Page:Life of Henry Clay (Schurz; v. 1).djvu/91

Rh he took the floor in favor of putting at the disposal of the President a much larger army than the President himself had recommended. Every word of his speech breathed war. He spoke of war not as an uncertain event, but as something sure to come. As to the reason for it, he pointed out that “the real cause of British aggression was not to distress an enemy, but to destroy a rival.” To that end, “not content with seizing upon all our property which falls within her rapacious grasp, the personal rights of our countrymen — rights which forever must be sacred — are trampled upon and violated” through the “impressment of our seamen.” Was the question asked: “What are we to gain by war?” With ringing emphasis he replied: “What are we not to lose by peace? Commerce, character, a nation's best treasure, honor!” With such words of fire he stirred the House and the people. The character and result of the war, too, were predetermined in his imagination. It was to be an aggressive war, a war of glorious conquest. He saw the battalions of the Republic marching victoriously through Canada and laying siege to doomed Quebec. His dream was of a peace dictated at Halifax.

Not only the regular army was increased, but the President was authorized to accept and employ 50,000 volunteers. Then a bill was introduced providing for the building of ten new frigates, which gave Clay an opportunity for expressing his views as to what the American navy should be.