The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1847-03-03
From the Nashville Union
Mr.. Calhoun's Position.

Mr. Calhoun's Position.
The relation of Mr. Calhoun to the present admn;.,
ton has never been fully comprehended and unde roS
Circumstances have been presented from time 10 i'm
which well calculated to create doubts to his n
position These doubts have been greatly strengtbenS
BY the frequent assaults made upon the administrator
some of the peculiar adherens of Mr. Calhoun who b,
been supposed to reflect his feelings and views Nam
close observers have believed ever since Mr. Polk form
ed his cabinet that his administration would 70
ceive cordial support from Mr. Calhoun and indeed
the opinion has been sometimes expressed that his disn
pointment and dissatisfaction would manifest hemseks
at no distant day IN open and undsgulsed detection and
opposition. We have been disnclned to give heed 4,
these suspicious until recent developments have ione5
upon the disagreeable conviction that they too u
During the last two years the wings have derived muI
of the material for their attacks upon the adminsra
from the pursued by Mr.. Calhoun and portion
OF his followers These attacks have derived strength
and force from the fact that they made demoeral
authority The assaults OF professed friends are always
more to be dreaded than open foes II is, therefore, I'M
portant that the true relation of Mr. Calhoun to the dem
ocratic party should be understood.
We have no disposition TO call the honesty of Mr. Cal
houn In question, when he declares himself entirely
exempt from ambitious feelings, that he would not turn
on his heel for the presidency. Whoever looks to The
history of this extraordinary man, will find abundant EVIL
dence that in times past he has cherished hopes of reach
ing that high elevation. 1t may be- however that he no
longer allows himself TO indulge his aspirations for pes
dental honor but whether this is the result of patriotism
or of that kind of philosophy which induced the fox
despse the grapes we shall not stop TO inquire
But when Mr. Calhoun takes ground against reaching
the presidency through the channel adopted by both
parties he betrays his true position Whenever poh
clan begins TO condemn the usages of his party, and
raul against caucuses and conventions he has taken the
initiative step towards final detection Sooner later
will be found in the camp of the enemy He may ate
himself that is because his patriotism is purer than that
of Others that he condemns and conventions
But in this he deceves himself His disappointed amb.
ton has blinded perverted his vision He has despaire
OF being appreciated according TO his merits in his own
party and he INDUCING his patriotism in fancying how
honorable it would be to be elevated TO Office without re.
gard to mere party considerations Whenever the wing,
find democrat in this position, they understand his
weak points; and they rarely fail TO make of Their
victim.
The positions taken by Mr. Calhoun in his late elabc
rate speech on the Mexican lace him in direct op.
position the administration This speech when re.
published in the city of Mexico, will be read with the same
lively qualification with which Mr. Websters late effort
was hailed in the Mexican camps-the qualification will
probably be more lively because Mr. Calhoun is regarded
in Mexico friend to the administration. Whena
distinguished democratic senator such sentiments
as Mr. Calhoun has uttered-when he advocates the pol
ICY OF Withdrawing our troops behind a line and there
keeping them the defensive in ingorous inactivity
who ought to be surprised if the Mexicans should con.
tinue TO spurn all idea OF making peace
But Mr. Calhoun has come up boldly to the relief Of the
wings in charging the presidential war-he too
attributes the war to the marching of our troops from
Corpus Christi to the Rio Grande For several months
past this has been the burden of the wing clamo and
this charge is established by democratic authority
by the authority of of the great democratic leaders
We have had occasion already expose fully the utter
groundlessness of this charge when made by whigs-t
is no less untrue when made by professed democrat
Without going more into detail we will alude to onlv
other of the late developments to show the true
position OF Mr.. Calhoun--he voted in company with
every wing senator for the expulsion of MIR Richie for
an alleged libel upon the Senate No genuine democrat
will ever be found joining the wings in endeavorng
ammel the freedom of the press Such outrage upon
the freedom of political discussion before per-
perated IN our countryan attempt to stlgmatZe ed
tor for arraignng his paper the unpatroc conduct Of
the public servants! actual conviction and punlsh.
ment of an editor without any chance to be heard upon
charge of libel and that libel consisting of communica-
ton written for his paper by another! When we find
Mr.. Calhoun uniting with the wings in the preparation
OF such an outrage account for il upon other
ground than that he has abandoned the democracy and
has resolved to take his position in the ranks Of the
enemy. Looking at all the recent developments
we are constrained to TO this conclusion,
and il is due to the democratic party, that we should
frankly stateit. Whether the detection of MI. Cal
houn is matter to be regretted or not, will be
better determined hereaer but for one desire have
no secret enemies in ranks-he party suffers vastly
more from them than from open foes. With the lights
now before us, compelled to regard Mr. Calhoun
as in combination with the wings in their efforts to
barrass and break down the administration 1t is
duty as well interest, TO dissolve our conneXion
with all who bearing the name of democrats. but
their conduct giving "aid and comfort TO the wings