New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1847-02-12
Mr.. CalhOun's speech
60 81 N.aoral ln..lllgsn:sr.

Never SAID he since ! have been upon me sisf
~ action. has this country been placed n a mo-
critical situation than az present We are not only
ip the midst Of 2 war--a very difficult and very x
usnsive war-but we are involved in a domestic
question Of the most irritating and dangerous char
sctsr. They bofh claim our serious snd deliberate
consideration, and DO trust that before THIS ses
sion clos e. late as Il is, they vii botn receive
fall discussion Il IS due % our Constituents az
the sc-ue state Of things Ia reference 20 BOTH snoud
/ be f,llv understood For the present | purpose 70
consider the quest which is more irred isey pend
ns How shsi tnis be best conducted IN order 70
bring most s5vsntsgeously 70 succsssinl ernlna
ton or express Il little more fully How sna j pc
conducted 10 enable most sdvsDtsgeousy y erect
al the objects for which the war was made ior j Is
only by seotirg these objects that the war can prop
erT be said 20 be successful. go, 49,.
-sr nav 30 oouducted The one il 70 push on oren'
sivs operaons Until Mexico j. compelled 70 yeid u oul
terms the other is 70 take defensive gosuon sn1 %
r,s'utsin and secure 0ossession n the country
which r. already in military Occupation sra ne
o1e .fiou which propose nov 70 conf IT, ~ nl OF
these two ought 20 be selected DIS - af rIes.-r.
3 srest question in my opinion i i next IN importance
oniv IN the war itse'f nave given y TT most oepef-
ate consideration and the result % which nave come
h .ba- We ought n choose the defensive posron ena
ran nov rroceed % state the reasons on which thsi
conclusion i founded believe that such couIi' i
the hest calculated 70 BRING this var 10 successl ,tI
N nation or 10 express Il more fully ana more
ty ffor wish % be fully compTehf upon ", .
no-snt cuesfion 70 bring IL 70 certain snccr'fil4 le
,;,sor ard that with the least sacrlrce ci Men ana
money and with the least hazard Of or ~
riAces or loss Of reputation or stanalns ~ ~ ~
! III he rightly unders;Ood the chjecis iof nl1n -'
yvsv vsa 3.clsred be- felt deep conTicucn tha ~
sunina this defensive attitude, OF moe 49, 49, -
be obtained II he rightly UNDERTOOK, re y N, - 49,
strange as il might seem the objects or EcI . war
%. rr-nercs4 were left even 81 this 4sie CAV 70 IN
ference lie mad examined the message Of ,ne rIssl
d.r, ~ Conrress containing he reconmeh.a.ih 'h1i
Co,g-ess should make for the purpose OF discover
s.t licc.s for which the should be undertaken
Tho result Of that examination was tna the eJeels iOr
which the war wss made were threeiod ffst 70 re-
mel i0vesior next establish the Rio Del horte as me
- 80. BOUNDARY Of Texas; and thirdly, 20 obtain pay
c-, ri tho rdernntes due 20 our cuzens Tor claims
,rch ,hey against Mexico The fret two appeared
10 him 20 bo the primary objects OF me war ana the
issf oniv eccofsory The President IN hs mcssar' ca
not re~crnnnerd Congress % declare war No he ne
sunled that the already existed and called upon
Congress 20 recognise he existence Inc President ii
scd IL 10 fisf bocause the country had been invaded
and blood had been spilled on American soil. Ih's o.
sumption he predcsied an the ground that the 100 ce
Norte was the western boundary OF Texas PIT ne o
legged that the Mexcsns had crossed ilat boundary
come 10 fns American Eicc-Whicl ne hlTmf4 was IN
invasion and the var having been thus entered upon
he recommended seWise that Is should be prosecuted
In reference the claims Of our cuzens Inc act OF
Congress declaring That war had been mode 10y me ne
public Of Mexico recognized the RIO del fore 70 be the
western boundary Of Texas Hnd affirmed that te cross
ing Of that by the MeXcsn was an ect OF invasion
Hence both the Executive and the Lessante r ancLes
f This Government we're committed 10 te fact that the
Rio del Norfe the weffern boundary or Texas aud
that the crossing Il invasion on the part Of the
Nexicans These were clearly primary objects. Bot
in recommending the war the President recommended
be prosecuted for the objects which be had AREA
h mentioned among which was that OF Indemnify 70
our citizens-an obirct which though not sufficient
cause Of in itself yet being involved IN war tap
pesred to him might properly no made one OF me causes
Tor which the should De prosecuted that Oh calses
Of difference might be settled. These were TIE three
objects Of the war.
farther recommends that the war be prosecuted ln
order % obtain Indemnity for the eNpentes OF me war
jtssf Tha. can however I'D no sense be considered a.
