Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1847-02-24
From. the Washington Union.
MIR. CALHOUN'S SPEECH.
IN THE U. S. SENATE.

VI H. VA Lin SIN ~ III ~ - Shk'
IN THE U. S. SENATE.
on THE THREE MILLION BlLL.
MIR. Calhoun rose, and thus addressed
the Senale. Never, Mr.. President, since
i have been on this stage Of action. has
our country been placed in more critical
condition tina, at present. We are not
only ID the midst OF war, very difficult
and very expensive, bal we are involved
in domesiive question Of The most irrita-
ting and dangerous character. They
bath claim an earnest and deliberate con-
sideration, aud do trust that before this
session closes, as late as it is, that they
will both receive iul discussion. 1t is
due 10 our constituents that the actual
state Of things in reference 10 both should
be fully understood. For the present,
propose 10 consider the question which is
moro Immediately pressing-how shall
the war he best conducted 10 bringi most
advanlaseously 10 successful termina-
ton! Or, toexpress il a little more fully
-how shali2ii be conducted to enable. Us
most advan,agcously 10 effect all the Oh.
iects for which it was madci For IT is
only by etfeciing this that tho war can
properly he said 10 be successful: There
are two ways in which the war may be
conducted. The one is 20 push on otlau-
sive operations until Mexico is compelled
TO Weld to our tcrms. The other is. To
take defensive position and 10 maintain
and secure the country already in our
military occupation; aud the question
which propose 10 consider is, " hich Of
these two plans of operation ought 10 be
selected. 1t is, Mr.. President, grave
question; in my opinion, next in impor-
,ance only TO The war Itself. ] have given
il nv deliberate consideration, aud the
result TO which Lave come is, that we
oush, to choose defensive position.
shall row proceed 10 state the reasons
upon Which that opinion is founded. !
believe, MIR. President, it is the policy
best calculated TO bring the war advanta
eeously to a successful termination, or, TO
express r. more fully aud explicity-aud |
wish 10 be fully comprehcnded on this
important queslion-!o bring il to GER
tain and successful termination, and that
with the.least sacrifice Of men and money
and with the least haZlrd Of disastrous
consequences and loss of standing and
reputation to tho country. If rightly
understand the objec, for which The war
was declared, | feel deep conviction that
by assuming this defensive altitude all
this may oe effected. ! say if rightly
unders,aid-for strange as il may seem.
10 me the objecl for which This war has
been declared is even at this late day,
lefti inference. | have examined the
Presidents messaee-messases rather
and the act Of this body making The war,
and the result ofthal examination has b zen
,his-that the objects for this " arhas been
declared are lhreeiold;-frst, TO repel in
yasion: next, 10 establish The Rio ouel Norte
rs The western boundary Of Texas; and
thirdly, to obtain indemnity for the claims
of our cilzeus against Mexico. The two
first appear TO me TO be the primary OBJ
iec,s of the war, and the last to he the
secondary object Of the war. The Pres,
dent in his message TO Congress on the
subject of the war. does nol recommend
Congress 10 declare war; No. He as
sumes that war already 10 exist, because
he affirmed that the country had been IN
:vated, and American blood been spilled
Ion American soil. That assumption lie
predicated upon The ground that the kIo
del Norte was the western boundary OF
Texas, for he atfrme that Mexico bad
crossed that boundary-had come to the
opposite side of the river, which in his
npinion constituted The territorial limits OF
the county. But after having been en-
tered into, he recommends subsequently
that The war be prosecuted with reference
10 the claims on our citizens.
The act Of Congress. Mr.. President,
making war, or rather recognizing war,
for war had not ye, been declared-lhal
act Of Congress reiterated The description
of the President that war existed ny The
act of The republic OF Mexico, aud that the
Rio del Norte was the western boundary
ofTexas, and that The crossing o: ina
river constituted invasion. Hence con
slider both the Executive and the leglsla
tive branches Of this government are com
mitled 10 the fac: that the Rio del Norl'
is the western boundary Of Texas, ant
that the crossing and spifDg OF blood OF