The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1847-02-09
TUESDAY, FEBRUARY ., ls47,

science dictate to me- | am not aware Mr. Chairman,
that have omitted anything which intended to say
TUESDAY. FEBRUARY ., ls47,
SENATE.
The journal OF yesterday was read and approved
PETITIONS.
Mr. DICKINSON presented the petition of citizens of
Cayuga county, New York, praying that the Tonawanda
OF 1912, between the United States and the Seneca In
dans which was referred TO the Committee Indian
Affairs.
Washington praying certain amendments to the city
charter; which were referred to the Committee on the Jul
dietary.
Washington, praying that the sale of sprituous
liquors in and about the Capitol may be prohibited :;
which were referred to the Committee for the District OF
Columbia.
Mr.. BREESE, from the Committee Public Lands,
reported bill TO grant right of pre-empon to Philip
H. Derng and Robert K Champion TO tract of mineral
and which was read and passed TO the second reading
LAWS
The Senate then proceeded to the consideration, in
committee OF the whole of the bill TO repeal the Of
I'd March, 1887, entitled can act concerning pilots"
Mr. DIX entered into an elaborate review of the whole
subject arguing favor of the repeal OF the law regua
ting pilots in 1897 We have full report of his remarks
which is necessarily deferred.
Mr. MILLER indicated desire to reply to the honor
able gentleman from New York. and accordingly moved
that the further consideration OF the bill be postponed
til tomorrow, which was agreed to-
ADVERSE REPORTS.
The adverse reports from the Committee on Naval
Affairs upon the petitions OF Hans Nelson and Josiah
Colson, and from the Committee of Claims, upon the
claim OF the administrator of Jacob Houseman, deceased
were severaly taken up and concurred IN
REVOLUTIONARY AND OTHER PENSIONS
| Mr.. SPElGHT, from the Committee Finance, to
whom was referred the bill from the House making APP
preparations for the payment Of revolutionary and other
pensions OF the United States for the year ending 3Oth
June, ls4s, reported the same without amendment
The Senate having proceeded to consider said bill as in
notion postponed until tomorrow.
| THREE MILLION BILL.
On motion by Mr. SEWER. the Senate then proceeded
to the special order and resumed the consideration,
committee of the whole OF the bill making further appro-
priaton to bring the existing with Mexico to
Mr. CALHOUN then rose, and thus addressed the Sem
ate. Never, Mr. President, since have been on this
stage of action has country been placed in
critical condition than at present. We not only in
the midst of war, very difficult and very expensive
but we are involved in domestic question OF the most
irritating and dangerous character They both claim an
earnest and deliberate consideration, and do that
before this session close as late it is that they will
both receive full discussion Ii is due to our const-
uents that the actual state OF things reference to both
should be fully understood. For the present pro-
pose TO consider the question which is more i'm
conducted to bring it most advanageously TO
successful termination Or 10 express it a little
advanageeusy to effect all the objects for which it was
made? For is only by efTecting this that the war
can properly be said TO be successful There are two
ways in which the war may be conducted. The one is
TO push on offensive operations until Mexico is compelled
to yield TO terms The other is to take defensive
position and to maintain and the country already
IN our military occupation and the question which pro-
pose TO consider 49, which of these plans of opera
ton ought to be selected 1t is, Mr. President grave
question: IN my OPINION next in Importance only to the
war itself. have given il my deliberate consideration,
and the result to which have come is that we ought to
choose defensive position shall proceed TO state
the reasons upon which that opinion is founded be-
lieve Mr. President it is the policy best calculated to
bring the war advantageousyo a successful termination
or express more fully and explctyandl wish to be
fully comprehended this important qestion-to bring
IT to certain and successful termination, and that with
the least sacrifice OF men and money and with he least
hazard OF disastrous consequences and loss of standing
the object Tor which the war was declared, feel deep
convection that by assuming this defensive attitude all
this may be effected | say if | rightly understand
Tor, strange as my seem, to the object for which
this has been declared even this late day. left to
inference have examined the. Presidents message
messages rather-and the of this body making the
war; and the result of that examination has been this
that the object for which this has been declared are
ihreeiod hrst to repel invasion; next, to establish
and thirdly to obtain indemnity for the claims of our
citizens against Mexico. The two first appear to me
to PC, PC the primary objects Of the war and the last to
his message TO Congress the subject OF the war does
not recommend Congress to declare war No. He
that already exist and calls upon this BODY
torecognise it. He assumed il to exist because he al.
hrmed that the country had been invaded and American
blood been spilled on American soil That assumption
he predicaed upon the ground that the Rio del Nore
the western boundary of Texas, for he affirmed that
Mexico had crossed that boundary-had come TO the op.
poste side of the river which in his opinion constituted
the territorial limits of the country But after having
been entered into he recommends subsequently that the
be prosecuted with reference TO the claims of our
citizens. The act of Congress- Mr. President making
war rather recognising war, for had yet been
declaredtat act OF Congress reiterated the declaration
of the President that existed by the act of the re-
public of Mexico, and that the Rio del Norte was
the western boundary of Texas, and that the cross
ing OF that river constituted invasion Hence
consider both the Executive and the legislative
branch OF this government committed to the fact that
that the crossing and spng of blood on our side an
war. But having got into war, the President recon-
nends to be prosecuted for the object have mentioned
that is to say, indemnity for our ctzens-a recon-
nendaon IN my opinion, proper of itself; for while we
are engaged In war all the differences between the two
countries ought possible to be settled These appear
to me to be the objects of the war Conquest is ey-
pressy dsavowed and constitutes none of the objects of
the war. The President, in addition recommends that
we shall also prosecute the in order to obtain ndem
nifty for the expense of the but that in no sense can be
considered as object OF that war Ii is neither more
less than mere question of policy; for il would be
absurd IN the extreme TO suppose that nation would
enter into for the purpose of ndennifying itself
for the expenses of that hold that such being the
objects of the war; that all the objects for which il was
declared be accomplished by taking defensive posi-