng of terrors, which when
associated with PestiIence aud Famine was placed
IN the foremost rank of human evils. Many per-
sons had compared the opponents of the present
War, which we arc now wagng against our near
est nelghgbors 10 those who had opposed the war
OF 1872 with Great Britain. He denied that such
comparison was just In 1912 the War was one
OF defence on our part from the aggrcssions of Eng
! land II was a whose objects were most en-
phatically and truly summed up in these lew words
Free trade aud sailor rightS.--We sought TO defend
our sailors from beng dragged from ships, and
being compelled TO fight against country with
which we were N amity; sought 10 preserve
our rights upon the high seas and not TO allow
Great Britain to sweep us off That was War of
the People. They wIIed it. and they were in favor
| OF It's being carried on lie spoke from actual
knowledge when he stated that Mr.. Madison was
personally opposed TO the War How would the
present War contrast with that For what objcc:
was II declared
1t was created by the act Of Mr. Polk, ratified, il
is true by the act OF Congress. 1t was created by
the order OF the President 10 General Taylor 10
march upon the Rio Bravo TO point opposite Mat
| anoras The President acted thus whc Congress
was IN session, without consulting that body
! When however, supplies were demanded for our
Army and It's dangerous condition stated, Congress
voted for thcm-W higs and all voted them supplies
In this they did he oHld ha, done they voted
the necessary supplies. But they wrong 10
vote beyond that and never, SO help him God
would he have done So
! They were wrong in voting for what they knew 10
b, le that the War existed by the act of Mexico.
So great his regard for truth that sooner than
subscribe to such talsehood, he would have laid
down life itself They had been warned when the
1 Annexation OF Texas was first moved, that il
Texas they would have to take her war also. The
| assertion was booted al No such fears il was
said, need be entertained II was said then the boun
darlcs could all be aIulcably settled. What, how
ever, was the fact Was not the prc,cnt War in
sequence oil boundary dispute! AT the very time
whca our Amy was ordc.e 10 march Mata-
noros to take session OF the s)utcd territory,
! Mr.. Slldel on his way TO the CITY OF Mexico
t. enter into negotiations Tor the settlement OF the
same disputed question Why not wait until Mr.
SlIdell mission had been fulfilled 1t had been
stated, over and over again, that the Wings were
. enemies OF the country for speaking against the
/ Na:-that ey &c or cl he. Was Il is the case
Have not the VII IS been prominent in fighting
, on the bloody fields oil Mexico their opponents?
Have not they spilled their blood freely War
now exists bat we have made 10 declaration of the
obcc.s OF that War II therefore bchoves Con-
sress 10 declare what are the objects and upon what
tcGtllS the " ar Nll1 MEXICO VIII q. In Won
arches the war-making power is vested in the King
in ths country rests wIth the People through their
Rep escnatNcs in Congress. This is distinctly
ayoWeJ IN the Constitution. 1t is true, the Pres
/ !deIt has the Power OF making Treaties, but they
arc all based upon the acts rcSolut .ons OF Con-
lcsS He IEeHcl to certain resolutions OF Con.
Sress regarding Reciprocity IN trade and upon which
some ten or dozen ucAucs have since bcen ioun-
dcd. H. there or on Scurh compatibility un,m-
10
ldcnt takes his Instructions from tie PEOPLE repres-
entcd in Congress. how much stronger is the argu-
meat when applied 10 the psoiongaton OF War
II Congress lGuIan silent, VIII tie President when
the W dr. Is once declared, say What are its objects
and VIXEN it shall stop Then may YOU cali the
the President by what name You please. he is in
effect as powerful - Il Caesar, an Emperor, King.
You give to one man power that the Constitution
never contemplated
Mr.. Clay continued 10 dlate at considerable
length upon this top.c, expressing his conviction
, th4t Congress should declare, at the coming scs-
soa, what the objects OF the War and what
should be e cond ons Of Peace. Ii the President
then remain OPP oed TO Treaty upon the terms
prescribed, there was Vay III wh Oh even he could
be reached and be made to icel that the peoples
vii goverHcG-he meant by Impeachment
Mr. Clay said he oppose entirely TO the an
neX ton OF Mexican territory One half already
OF our own territory unoccup.ed. Millions of
abrCs OF lands were IN market. We did not want
moIc although some are DESTROYS of extending our
Limits from the Atlantic to tie Pacific ii Con
gress decided that il would be satisfied with certain
limits, establishing wat they consider the proper
boundaries q Texas, lie did not believe the Presi.
deaf would reuse to acccd to their wishes He
(Mr p was already halt tired of the War, and
would doubtless be glad enough 10 adopt any plan
by Which peace would be restored
As to any difficulty that would occur in settling
/ boundary Line, he would be willing to undertake
III sixty hours 10 secure its adjustment The truth
was Mr.. Polk imagined, when AIatamoras fell, that
the McXicans would succumb Such has been the
expectation after every battle; but now when we
are IN the Halls of the Montczumas our object is as
far from attainment ever.
lie referred 10 tie Spanish character as evincei
IN Their struggles for eight hundred years with the
Moors IN Span. He spohc Of the absurdity of as
knT Indemnity for oar losses of a people who had
nothing to give us. As 10 annexation, he consid-
cred il would lie lite short Of madness to introduce
eight OF nine nj Ions oi People, speaking different
language and processing different religion, among
us to assist in go,crllng our republic. Suppose,
said he they would not choose TO end delegates,
can we appoint them! Would that be carrying out
the principles of our constitution which declares
that every citizen shall have voice la the govern
meat which be is required to support and obey?
MI Clay declared himself strongly opposed to
the extension OF slavery He deplorcl It's existence
bat Here the Geographic report is unlntegIble
We understand its purport TO be that Mr.. c. cons
dered the fact of the constitutional existence OF sla
very which could not be denied nor overlooked
! nor could its immediate extinction be expected
Nor must shut our eyes to the fact that, in the
actual condition cf things, exciting controversies,
ca culaed to shake the pillars OF the Union, must
be expected TO spring out OF any add tiona territory
to this republic. The report continues He con,
sdered the refusal to further tcrr tory the best
means Of c'adng the difficulties and avoiding the
dangers that surround this important and critical
subject
Mr. Clay spoke two and a half hours, and the
foregoing IS but neagre sketch from memory of
the most important points IN his speech.
Tribune.