one cf the primary objects Of the war housn N may
he said 10 be legitimate policy for il can never be
supposed that a country would enter upon wa lor ne
moe purpose OF being ndemnsd for the cost OF ihsi
war I hold then Mr. presdent-such being ne %
iecis OF the wsrhst Ell those otectsior when u was
declared cen be accomplished ~ ticking defensive po'
sron Two Of them have been already thoroughly O.
f.c,cd The iurssiUn has been repealed by two brilliant
vcto,ies the Rio del Norte is held from is 20
ia mouth 90 the American boundary single Mexican
soldier doe. remain within our territory ma sucb
has the success OF our arms INST we nave pl Oy
ACQUIRED enough territory from inemf but Fesuy more
tbzn enough 70 indemnify for toe expenses OF tnf
war If Il should b. the judgment OF this BODY tnat IL
would be sound wise. just policy on our part 70
.eek such indemnity Here then we have the question
presented shs hold % the line we now occupy snd
which we cover by our military forces prcntn olne
twoihirds Of the whole oil MEXICO empracins tne va
lev OF the RIO del NoTte on both sloes % lar upward as
,b sierra nndrp and down the eXtr7rn1es OF PIPER
California and New MtNcoshsll we hold OF The or
shall We select other 20 lion better calculated JOY
the object have IN view Sir am not ~ al Pre-
sred 10 discuss this point have not tie qulstc 10
formation and i hsd It would not be necessary win
he object nave in view. Wnatl propose 10 discuss
In the absence Of such information. is, what consiera
ons ought 10 govern this point were determined
~ were determined that defensive line Il the course
~ noicv 10 be pursued and this scsin must be de-
dnced from the objects contemplated ~ TIE wsT
lie would now proceed 10 state what, IN he opinion
aw.~ o. NHgNW ne
iv nust be 10 effect the objects they had In view in de-
Glazing the war viz TO repel invasion, 70 acquire me ter
rory As far east the Del Nore 70 esihosn tna ~
our boundary aud compel the payment OF the inden
mites due to our czens And as FAR IS nese conslo
er,ops were concerned they ought not 70 90 an inch
beyoud them they ought 70 avoid the appearance even
of taking possession OF any portion OF the country IN the
way Of conquest But what was 10 DC ottnehoto uy
,beo CONSIDERATIONS mshI be enlarged by Others which
he Uould nov proceed TO state and hrst ss 10 forming
our boundary be considered hst II should oe done h
,uch manner as would Involve inc smallest pQssloie
sacrifice OF men and Of money and mat u should pos
80 I'M the natural advantages that such boundary
ougb, 10 possess in order that supplies OF men and pro
visions could readily be drawn from the sdfceni cotn
,rv The next consideration, in bis opinion. which
ought 10 govern them in selecting the line wss hls-
IL ought 10 be convenient and such IS u would oe ocsr
able or ~ 70 possess H. upon the ultimate adjustment
- on, a frencss with Mexico 70 should become the
common boundary between the two countries And ne
would co farther he would say that u should &c sucn
line as would deprive Mexico In the smaest lssoie
s.r-ca of her resources ana clf sLfiElL MIlt "
consulted our own interests IN establishing defensive
line we should not overlook what was due % Mexico
He held that we ought TO be Just and liberal toward
Mexico not only because she was our neightor not
onlv because shs was a sister Republic not only be-
cause sbe was emulous now. and ever had been emu
lous Of Initiating our example in the establishment Of
tree Institutions not only because soc was next 70 our
s,lves the greatest power upon this continent amid
IN the powers which had grown up from Spanish or
oth.r European origin; though these were high con
s,darutons which every American ought % 'oel, and
which every generous and sympathetic heart would
feel vet there were others which referred more rime
aiafely 10 ourselves. Mexico Of the greatest
problems smong nations, and Ia his opinion, the true
policy OF this country was, not % repress her power
but on the contrary rendc. her strong and capable VI
,useinlng all those relations which might exist between
her and other nsiions lie held that there int
MAZE connection between the fate OF this country AID
thai of Mexico and that her independence and respeca
bity and capabilfy ~ maintaining eli these relations
were almost ~ essential 20 they were 20 Mexico
He held that Mexico forbidden fruit and that
II we should consume hst fruit 10 would BE- almost tan
tsTnouni 10 Tue political death OF our own Institutions
The next consideration that the line should be
set that should b. finally established the bOun
dairy between this country and Mexico 10 would lead 70
permanent peace and ths, should lead 10 e. speedy
peace possib-e and for this purpose Il should Be
sul!nenly pscihc.
Now continued Mr. c the question s what would
be such line would i1l al taese acquisitions And
hare sgAr I an not fully prepared 70 pronounce 81