The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1847-03-01

Mr. Calhoun, in his speech in reply to Colonel Ben
ton, on Wednesday last reported in the Union Of
Saturday evening, has condemned the course pursuedy
his successor in the State Department, in offering to ne
goate with Mexico in September, 1s45, although this
act has thus far received the unanimous appreciation Of
all parties "Our true policy" Ito use Mr. Calhoun'
language) .was to suspend all attempts at opening ne.
gotiaon with Mexico, until that 1.-THE Oregon quesonwas
finally settled" The ground upon which he rests this
dgment is that we should then have had the influence
of England exered with Mexico in favor OF settlement
of our difficulties with that republic.
1t was reserved for the penetrating genius Of Mr. Cal
houn to make this notable discovery. By none of his
wing allies had any such thing been dreamed Of Its
one of those paradoxes. with which it is his habit to
fall in love, and then tax his ingenuity to sustain it. Un'
fortunately, like many other conceptions OF his bran
brought forth in disregard Of the then existing facts
and rests upon airy nothing.
What were these facts! When President Polk came
into power, he found that minister in Mexico had
been denied all diplomatic intercourse with the govern
ment OF that republic and had been suffered to remain there
for several MONTHS in this humliating condition. without
any Instructions Upon the passage of the joint resou
ton Of March s45 for annexing Texas to the United
States" General Almonte, the Mexican minister al
Washington demanded his passports, and left coun'
try, breathing vengeance against for this act After me
the people of Texas had determined upon annexation the
danger of immediate war became so imminent that IN
compliance with earnest and solemn appeals from both
their Congress and their conventions the army of General
Taylor stationed Corpus Christi, for their defence
and protection In this state Of impending war between
the two countries the President had the satisfaction to
learn from various unofficial sources, that the Mexican
government were willing enter upon the settlement Of
all difficulties between the two countries in amlcaOe
and honorable spirit, provided would assume the n
hative, and ask that negotiations might be reopened
The acceptance by the Mexican government in October
1s45, Of offer to negotiate long since communicate
to the country, has conclusvely proved that the nio
nation thus obtained by the President well founded
In his eager haste to cast censure upon the admmisu'
ton, Mr. Calhoun must surely have lost sight oil neS
circumstances Would he, had he remained in the DE-
partment of State in the then crisis between the two re-
pubcs, have advised the President to refuse to open
negotiations with Mexico, until the Oregon quesuOn
should first be settled--a question which he had hm
put to sleep, far he could. by his negotiations WIN
Mr.. Pakenham Had Mr. Buchanan advised this course
would he not have proved himself utterly unwoT'nl
OF the station which he holds AT that moment there
was every prospect Of adjusting all questions in dispute
between the United States and Mexico--whlst the @
iustment of the Oregon question nearly hopeless
Does Mr. Calhoun forget-if he does the country VIII
no-that, before the overture was thus made to Mexico
every honorable effort had been used to settle this very
Oregon question, and had entirely failed Does he iO,
get that the President had, on the 18th July, ls40' VI
feed to adjust this question the parallel OF 4s degree,
and that his offer had been promptly and almost nsu'
ngly rejected by Mr. Packenham the goth OF the ''
month In this pparenty hopeless condition OF the VI,
egon question, won Id Mr. Calhoun have refused unni
it should be finally adjusted to treat with the goyernme
of Mexico, in the face of perfect knowledge that "D