The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1847-02-10

ecs To this end, he proposes Congress the adoption
Of an indemnity inehe maintenance OF that line by mill
ay operations strictly deensivethe occupation of those
Nlexlcans ports which we hod--the collection of
revenue upon imports there-and, finally, continued
proier OF negotiation TO Mexico, with view the ac
| acknowledgement by that country of indemnity line
and an adjustment OF all differences between the two ma
lions upon fair and liberal terms, including any payments
by us TO Mexico, which may, upon review of the whole
case appear to be just and proper Such is the plan OF
the which Mr. Calhoun has exhausted all his inge
nuity to commend to the favorable consideration of
Congress and OF the country.
ms tie policy Of '.masteriy lsaehuty" oper again
Such Is the very first comment which will suggest itself
TO the mind Of every man. But are our relations with
Mexico for any "nactiviy" either mastery" or
mserable' Mr. Calhoun himself tells us, in this very
speech, that every pulse of the Mexican blood hrobs
and revenge against u.s. He assures us that every
fibre in the whole social frame OF Mexico is rigid to re-
ss in this alleged of races and religions and strain
ed to its utmost tension for attack And in this of
things, he urges us to dead halt stand our
ground, and wait till Mexico shall have gathered her
strength and chosen her time for the onset upon Be-
yond all doubt this is "nactvity" with
vengeance. Blu, is ''masieryi" Why, at war
And what is inactivity in war what it but delay and
ieebeness and, in the long cruelty Inactivity in
OF invasion, thousand miles off, and waged for the
reparaon of wrongs and the establishment of permanent
peace What statesman before, in any country ever pro-
posed such policy How does it compare with the
policy OF Chatham general consent the greatest OF
ministers How does ii compare with all the maxims OF
strategy and with the practice OF all the great masters in
the art of war II was in Italy, and not in Africa, that
the Fabian policy of delay saved Rome. Mexico may
find her account in the policy of inactivity" To her,
il is time gained increased, enenys treasu
ry bleeding at every pore, and the wrath OF her whole
population gathering ever into rancor and leagued
and sworn to fierce reemasonry of hatred against the
invader armed though inactive, upon her soil And yet
in lust this state of things, Mr.. Calhoun's ingenuity
tasks itself discover the successful termination of the
war.
| But more than this. Mr. Calhoun does not content
himself with advising mere defensive inactivity. He
goes further. He proposes, if understand him. that
the national Legislature, which has recognised the war,
and voted for its speedy and successful termnation"
shall now this policy OF inactivity, give
to it the force, if not the form of law-and shall
thus proclaim it beforehand to the enemy
our settled policy. Here arises very grave ques-
ton. Is it proper, under the constitution, for Con-
gess to take such action in respect to the conduct of
the ,rar? Congress declare But Congress
cannot make peace That must be done by the President
and Senate-the treaty making power Congress may,
indeed, at its peril the responsibility OF with
holding supplies for the prosecution of war which
has sanctioned or declared. But when exists and
legazed by act Of Congress, proposition is clearer
than that the authority TO conduct it, and the responsible
ty OF conducting it, are with the Executive, and not
with Congress-
| But waving any question OF power, is il not to be
presumed that the Executive can Judge better than
Congress how the should be conducted He is
presumed TO have information upon the subject which
cannot without manifest detriment to the public in
terest be submitted to the publicity OF legislative
body He is presumed to know, in view of all the facts
OF the case and upon The judgment of the best military
skill which he can call to his aid, both the proper time to
act in the war; and the proper time to remain in inacon
Congress- teo adjourns the 18th OF March Informa-
ton may reach the Executive soon after, during the
cess showing in what the ought to be con-
duced--lrhen, hom, and miere to strike the enemy,
so as To accomplish satisfactory peace. Would be
expeden then, for Congress to bind him, before.
hand in advance, to any particular mode of action
Upon what ground, then, Mr. Calhoun contend that
the Legislature should PREJUDICE this question for the Ex-
ecutiye, and SO take away the discretion which might be
more wisely left in his hands In what principle OF
law or of pocyin what single successful experience
does this legislative interference in the conduct of
a war stand justified With u.s. the declaration of
war is wisely made Legislative act But with
U.S. and with every civilized nation, the conduct of
the war has been generally, for supreme reasons,
made exclusively executive function. Mr. Cal
houn tells that high military authority has assured
him OF the practcabity and the facility of his proposed
defensive line OF conduct Be Is the President cut
off from intercourse with this high military author
ity and experience Can he profit by its aid Is he
ignorant of the difficulties OF an advance to Mexico be
they what they may Is he ignorant of the expenses of
a second, or third, fourth campaign Is he not
vitality interested TO bring the war, at the least
sacrifice to a "speedy and successful termination :"
Has he not all the of the before him And does
not the constitution impose upon him the duty and the
sponsiby of Judging them If the President finds, with
all the lights before him, that better attain the
objects OF the war, and maintain the line of frontier laid
down BY Mr. Calhoun, by defensive, rather than by
holder and offensive war, will he not adopt that
mode of tactics for HIMSELF Where, then, is the
sity the rghuness of legislative interference in the
conduct Of the war; What do but tie up hands
beforehand to given course of action Independent of
all the ten thousand chances of upon which its
cessiul termination must always depend, and then, for
sooth announce this plan OF action 10 enemy Is