Ypsilanti sentinel. [volume] (Ypsilanti, Washtenaw Co., Mich.) 1843-1900, 1847-02-24
TyvENTY-NINTH CONGRESS.
SECOND SESSION.
SENATE.
Tuesday February 9. lS47.
Thrcc MILAN R;yI.

SENATE.
Tuesday February 9, ls47.
Three Million Dill.
The Senate proceeded to the consideration OF
the special order, being the bill making a spec
ial appropriation to bring the war with Mex
Ico to speedy and honorable conclusion; the
question pending being the amendment of Mr..
Cass.
Mr.. Calhoun rose and addressed the Senate.
Never (said he) sinceI have been upon the
stage of action, has this country been placed in
more critical situation than at present. We
are not only in the midst of war, a very diff
cult and very expensive war, but We are invol-
we'd in domestic question of the most irrita-
ting and dangerous character. They both claim
our serious and deliberate consideration, and
do trust that before this session closes, late as
it is, they will both receive full discussion
1t is due to our constituents that the actual
state of things in reference to both, should be
understood. For the present purpose to consid-
re the question which is more Immediately pen
ding, how shall this war be- best conducted in
order to bring it most advantageously to sue
cessful termination; or, to express it little
more fully, how shall it be conducted to enable
us most advantageously to effect all the objects
for which the war was made; for it Is only by
efecting these objects that the war can prop
erly be said to be successful.
There are two ways CONTINUED Mr.. c. in
which this war may be conducted. The one Is
to push on offensive operations until Mexico is
compelled to yield to our terms; the other is,
to take defensive positions and to maintain and
secure the possession Of the country which is
already in our military occupation; and the
question which propose now to consider is.
which of these ought to be selected This is
Mr.. President, great question; in my opinion
it is next in importance only to the war itself.
have given it my most deliberate considera-
ton, and the result to which have come is,
that we ought to choose the defensive position,
and shall now proceed to state the reasons on
which that conclusion is founded. l believe
that such a course is the best calculated to
bring the war to successful termination or, to
express it more fully and more explicitly, flor
Iwish to be fully comprehended upon this impor
tant question, ITO bring it to acertain success
full terIninat ton; and that with the least sacri-
fee of men and money, and with the least haz-
ard of disasters or sacrifices, or loss of reputa-
ton or standing to this country.
If he rightly understood the objects for which
the war was declared, he felt deep conviction
that,by assuming this defensive attitude, all those
objects might be obtained; if he rightly under
stood, he repeated, for,strange as it might seem
the objects for which the war commenced Were
left, even at this late day, to inference. He
had examined the message of the President to
Congress, containing his recommendation that
Congress should make war, for the purpose of
discovering the objects for which the war shoe
be undertaken. The result of that examination
was that the objerts for which the war was made
were threefoid. First, to repel invasion: next
to establish the Rio del Norte as the western
boundary of Texas; and thirdly, to obtain pay
ment of the indemnites due to our citizens for
claims which they held against Mexico. The
two first appeared to him to be the primary OBJ
jects of the war, and the last only accessory
The President in his message, Gid not recon-
meme Congress to declare war. No; he assum-
ed that the war already existed, and called up
on Congress to recognise its existence. The
President assumed it to exist, because the coun-
try had been invaded and blood mad been spilled
on American soil. This assumption he predic-
ted on the ground that the Rio del Norte was
the western boundary of Texas; but he alleged
that the Mexicans had crossed that BOUNDARY
had come TO the American sde-which be ai6r-
med was an invasion; and the war having been
thus entered upon, he recommended likewise
that 1t should be prosecuted in reference to the
claims of our citizens. The act of Congress
declaring that war had been made by the Re
public CT Mexico, recognised the Rio del Norte
10 be the western boundary of Texas, and atiir-
med that the crossing of that River by fhe Mex
leans was an act of invasion. Hence, both the
Executive ard the Legislative branches Of this
Government were committed to the fact that
the Rio del Norte was the western boundary
OF Texas, and that the crossing it was an inva-
sion on the part of the Mexicans.
These were clearly primary objects. Bui,in
Recommending the war, the President recon-
mended thatit be prosecuted for the objects
which he hal already mentioned; among which
was that ofindemnlty to our citizens-an ob-
ject which, though not sufficient cause of war
in itself, yet, being involved in war, it appear
ed to him might properly be made one Of the
causes for which the war should be prosecuted,
that all causes of difference might be settled.
These were the three objects Of the war.
But, continued Mr.. Calhoun, the President
now further recommends that the war be prose-
cuted in order to obtain indemnity for the ex
penses of the war itself. That can however,
in no sense he considered as one of the prima-
ry objects of the war, though it may be said
TO be Legitimate policy: for it can never be
supposed that country would enter upon war
for the mere purpose of being indemnltei Tor
the cost of that war. hold, then, Mr.. Presi-
dent-such being the objects of the war-that
all those objects for which it was declared can
he accomplished by taking defensive position.
Two Of them have been already thoroughly eff
fected. The invasion has been repealed by two
brilliant victories; the Rio del Norte is held
from its sources to its mouth as the American
boundary: single Mexican soldier does not
remain within our territory; and such has been
the success of orr arms, that we have not on
l. acquired enough territory from then,but vast