The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1847-02-10

Mr. C0lhOuns view OF the COnOuct OF the war.
The speech delivered by Mr.. Calhoun in the Senate
yesterday has been waited for with much interest by the
country, and some portions of it will exert think
a strong influence upon the public mind His whole ar.
gument favor Of territorial indemnity for claims
against Mexico including the expenses of the war, is
pressed with great power, and WILL we doubt not be
judged by the country to be wholly unanswerabe. The
boundary or indemnity line which he proposes as the
proper one, certainly recommended by strong consider
atoms Especially this the case, if, suppose, he
intends it TO extend from the Rio Grande due TO the
head OF the Gulf Of California, and thence down that
gulf so as to include in acquisition the peninsula Of
Lower California. The maritime advantages which
would be secured by the possession OF this barren
and in other respects comparatively valueless peninsula
are OF the highest Importance
But the mastery power with which this whole subject
of the boundary line discussed by Mr. Calhoun leads us
the more to regret that other passages of his speech
he has marred his argument by some propositions
which seem to approach very nearly seconradction
For instance he states with great clearness, and al
most in the words of the various messages of the Pres
dent, the real objects for which the is waged and
then he most strangely adds that these objects
now with him merely ''matters of inference Is it a
to repel Mexican nvasion' Is it matter of in
ference that another object OF the war was to secure
the acknowledgment from Mexico of the Rio Grande as
the western boundary of Texas Is 1t matter OF inter-
ence that third object OF the war was to secure ndem-
nity for the claims OF citizens upon Mexico-incu-
ding of course the costs Of the war thus waged to
secure them The President has again and again, IN
his communications to Congress, enumerated all these
as among the objects of the war. Mr. Calhoun himself
saws that both the executive and legislative departments
of the government are fully committed 10 these objects
What is meant by saying, then, that they are, up
this day, mere matters OF inference
Another object of the war; repeatedly alluded to by the
Executive but not enumerated by Mr. Calhoun the pres
ervation of permanent peace with Mexico hereafter by
coercng her out OF that spirit OF depreciation perdy, and
aggression which has disturbed the relations and con-
sany threatened the peace OF the two republics for more
than twenty years. And this great and general object o
the war; which Mr. Calhoun has omtted-and which, in
deed the whole line of his argument made il necessary
for him to omit--is than the rest matter
of inference 1t has been repeatedly stated in substance
in the highest official forms
But we insist in the next place. that Mr. Calhoun has
fallen into still graver difficulty, if sefcontradic
first instance great departure from line Of poll
cy" What legerdemain Of logic reconcile this prop
ostion with the objects of the war as avowed and emu
meated by Mr. Calhoun himsefi Is departure from
our true line of policy to epel invasiono hold 10 the
Rio Gande the boundary line of Texasto secure in
demny for the robbery and page of citizens, and
finally, in this manner to place the future peaceful
relations Of the two countries upon perma-
nent basis q This is the policy of the war
Mr.. Calhoun avows it. lie draws an indemnity line
and argues at great length, and with great power, to
show that the maintenance Of such line, and its ac-
acknowledgement by Mexico. will fully carry out this poll
cy He spreads before the country most glowing pic
re of the advantages of the policy thus carried out and
then turns right round to condemn the policy of the war
These are, however, but the accidents-the very I'M
fortunate accdents-of Mr. Calhoun's great effort The