Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1848-08-17
\, MIR. Clay in his Lexington speech of the 18th

ably the means of subsistence, there might be some
excuse for an attempt to enlarge our domnions but
we have no such apology"
Again, the objectionable sin
{" My opinions on the subject of slavery are we'll
known They have the merit if it be one Of consist
ency, uniformity and long duration. have ever re-
garoed slavery as great evil, wrong-for the pre-
sent, fear an irremediabe wrong-to its unfortunate
victims should rejoice if not single slave breathed
the ar or was within the limits of our country But
here they are, to be dealt with as well as we cam with
due consideration of all circumstances affecting the
security safety, and happiness Of both races"
This speech was published in the Intelligent
Ger on the 25th November. Congress convened
on the 4th December and this speech formed
the basis, on the part of the Southern Wings Of
the Wing cabal, to defeat the nomination of Mr..
Clay,-the candidate of the people.
There is also passage in the same speech
the Wing members Of Congress, particularly Of
the free States, who voted for the War May,
1916 1t is this
"Bu must say that no earthly considerations would
have ever tempted provoked me to vote for BILL
with papable falsehood stamped on its face almost
dolizng TRUTH as do never, never could have voted
for that Bill"
Though he did not question the motives of
those who voted for the bill, yet it was a severe
censure on the act and fear told much to his
prejudice.
Let it here be remembered that up to the time
OF the meeting of Congress, Mr.. Clay stood fore
most as the faVorlte candidate Of the free States
The mass of the people were with him, and SO
for aught appears continued up to the day of the
meeting of the National Convention. Witness
the reception of Mr. Clay at Washington, Bald
more, Philadelphia, and New York. Witness
the wing presses, througout the free states and
of this state with the exception of two or three,
who preferred Mclean as the more available
candidate.
Set down another fixed fact that before the LIST
of May great change ofopinon hadtaken place
among the wing members of Congress from the
free states, against Mr. Clay and in favor of Gen.
Taylor
Set down another fixed fact that the election
of President had seriously engaged the attention
Of members of Congress and had become and
still is prominent subject Of Congressional de-
bate
The first thing that excited alarmwas the whig
vote from the free states, in the Senate, on the
ratification of the Mexican treaty. You will re-
collect that the issue or mo WeDican territory
had been adopted, and was at that time the lead
ing issue between the two great parties That
issue, if adhered to- rendered the WiImot proviso
inapplicable. In this issue, the Liberty party
did not join-preferring direct issue Of conflict
on the Wilmot proviso.
The issue of no Merican territory, l repeat,
had been adopted by the free states-and by no
state more decidedly than Massachusetts, Its
wing convention 9TH Oct. lS47 resolved
Peace nth Me1ico 0ithout dismemberment,- no
addition Of Me1ic0n territory to the American
UniOn'
Mr. Webster, true to the letter and spirit of the
resolution, took a high and patriotic stand,
which, in his Speech he triumphantly sustained.
What was the final vote?
The Senate then consisted of Sc MEMBERS
requiring, if all were present, 10 votes to reject
the treaty The vote stood as follows those in
italics are wings from the slave states-those in
small capitals, wings from the free states:
Yeas-Ashley Anterior, Bagby, Bell, Bradbu-
ry, Bright, Butler, Calhoun, Cameron Cass,
CLARKE, Crittenden, DAVIS of Mass, Davis Of
Miss, DAYTON, Dickinson, Dix, Downs, Felch
GREENE, Hale, Hannegan Hunter, johnson Of
|
Mason, MILLER, More, Niles, Rusk, Sewer
Sturgeon, Turney, UnderwoOd.-3s.
Nays-Allen, Atkinson, Badger, BALDWIN
Benton, Berrien, Breese, CoRwIN, Douglass
Lewis, Spruance, UPHAM, WEBSTER, Wescott
IA
Absent-Houston, Clayton, PHELPS, Pearce
Whole number of votes, 52--requiring Is
votes to reject the treaty. If the five wing vote.
from the free states had been cast in the mega
tive, the treaty would have been rejected, by the
vote of-yeas, 33-nays, 10; and if the Senate
had been full, and all the Loco votes had beer
in the affirmative and all the wings in the mega
tive. The treaty would have been rejected By
the vote ofyeas 35-nays 81.
But it is said that the wing yeas were to pu
an end to the war. The answer is that the wa
was virtually ended; and had the treaty been re
jected on the ground ONO Mexican territory,
there was no object to continue the war; and
after that decision, the Executive had dared t.
renew it, the wings had it in theirpower, by thel
majority in the House, to refuse supplies.
The direct effect of this vote was TO annul thu
issue of ''no MEXICAN territOry" and to taxi
away stumbling block from the path of Gen
Taylor who was known to be in favor not on
of territorial indemnity, but considered it mat
tier of destiny that all Mexico, would, by degree
be annexed to the United States and to brin
the two great parties to the issue of conflict-th
Wilmot proviso. These are the direct, the nee
essary effects of that ever to be lamented ratifca
ton vote.
And this vote consider the first fruits Of tn
Congressional cabal-and the second has bee
the defeat of the nomination of Mr.. Clay and tn
hopes of nine-tenths of the Wings of the fire.
States, aye, and of the slave States also.
If current reports, or the open debates in tn
Senate are to be credited, the division of tn
spoils, among themselves, has been part of tn
labor of the cabal and has contributed much
tile consumation of its object, the nomination
Gen. Taylor.
The change of opinion of the Wings Of tn
free States, take to have been produced b
causes arising among themselves, When mrs
informed of it l wrote to Taylor Wing Ut tina
term be now allowable:)
"But YOU refer me to the study of the wing stau'
tics of the present Congress- THE present opinion
the Wing members, / supposed May ask you whl
were their opinions at the commencement OF the sei
siou-and what has produced the supposed change
Surely Il is not the effect of any manifestation Of put