The voice of freedom. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1839-1848, 1847-02-18
Correspondence of the Tribune.
Mr. Calhoun's Speech-Pilot Bill
MFR. Dixon's Speech.
IV1SLinGlOn Feb. 9.

a
One would have wished to have been to-
day-as Mrs. Malaprop would say" like
| Cerberus. three gentlemen at oncc'-that he
might have heard Webster in the Supreme
| Court, Calhoun in the Senate, and the de-
bate on the Wilnot Proviso in the House..
Mr. Webster made in the Supreme Court an
argument with his usual ability in the case Of
Norris rs City of Boston, which Mr. CAOate
opened on Saturday.
The speech of Mr. Calhoun in the Senate
answered all public expectation. 1t was terse
and epigrammatic 1t required ones undi-
vidcd attention to comprehend it. Every
sentence was u text, suggestive OF commcnta-
! rieS: every word necessary adjunct. The
distinguished orator spoke in an hour many
volumes. We ever rise from his speechc,
with an appetite; he never gives us a sur
| felt.
He inquired into the origin of the wars, its
objects, and its necessity; and in this conncc-
ton he confessed his inability to gather GER
tain information from the Presidents Mes
sages or other official documents.
lie was decidedly opposed to q war Of mere
aggression all we wanted had been obtain
cd by our arms; we acquired sufficient in
demnity.
| He contrasted with most artstical skill the
| difference between the Mexican and Amerl-
can race and demonstrated the nnposslhility
! of amaIgamation in habits or in blood.
Ii we should continue an aggressive war,
and subiugate in its conduct all Mexico, he
would inquire, what we gained by such waste
of bood-so much expenditure of money =
Though the capital Of the nation should be
subdued, the spirit Of its population would yet
| be uncohquercd, unconquerable. When we
treated of peace even then, as treat we must,
we could merely obtain conditlons,t that IN the
present state Of our arms we could as easily
enforce-al farther military successes would
result in financial embarrassnicnt,in the strict
er union Of the enemy, bat in no good conse-
quence.
MIR Calhoun was therefore of the opinion
| that the territory we had acquired we should
defend: the part or whole; or run line
commencing at the Rio del Norte, and trav-
ersing the Pass del Norte, extending to the
! Gulf of Mexico. Allnorth Of this defend and
appropriate
! lie was not prepared to speak OF the sub
! iect of Slavery as connected with this new
/ territory: question, he said. Of the most mo-
mcntuous political importance to the country
of any that had agtatcd ii since his entrance
into public life.
And though not prepared to vote for Mr.
! Benton's amendment to the bill now before
the Senate-an amendment which he would
have under alyiscmcnt he was prepared to
vote against Mr. Cass's amendment. lie
would 20 no farther in the prosecution of this
great war of conquest, if such it is hereafter
! to be considered
Mr. Calhoun's speech will cool the ardor,
pretended or real, of the Administration to
prosecute an aggressive war. His counse's
persnaje pcacc, and peace may be accom-
plished, with the aid of the $3,0oo,00o
bounty, We will pay that willingly, to ter
inmate this inglorious war.
The Pilot bill was passed by, notwithstand-