The examiner. [volume] (Louisville, Ky.) 1847-1849, 1848-03-18
sso-ton Reflector in reply 70 e.. N. clay.

c. ". CLAY addressed a letter, through the
columns of our paper TO the Boston Reflector.
In addition TO our regular exchange, we sent on
a copy containing it, with lines drawn above and
below it. We regret that both failed to reach
the Reflector Office.
C. NJ. CLAY-THE MEXICAN WAR.
The following letter from Cassius NJ.
Clay, addressed TO US through the Louisville
Examiner, for some cause did not reach US,
although We are in the regular receipt Of
that paper. Ii was not, in consequence,
until illusions to it were made in other
prints, that We were directed to successful
search among our neighbors for a copy.
As drawn out by an article in our paper,
and as directed 10 US, we herewith cheerful
Iy give it entire. Ii contains, so far as we
know, the first elaborate defence in print
that Mr.. Clay has ever essayed for volun-
teering in the Mexican war. We have adj
ded some comments Of our own at the con-
clusion Of the letter.
Here follows Mr.. Clays letter, Jan. 18th, al
ready published in the Examiner.
AR. Clay appears to regard himself as
charged with crime, for engaging in a war
the entire spirit and antecedents OF which
he had with such emphasis condemned.
We know not how far the charge in this
form may have been preferred, but We are
prepared to assume that if all aggressive
war be wrong, then all who, engage in it,
especially as volunteers, are criminal. And
this crimlnality is in proportion TO the un-
holy ends for which the war is prosecuted,
and the injustice Of the causes on which it
is made to rest. Can an official act Of
government, whether monarchical or repub-
lican, change intrinsic wrong, modify in
any degree or sanctify it! All government
has the power of taxation and Of selfde-
fence. The exercise Of this power may, it
is granted, as in the case Of England, be
oppressive. Submission to certain forms, and
to a long continued series Of grinding exact
ions, might be viewed as periiing all that
is dear in life, liberty, and the pursuit Of
happiness Thus our fathers thought, and
hence they rallied under the full force Of
the law OF selfdefence, and conquered. But
paying taxes does not always imply sane
ton Of the ends to which they are appro-
priated, neither in the town nor in the State.
it is part Of good citizenship. that these,
except in the most extraordinary cases,
should be paid. In the existing war with
Mexico, no direct tax has yet been levied.
The resources Of the general revenue Of the
country have been drawn from, 50 that no
man can tell when or how much he is Civ.
ing to meet the actual expenses OF the war.
IL there were direct tax to support a wal
aggressive and deemed unholy, every man
must determine whether mere submission
to what is imposed, is not, on the whole,
preferable to rebellion against government
The citizens, however, even in this case,
would have the right to demonstrate, and to
record his protest against tho wrong ioI
which he mi ght be taxed. He would then
be no other than passire, not an active,
supporter Of the government. Government
in fact, could and would regard him only in
this light.
Mir. Clay places peculiar estimate upon
the relations Of citizenship. ln rePub
lie, he says, sit seems to me to be the duty
Of every good citizen to advocate what he
deems right; but when the public will has
been definitely declared in legal form
though it be dramatically opposed to MS, he
ought in good faith to carry out that will
dissolve the government by revolution, Oh
leave the country To carry out this vii
The Primitive Christians were exhorted Il
'su6ms,f to every ordinances OF man Tor th'
Lords sake;' 1. O., while they could not approve
of all the acts of the governments under which
they lived, they were TO submit wherever sub
mission would notinvolve acomPromise Of thei
, religion. When this became necessary, eveI
, the author Of the injunction quoted, could no
render obedience, and in the refusal, suffere'
the death Of a martyr. There IL most obviou
distinction between sHbmississ to many Of tn
II "A thA; nr,,rovai.