The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1847-03-05
MIR. Calhoun Xs,,jtiou,

Mr.. CoIhoun's Position.
We have been waiting for fall report
OF Mr.. Calhoun's speech upon tie Next
can War. That has just come to hand.
HIS positions, in brief, are:
!. To define a boundary beginning at
the mouth of the Rio del Norle and con.
,inulng up To the Pssso del Norle. or
southern boundary of New Mexico. which
nearly coincide, and then due ives, 10 the
Gull OF California, striking it according TO
the maps before us, nearly a, lis head. -
Now, Mr. President, | propose to turn
round. and 10 examine this lire in refer
cnce 10 the considerations which | laid
down as those which ought 10 govern us
IN tie selection Of line. In the first
place, il will enable US to secure all The
objects for which the war was declared
The invasion is already repealed. Ii will
establish the Del Nor,e TO be The west
ern boundary Of Texas from its mouth to
lis source; and it will give us ample
means Of indemnity. eve If the cost OF
the wal itself shall be considered one Of
its objects; which, BY the bye, in my
humble judgment, ] am very far from be-
ing disposed to counienance. The next,
and very important object would be at
tanned by taking that line, and tina, is, i,
would involve the least sacrifice Of men
and money TO maintain 1t. And here i,
has advantages. First, there is the Del
Norte, broad, rapid and navigable river,
Of which We would have the command
In addition 10 that being near the settled
parts Of Texas where, in an emergency
the forces necessary to defend it. may be
readily organized, and provisions readily
thrown in on his part of the line. have
consulted the opinions Of military men OF
judgment end experience, and they in
form me that suitable fortfcation would
not require more than four regiments,
and three forts TO put it in a complete
ata!e Of defence-one fort to be erected
near the mouth OF the Del Norte. another
near Camargo, and The third at the Paso
del Norte-which last has extraordinary
advantages. as il commands the whole Of
that part OF the country which we now
have in our military occupation. -Four
regiments would be ample for this pur.
pose after the first year-aiter having Ia
ken possession and erected the fortified.
tons, The other portions of the line
could be still more easily defended
From the mountains which separate the
waters Of the Del Norte from those which
fall into the Gulf of California or the Col.
orado, which is the same thing, up 10 the
upper end Of the Gulf of California, is
occupied by savage population through
its whole extent, and requires no FORTS
The remaining part is coveredby the Gulf
Of California. A few small vessels--a
single regiment-will be ample fol its de.
fence. Hence five regiments, with
small naval force, would be ample 10 el.
feet all the objects which we have in
view in maintaining this line sgains, 9ny
power which Mexico could possibly bring
ag ,inst us. The next consideration is
the convenience Of the country which
may be covered by the line. Here the
advantages are not less striking. II is
contiguous to us. 1t has one part upon
the western boundary of Texas, and the
middle on the southern boundary of Or
egon. But what gives i, still greater adj
vantage-what is of immensely more i'm.
porlance--what ought to make it desira.
bic in the eyes Of Americans. and not ut
all valuable in The estimation of Mexico,
is the fact that it is an unnhabiled coun.
try. Ii covers an area of 600, 900 square
miles, with population less than one
hundred thousand, OF all complexious and
all descriptions OF people. II is as little
se,llel-less so, indeed. than the country
in possession OF our savage neighbors.
2. He proposes that we shall fall back
10 this boundary.
3. That we shall keep up the blockade
on both sides, and levy duty of ten per
cent 10 pay expenses.
A, Tina, this is the cheapest and most
judicious plan Of closing the war.
S. lie stands uncommil,ed as yotupon