Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1846-03-24
TWENTY NINTH CONGRESS.
SPEECH CT Mr.. CALHOUN,

gallon OIL Tue COuVchtiOu VI lotht N-Suf"'SJ'
(coNcLUDED)
Having been thus brought by the line OF Pohcy
TO which was opposed, 10 chose between com
nromise and war. without hesitation take The
former. 10 making The choice am aciuateG oy
M unmanly fear OF the consequences OF var
knnw mai in the existing state OF inc worid
wars are necessary-tha: the most sacrea REGARD
for Justice and equity, and the most cautious
policycanno. always proven. ttfem' Whei wal
must come, | may appeal 70 my past history 10
nrove that shall not be found among those VINO
NAV fa,,er: but | shall take care never ~
contribute by my acts to preciplIate me couHn,
in,o var when it can be fairly avoiaed. ! "na'
on nr;nciple opposed 10 wal. AID 10 FAVOR u
because regard peace as a posi," I'll 80.
war az a positive evil. AS Soou, = snan W.
cling 10 peace, so long as II can DC seu
sis,eny with the safety ano ,hs hruoi =. 'ne tou.
,.,,. nd &C onnosed 10 war shall ever resist II,
o. lono q, il may be resisted consis'eh.y WIN
Tho sa1os considerations. am cmphancaliy op-
nosed 10 i, in this case, because peace, IN my
oninion can be preserved consistently WIN po'h,
and war avoided without sacrihcins eilnei.
am onnosed 10 il fol the additional reason pc'
c.rse !, would be, in my opinion, highly lmpoi-
nc consideration never 10 be overlooked When
q oues,;on of the kind is under consideration :
REGARD il as highly impoilic in ih's case, oe-
cause believe that, Should we resort 10 y, we
wouh lose instead 6. securing, The TWO objects inr
which il would be avowedy declared, as snail
now proceed to show.
,,he frs, is. 10 securc shat is claimed 10 be our
rirh,s 10 the v hole OF Oregon, under me cry Of
uau of oregon or nUne." Those VINO @4uin 20
INTO il for that object, will in my opinion, ma 10
The end thai "none" is much more pfooaole man
nnn" In coming 10 this conclusion, concede y
NV conn,rvmen the hishes, bravery. energy,
na,riorism. and intelligence, which can De claim
ID FIR ;hem. Blu, hese cannot overcome he
oroo, Obstacles which we would have % encouD-
Tor comnare. 10 what Grea. Britain would have
IN con,es. for Oregon. As long as she has
LARGE force in the East, arr remains mistress q
The Pacific, Sic Kill b. able,o place there mnch
more efficient force and al tar less expense l"1h
we POSSIBLY can al present, which wouiu thc'e &c
eide the cun.es, in hei favor. !. i. J.
Rn, were il otherwise, from The nature OF ne
contest Oregon, though the cause OF tne wal
would be speedily forgotten. The struggle once
begun. would soon cease 10 De LOT oregon.
Higher and lar more Toweripi mo..,es "oou
soon guide the contest. J! wouid specify orcoine
a struggle Tor mastery hs.@een the greatest power
il :he world az one side, against The mos' grow
ing on the ether. Ac,uaIed by all ne feelings DC
longing 10 such struggle, both sides would poi
o; sr,ookipe minor points, would aim 10 SlriKe
The most vulnerable point, and where each might
have the greatest advantage. leaving Oregon %
be won or lost, as the contingencies oil 50 nishty
contest might decide.
'rhe mex, opect, as is alleged, is 70 protect our
citizens in Oregon. What has Just been seia' :
enough 10 prove how utterly II mus iai!. instead
OF protection, var you'd most ceda'nlv sacriEce
them ana that is q strong reason, with me. loF
opposing i. feel our obligation 10 protect mem
IS ci,zcns, ard brethren, ant kindred. We nave
encouras ed them 10 emiSfale, anu VA Eo' S''e
a vote which, in M opinion, would ruiH ana
abandon them. But what wa- would fail 70 e.
fee, would be certainly accomplished 81 CEN
nrn,n;sc on The line offered by he President.
There are none 0. or citizens if ar correct
ly informed. settled North Of 10 degrees. Estab-
lsh tina, line, and w II once give our citizens y
Oregon peace and security and with thcm luii
opportunity to realize their object III em'gra'lns.
