The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1847-03-15

testimony serving to nvaldate his case is reject
ed. Mr.. Calhoun's conviction was that the an
nexation OF Texas could not result in war with
Mexico; and although it has since so resulted, he
has rejected every evidence that could at all
shake that conviction, seeking to hinge the origin
OF the war on causes too frail to sustain his con-
illusions This is why he opposed the recognition
of the war. He did not wish to admit, even with
the fact staring him in the face, that war existed
When that fact was put beyond cavil, as he could
not yet be forced to the belief that it was owing
to the annexation Of Texas, he was compelled to
adopt and maintain the position that war existed
by the act OF The President of the United States.
IT IS not my purpose to examine into the merits OF
either side OF this question Both sides are stated
with signal ab'lity-the one by Mr.. Calhoun
the othor by Mr.. Soule, in his mastery and logic
al speech, beside which, as a defence of the u nj
ted States against the charge of making war OH
Mexico, the Presidents message oil December last
SINKS into utter insignihcance.
With MI. Calhoun and his friends (for to the
latter his word is law) the wings united, with
what zeal need not say, in denouncing the Pre-
sldent as having, by his acr, brought the war into
existence. They were for time at fault some adj
vocatng, some opposing the war; but after the
first month OF the session just terminated, they
settled down into the policy of denouncing the
war as unjust and iniquitous in its inception,
protesting, however, their willingness to vote
the supplies necessary for its rosecution-
AT the same time they adopted the safest and
most efficacous means OF opposition. They did
not exactly oppose-they procrastinated. They
Of administration measures for the prosecution
OF the war; but they desired to give their views
on the general policy OF the administration; and,
ofcourse, the (nominaD majority in the Senate
could not be so dlScOurteous as to refuse; and so
1t went on from day to day. Speeches were
made, and time was consumed They moved
adlournments, called for divisions, and resorted
TO every means the details of legislative business
Afforded them to delay action on the various i'm
portant measures OF the session. Mr. Calhoun
and his friends were with them on almost every
division; and thus they were enabled to carry out
their procrastlsation policy. They We're, be-
sides, ever ready to take advantage Of their OPP
ponents, by fostering and awaiting themselves Of
the absurdest whimsicalities of the croichety
among the administration members, in order to
produce delay. The democratic party in the
Senate had no leader; and if they had, they could
have effected nothing, as they were i'll an abso-
lutte minority. Benton does not know how 10
lead; he attempts to drive. Sewer was the real
leader; although he, with all his excellent quail
locations for the command, was by no means
uniformly successful in leading his minority, in
solid phalanx, against the combined forces o.
Mr.. Calhoun and the wings. Some crotchety
member would stray from the ranks, in mere
wanonness; and his within, how preposterous
soevcr, would be at once caught up by the OPP
position, and magnifed into a proposition of the
gravest moment This course was pursued till
the very last day OF the session, and thus great
many important measures were defeated MIR.
Bentons course contributed in no small degree to
the success Of this system Of tactics. He spent
whole days in useless debate when his duty
was to press measures TO vote. Many
excellent measures would have been passed the
last two days OF the session, but for his idle
opposition 10 resolution which he knew would
be carried. General Cas- gave the war and the
administration pretty uniform support The last
session, although some OF his friends in the House
were in fierce hostility to the administration.
But, with the exception OF the Calhoun parry, The
democrats were all In favor of the war. 60 Tar
the Senate
In the House things stood nearly in a similar
position. The administration party had no
leader. large portion OF the democratic party
was in undlsguised opposition. In addition TO
Mr. Calhoun's friends, some OF the ultra filty-our
forty men, the friends Of Mr.. Wright, and the
enemies Of Mr.. Walker, were in open hostility.
The Wilmot proviso brought the North into
antagonism with the South, and Its discussion
consumed much valuable time, TO no purpose.
trust have thus shown, in a lew words, why
the recognition OF TIE war was opposed; why
the President was denounced as having called IT
into exlstence-who opposed and who sustained
Its prosecution-and why the measures neces-
saY for its vigorous prosecution were delayed
from the beginning to the close OF the session OF
Congress just terminated.
Although there was provoking and factious
delay IN passing these measures, they were all
perfected at ast-the treasury note and loan
bill-the b II for raising ten additional regiments
and ST. elemental bill to organize them into bril-
gades al divisions under the proper officers
the bill granting additional bounty to soldiers
the appropriation Tor the army and navy, and the
many other minor measures necessary Tor the
prosecution OF the war, have all passed into law.
The three million appropriation bill, too, passed
without the meaningless proviso sought TO be at
tached to It, so that, though faction was ram
pant during the last session OF Congress, the po-
pular will, which is strongly in favor Of the war,
triumphed over party bias III the passage Of every
measure necessary Tor its prosecution.
GAvIRNsrs