Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1846-07-01

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ton ofhis late conduct, for he belongs to our
own State, and tho commendaiion 'of others
would have been ofmuch more service to him.
! But as his course, with regard 10 The Mexican
war; and the significant Edgefed Meeting" !"
have recently hecome the subject Of Gerry grarc
remark in the newspapers, we will be pardon
ed for saying one word.
When the news Of the surprise Of Tkorn:pn
reached Washington, and when the whole
country was thrown into tempest of hiifry
and excitement by that event. MIR. Calhoun
did have The magnanlnity and moral courage
10 refuse to vote for. an immediate declaration
oI war. He had reasons fnr his refusal. Tie
'beggcd'to be permitted 10 vote Supplies 10 enn.
! BILE Gen. Taylor 10 chastise the MexicaHs, and
drive them lcross the Rio Grandc ,hu, tina, priv
| ilese was denied him was 81 declaration of
,sar by lie act Of .Ncrico" or nothing. with the
war party. This. his conscience would rot
permit hiln-to Subscribe to. lie knew, and il,
was apparent to all. tha, the President himself,
howe yer pure may have been his motives. (and
we have no reason to doubt their purity) had
actually brought on the wur by pursuing The
mistaken intimidation policy in his dip! onacv.
Mr.. Polk, his cahine, am ministers. were TT
/ .erly surprised-,hey were iIllnderslrdck d
tile breaking on, of hos,ilirs. Their design
was only to awe the Mexican government into
Il favorable nes"tation.; but they urged their
guns loo fa:-far,ller than prudence would haze
dictated. and instead Of lumbling tile preten.
siuns, it aroused the Castilliar spirit Of the de-
generate Mcxicaas-and hence, the attack up
on Tharutnn and all the scenes that lave since
been enacted on the Rio Grande. If Mexico
had really been the nggressor in every respect
WAS il deceut-was il deberate-was il mag
unanimous in u great people, to declare war
aGainsther, before they had received evidence
of, ,he sunirency of their pruvocalion7 An
| immediate vote Of supplies would have been
just as ciiec'unl in relieving Gen. Taylor, as
! declaration of var. and it was Jnst clear as
that two and three nlakrfre, that before either
measure could be available to him. he wou!d
either he II cnnqneror or his army wonld be
completely arnihnted; and therefore. there
was no necessity for precipitation in declaring
war. Under these circumstances, Mr.. Calhoun
refused to vote Cor tlle,war bill.
BIZ, we have heard some Of the real friends
Of Mr.. Calhoun,exprcss re: ret that he has not
| explained more lnIIyhis pusl,ion on the Mexi-
can war, and we ourselves would luve been
aratiied. at one time: if we could have seen
| speech from him. We are convinced though,
that our Senator has acted. better. than we
could have advised. ! In the remarks he made
on the Tar BILL he'declared himself ready to
vote for any amount of supplies necessary to
NEE: the exisencies of the country, and from
the passage Of that bill! to the present time, he
has uniformly supported and voted for every
measure calculated to bring the war ,oa spec.
dy and triumphant conclusion. Though he
may have differed with the administration and
lis friends as to the commencement Of the con.
test, yet Stree the country has been involved in
\ war, be has supported that country with n
fidelity aud devotion which throws a new
lus,rearound The natne of even John C. Cal.
houn. lie has been awaro Of the im?al;eEcc
CT somc of his friends 10 hear Els sentiments,
bu, The highest'of all considerations, the wei.
fare of his country. has hitherto prevented him
from expressing those sentiments. He saw
,ha. the nation was threatened with war from
England. and already plunged into war with
Mexico, AZ d however reckless in bis opinion.
might be the administration, at Washington.
he felt bound to say nothing at crisis like this,
that might lessen its efficiency in defending the
commonwealth by arms. His very silence was
patriotism the mobiles, Of patriotism. For the
good OF his country he was risking the sacri-
fee Of reputation which was deaTcr 10 him
than life. Greece OF Rome never furnished an
| instance of more heroic devotion 10 country.
than has marked the whole course Of Mr.. Cal.
houn with regard to this Mexican war .
Our Senator will, in all probability, soon
have an opportunity, (and we believe that he
will aYail himself of the very first that presents
itselO "to define his position" and explain
his course; when no friend Of his if he ever
has doubted, will any longer lave reason to
doubt, either the spollessness of his integrity
or his transcendan, ability, both as practical
statesman, and tie first political philosopher Of
the age.
Mr.. CORNELIUS LEWIS, who died some time
pso, in Milford, Penn, was probably the larg.
est man in the United States.
The following are his dimensions and weight,
taken BY his physician after death.--Height, 6
feet; circumference of waist 6 feet 81 inches;
Of body. feet,2 inches; of arm, above thee
!. bow, 9 feet 2 inches; Of arm below the elbow,