Bnt passing fem Oregon, | take broader
ground, ard oppose war To- reasons looking 10 me
whole. see nothing 10 hone from war, be is
results what il NAV. On The contrary, believe
that The mo-. successful amt triumphant war iHa'
could be waeed-one in which all woald be &C.
complshed which its moss exuavagan adVocates
could dare hope form which We houd conquer
Inc Canadas, New Brunswick and Nova Scotia
in which We should drive the British dae
from the continent, and compel Great hFraiu
to yieli The Whole by treaty, in the Short perod -
ten years. woeld he disastrous TO Us. aiinde
no, 10 lis ravaeas and devaslaiiors-to lhe oceans
Of blood tina, must flow, and the manitoba losses
AMI riseries which YOU'D accompany TIC var
They are common 10 ell wars; ba; however vivic-
" painted, they have but lille effect in lettering
a brave prope from resort 10 IL No couti
these infections would he ve.y great n contest
between two nations Of such immense power,
and SO situated as 10 be able 10 do each o,aCi h.
greatest harm in war an! the greatest good IN
peace But as great as the devastation and de-
s,ruclion OF lille would be !. sucn struggle,
they are Of nature speedily 10 repaired on our
aide. The indomitable Industry and enterprise
Of our people, with the great resources OF the
would soon repair the former, While cur
rapidly increasing population would speedily re-
,air The latter. War has far heavier calamlies
or free people han these rhough less visible: ca
antilles in their nature not easily remedied. re-
er 10 permanent nddangeronssocal and political
changes, .hich o!en follow in l,slran, IN the cha
.actsr OF The people and their Institutions. a
war between Us and G Bt;au such as has been
described, in which every nerre and muscle on
either side would be strained 10 the utmost, and
every dollar put in requisiliun which could be
commanded could mol fail, under present circum.
stances, 10 work mos, disastrous, and, tear, IN
durable, changes is the social condition oil our
people, and in their political institutions. 10 re-
,!ize the consequences, in this respect, when must
ollow, il is necessary 10 look 10 he immense c1'
ent 10 which il would rage |, would, in 81! pro-
liability. prove Mexican and an Indian war, as
we'll as war with CT. Britain. and as such would
extend 10 every portion o. or entire frontier, in
GLIDING the Atlantic and the Pacific, The inland
and exterior constituting circuit OF not less
han 1000 miles. II would require, IN order To
conduct i, with the energy necessary 10 bring u
in SO short a time 10 The successful terminatlcn
supposed especially in war Tor mastery. I'M
mense exerlions on land and water. Two naVies
-one on the Atlantic, AMI the other Ga ne lakes
and six or seven armies would be required for The
purpose, even on the Supposiilon lhal oregon
woud be abandoned. One army would De re-
ouired On the Mexican frontier; and let no one
sheer at the mention OF such power teeole as
/, now is, when paid and supported by British
yold. and trained and commanded by British 9TH
GERS. Mexico would prove a formidable enemy
See what British skill and raining have made OF
he feeble Sepoys. The Mcxcans are Drawer
aud harder people, and, what is no small point,
would constitute the cheapest OF all armies
There must be, in addition, one 70 guard re Guii
--on,ier; another 10 guard the Southern; another
he Northern frontier on the Atlantic; another
o sssail the Northeastern fronncr on ihe side
of Nova Scotia and New Brunswict; another
% assail ne Canadian; ami, hna'iy, another 10
protect our widely extended Indian frontier. All
hesc, in so mighty struggle against The greatest
Of all powers putting forth her u,mos, strength,
would require force including the two navies
CT no, less would suppose, Than two hunuIed
men continually in pay. The expense
would be enormous. One OF the most venerable
and experienced OF our citizens, hr. Gallatin,
has estimated i!at sixty-fve or seventy millions
81 dollars annually, il nv memory serves me.
NV impression is that it falls far short OF the &C
Iual cost, and that Sl00 100000 would n1i be an
oyer estimate. Surprising the sum OF 3C,oOo,-
900 could be annually raised b. iaxallon-a
sum far greater than he estimates, and in my
opinion much beyond what could be eec,cd-it
would leave $4,000, 60 annually TO be raised by
loans, or forced paper circulation. Now, allow.
ing the war 10 continue for ten years there would
b. incurred deb: ia he lime OF 100000 002,
according TO these estimates. E"cn :aat, Il is FRO
babe. would tail much short OF The reality, as
sumirs The sum stated should DC annually re-
uuired. It would be difficult TO obtain loans in
Europe; for, owing &c the conduct Q: some OF The
States in relation 10 population, and other causes
10 ~