Southern patriot. (Houston, Chickasaw County, Miss.) 18??-18??, 1849-09-05
The lame defcnceOf Clay
ton. made by our neighbOr
the Republican.


the Republican.
The Republican, for our special
benefit labors in two and half
column editorial, against light and
reason, to prove that J N. Clayton
By his votes in Congress has not
manifested any disaiTection to the
South. We will give this laryr-llke
defense. its quictus in short order
lie tells us that Mr.. Clayton voted
for Uphams free soil proyiso, to be
attached to the Three Million Bill
to prevent the acquisition Of any
more territory, in obedience to the
instructions Of the Delaware Legisla.
Iture. If our neighbor had merely
said that he voted for the proviso to
kin OF the Three Million Bill, then
there would have been some plausi-
Ibility in the excuse; but he has strip
ed himself Of this subterluge. The
Legislature Of Delaware gave Mr..
Clayton no instructions, according TO
the showing made by the Republican.
1t merely requested him TO oppose
the acquisition Of more territory.
Mark that! merely requested him to
oppose &c. Upon this request he
acts upon the Wilmot Proviso, al
tached to the bill, TO bring the wal
with Mexico; to an honorable close.
There was no request made by the
Legislature to oppose the war-there
was no request made to sanction the
Wilmot Proviso, yet Mr. Clayton SO
rigidly anxious to adopt the opinions
ofmen in whom he had great conf
dence, is willing totally to disre.
gard the solemnity ofhis oath TO sup
port the constitution Of the United
States. The Republican will moi
dare to deny shat the Wilmot Provi-
so is aagrontond palpable violation
Of the constitution. Tie defence Of
our neighbor convicts Clayton, o
Ipuriury, The dilemma is unavoidable
Clayton is either a conscientious vii
mot Proviso man, or he has beer
guilty of perjury in sustaining q
measure which he knew to be uncon.
stitutional.
But ifhe was opposed to the acqui
sitton o: territory, why vote al any
fine for supplies7 why vote agains
the withdrawal of our forces?--whI
vote against the abandonment orthe
war! No, the true secret is that the
defence Of our neighbor is all fun.
merry The lame oPology is given
for Mr.. Clayton's vote for Baldwin.
Pfoviso to the treaty Of peace with
Mexico. What prolong the war
continue our forces in a DEADLY
clime-continue the enormous expen
ses necessary 10 carry on the war
vote for an unconstitutional measure
disregarding his solemn oath, to dc
what! Because his conscience dicta.
fed it;because policy demanded it 6
Tee good of the country called for 1T
No, but because The Delaware Legs.
lature requested 40 him to vote
against the acquisition Of territory
The apology is more shameful thar
the vote.
But the Republican intimates what
IS not true. That Mr.. Clayton voted
against the treaty. We willnot sa,
the Republican knew it was not true
as we believe in sincerity, that he
knew nothing about it. Mr.. Clayton
did not oppose the treaty-lt wa.
carried in the Senate by only fut
votes, and Of course il Mr.. CIaytor
had opposed it, he could have pre-
vented its ratification. Thus III,
sophistIC and ridiculous absurdity o
the Republicans excuse, for Claytor
is dissipated like mist before the ris
ing sun. The record shows, that Mr.
clayton voted FOR he Odieus propi
so. md NOT against the acquisition
OF territory, when his opposition