The Abbeville banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1847-1869, 1847-03-03

4 round himself 1t was owing to the good
conduct of Texas that we were not much
sooner i'm war than we were.
R1 Mr. Benton remarked that he had said
: in closed doors last year that if there was
but one man in Mexico, and he not bigger
than Tom Thumb, he would fight. That
blood which was compound of Roman or
Celtic would not brook oppression. He
said this in closed doors and he repeated it
ssnow. The Senator from South Carolina
had gone one step further and was even
ready to agree to pay ten millions to pre-
vent war which he had brought on.
Cicero had said that if Antony had not
taken his flight from Rome, there would
have been no civil war with Rome So
the Senator's sending a flying Messenger
to Mexico upon the fatal night of the an
\ nexation of Texas, was the cause of the
war with Moxico, for the pre-existing causes
of which the Senator from South Carolina
was responsible Antony was responsible
for the war with Rome, and Lord North
responsible for the war of England with the
United States, so was the Senator from
South Carolina responsible for the war
with Mexico. Mr.. Benton reiterated this
over and over again, and in the most often
.sive form. Mr. Caahoun's mas,erlv in
activity particularly in his plan of defence,
proposing five regiments for the defence of
the boundary between the United States
and Mexico, would be, according to Mr. B.,
our defeat in the cad, and our banishment
from Mexico as certain as the Moors were
banished by Spain.
Mr.. Calhoun said that one thing was
shown by the bold speech of the Senator
from Missouri, and that was that the war
with Mexico was an unpopular war, and
being SO it would soon be put to rest
Hitherto, many Senators and many persons,
and not year since the organ of the Presi-
dent said that the Executive had secured
annexation. It was now admitted, and it
was with pride and pleasure that he heard
it, that the annexation of Texas was his
own act, as it certainly was. He had seized
the golden opportunity and communicated
the act.
Mr.. c.. said he had heard two days age
that an elaborate attack was to be made
upon hlm and he came here expecting to
hear it, and with 1t something like an argu-
ment; bnt Of all empty and inconclusive
arguments. this was the most narrow and
incohereat he had ever heard from that
Senator. He could even thank him for
such an attack, confident as he was, that
such an assault would result in his own
elevation and in the relative depression Of
the Senator.
Mr.. Calhoun expressed himself amazed
at the attack of the Senator, but he could
not BE surprised that he had brought forward
such old and stale charges.-Every one Of
these charges had been urged two years
since and were then repelIed by him.
Mr.. Calhoun proceeded to a somewhat
elaborate defence of the treaty of 1919, the
course he had taken upon the question of
annexation of Texas, his defence of that
course, and somewhat protracted argument
in defence ofthe opinion entertained by him
that no war was necessary.
Mr.. c.. believed that the war could have
been avoided even after the battles of May
last, by ordering provisional army to be
raised for the protection Of our territory.
BY this merns we could have secured the
Rio Grande and been saved the expense of
an invading war.
Mr.. Calhoun spoke briefly, with great
point and terseness, and closed by remark
ing that as the charges were light and stale
he would not further reply to them.
Mr.. Benton said word or two only in re-
joinder, and the Senate, ON motion of Mr..
Davis, who has the floor for tomorrow, went
into Executive session and soon after ad.
jolrned.
THE ISSUE-THE WILMOT'
PROVJSO