The Charlotte journal. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1835-1851, 1846-05-29
THE VOTE cN THE WAR BILL

THE VOTE CN THE WAR BILL
10 our last, VIC had no, room 10 give Id
final vote on the passage on the bill "dc
claring that by tie act Of the Republic d
Mexico, state Of war exists between thal
Goycrnmon, and the United States II
the Senate The vote wus as fellows;
YEAS.--Mcssts. Alien. Arelef. Ashley, A.
Gibson, Anterior, Bsgby. Barrow. Bcplsn
Bfecsc, Bright. Cameron, Cans, John " Clsf.
ton, ColquIu, Cofwin. CfiiitHdun, Dayton. DID
'nson, llOnston, Jarnseio, Jrnaess, johnson, 6.
Maryland, Johnson Of Lsajsi, %. Lewis Ne
Daflio, Mangum. Morchead. Nnes Pennybaeka,
Rusk, Semple, Sotior Smmons. Spcight. Stgf.
geon. Turn.y. rpham. .weslco,i. woolbFid.s
and iulee.-l0
NAYS. -Mess,s. Thomas Clayton and DAVIS
-
Senator's Bcrien, Calhoun and Evans
being IN their seats, did not vote. TIE
other members, whose names are mol re-
corded above, wero abseni.l
| When Mr., Crittcnden's name wns coil
cd, he voted sy, eScep, the preamble.
SO also did Mr., uphnm.
|, will be seen above that several Sena.
tors did not vote for the bill. Some d
them were bot willing to say that MeNico
had brought on the war. Nr. Calhoun b.
fore lis passage, gave his reasons ior n,'
voting for il IN the following remarks:
Mr. Calhoun said that he had no disposition
whatever TO create unnecessary delay In Tie pa
sage OF tho bill The rulc he had laid down 70;
himself and which throughout life he had en-
dearorcd to follow, had been 10 discharge his a.
~ in whatever emergency he nigh, be platct'
and especially was lao called IN observe this flt
IN acting on 80 solemn question as declaration
Of var. All he wanted. all he asked for. sas
time to make Up his opinion. lie sought no d.
lay, aud resofted to no indirect coufse TO eoneti
ms true intent. Gentlemen argued strongly IA
favor OF unanimity, but II unanimty eon,tttalsd
an element of force. and the friends Of the bt
were so anxious TO obtain IL. why could they 10
accommodate gentlemen who had honest doubts
as to the state Of facts, by eonsonting to strike
out the preamble Of the bill. and 10 suffer the
question Of supplies TO be separated from thc qut'
hon OF declaration Of war Was moi such
course reasonable Was il not fair and us1
6entlemen stated TO tho Senate that tho Informs
tIon received from tho frontier was ouch as 10 re.
Guire instant action IL so they could have IN
slant action. If any delay occurred th. delay
was their own. Mr.. Calhoun should create none
ne was prepared 10 vote the supplies on tho 'pc'
and without an hours delay but II was Just as
impossible for him TO vote for tho preamble ath
was Tor hun TO plunge a dagger into his own
heart, and more so. lie could not he was not
prepared to affirm that war ex isted between the
United States and Mexico. and that il existed BY
Tho act OF that Government How could he Of
firm this. waon he had no evidence on which 10
aihrm " How did he know that ths Covefr,
mcnt OF Mexico would no, disavow what bad
been done Was no called upon to give vote
hko this II would bo impossible for him 10 d.
lef it, consistently with that sacred regard TO-
truth IN which he had boon educated
lilo had no difficulty az 10 his course. ils
mind was made up; ii was made up unalteraby'
no could neither vote afHrmatvcly nor negative
~ lie had no certain owl enee TO 90 on Nhoih
or any one would 90 with him in this course DC
DID not know; no had made no inquiries, and 10
did not know that single friend would be iouna
at his side. As TO what might be said on such
course and oil that was called popularity, be a
not care tho snap Of his iingor. " no eead no'
stand and brave so small danger, ho should DO
but little worthy OF what small nmouni Of rcp'@ \
tation he night have earned. lie could moi a
gree 10 make war on Mexico by making war on