Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1847-12-24
THIRT.Eru coscREss--Flr.t Session

Having received yesterday no Washington pa
pers, we draw upon he correspondent, Of the Bal
timore American tor brief and doubtless partial
notice Ct The preliminary debate in tie Senate on
Monday upon The resolutions Of Messrs. Calhoun
and Dickinson:
! During the debate, Mir. Cas- attacked Inc ,eso-
lulions as an abstraction. No enc, he said, con-
templaed the anrihi!ation Of Nexico--Ihe Pfesi-
dent or any body else. Mr.. Calhoun, per contra,
considered his resolutions cminenlly practical,
and as for nobody contemplating The destruction
OF Mexico, il was sentiment avowet every day
and one even aprlauded by lhe Executive or.
gan in publishing the proceedings OF other bodies.
We now find Tie misfortune Of beginning the war
without an avowed object without a Declara-
ton Of War. He thought action upon his Ieso.
luiions should plecede action upon The Military
Bills, as they had much 10 do with The men and
money asked Tor, Tor The prosecution Ct The war.
MIR. Calhoun looked tor SPEEDY and decisive
vote upon his resolutions. II no one meant war
Of conquest, II could be easily declared.
Mr.. Cas- argued that there was no necessity
for aeiIaling lnis subject, as il was not before
Congress. We intended 10 prosecute the war un-
Ill Mexico consented 10 an honorable peace, and
peace would come whenever Mexico was ready
for that. Ia the meanwhile, he was not willing
10 agilate The subject.
Mr. Niles thought the resolutions Of the Sena-
Tor itom South Carolina, and those Of The Sena-
tor from New York, were bur so many abstrac'
lcns. We found ourselves involved in difficult
lies Of an unexampled and somewhat peculiar
character. He presumed, however, that, what
ever some might think OF the ori gin Of the war,
The country would be sustained The war mus
be prosecuted to obtain an honorable peace,
! though some might think We had oblained honor
enough already The mos. Ut us, he presumed,
would think that it was heller 10 60 on WIN The
war until we conquered an honorable peace
Things might SO run that il would BE- necessary
TO take The whole OF Mexico, and The whole popu'
lalion. Such contingency was possible.
Mr.. Niles said that every step we TOOK IN con.
qucrine Mexico was increasing The difficulty, ana
what was easy nov would 5c impossible to-mu!'
row. The army had reached a position IN which
they might now speak, and their sentiment was
That We should conquer hc whole OF Mexico and
that the whole nation would be dissrac!d without
such conquesl.
Inlhe House Mr. c ]. lOserso,l made move
mpnl designed 10 carry into cfI'cl the recommcn'
Ga;iouS nf The Executive touching mission 10 the
! Pdpai States.
The Committee Oh Furei2n affairs are charged
win iEqniFng ia.o he abolition OF The missions
Of second grade a, Sardinia ani Naples, and The
| establishment q iu mission AZ Rome 10 be de.
nominated AmuAsssGo; 10 he Papal States.
Something Of Il discussion vas made during
the day upon questions # iherphl Commerce.
Mr.. Petit Of la. proposed resolutions mee'I"S NE
| question al power over means OF conveyance
| for the necessary uses nj the G"vernmcnt, anu
also the right OF improving The Lakes when De-
ccssary to save the i've, and property OF The Feo'
pic The resolutions could easily nave been adopt
| I'd hui moi GOiag far enough 10 meet The views
| Of the M Jrily, they were not passed
NJ Richardson, Of illinois, itered tie follow
Ing resolutions in Ffea'd 10 the war, upon which
! he moved he Previous Question. AdI"uFnmeaIS
were twice move! and lost, lhr last time, howeV'
! or, BIZ only two majority IS 20 90.
| The Wing member, between tour ana i've car
red motion for cali Of the House lOi to . ;,
| and il was only then lhgl the friends OF M Adj
mins,raIor abandoned the Struggle IN leha'' 81
! their demonstration hat tie war was Irst aud
had been prosecuted 20 JUS, end. This liule
| furry i, ONLY Il iorerasc u. what is 10 come.
! Nh Richardson's resolutions arc rs in.l"WS:-
| Resolved That tn wer Wiih McXico WAS JGsi
! and necessary on cur pant, a3d has prtn prose
cuied with The sole purpose oil wind cat'H. ouI
national rishts and honor, and o! securing an no.
norable peace.
Resolved, That III rejection OF oar repeated
| oveftures ut peace leaves his Government no al
tentative but The most vigorous prosecution OF the
war in such manner consistent with The laws o!
nations as will make the enemy feel all lis Gala
miles and burihens, and until Mexico shall agree
to Jus! and honorable peace, proviting satisiac'
tory indemnity in money or territory Tor past IN
| juries, including the expenses OF the war.
Resolved, That The amount Of indemnity mus
necessarily depend upon The obsIinacy OF the enc
| my and the duration CT the war