Staunton spectator, and general advertiser. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 183?-1849, 1847-02-18
HON. JOHN c. CALHOUN.

lSuai ability, to express his opinions not only
IN regard to the management Of the Mexican war.
but also in reference to the causes and necessity of
1t. lie condemns, in the most emphatic manner,
the conduct of the President as being in violation
OF the Consiitu,iOn-And he says that when he
heard that Mr. Polk had ordered General TAYLOR
to cross the Neuccs river, he could not believe it
possible that he could have assumed upon himself
the right to do SO. When he ascerained. howev-
or, that such was the fact, he would have immedi-
ateiy introduced resolution into the Senate to re-
call our troops, but for his peculiar position at that
time IN regard To the Executive ON the Oregon
question. He knew that if he did SO his motives
would be msinterpreed, and he would be prevent
ed from carrying into effect his purposes in regard
to the Oregon controversy which then threatened to
involve us in war with England. His idea was
that it best to do one thing at a time. and he
considered 1t most important TO ge, rid Of Great Bri
tain first, and then he could take his time to extri
cate us from the Mexican war. He thinks the war
with Mexico was entirely unnecessary, and might,
by the exercise of ordinary prudence and sound
s'atesmanship, have been avoided without any in
jury to our national interests or honor.
lie dlsapproves, also, in very strong terms, of the
mode OF conducting the war. lie estimates that
10 conquer peace" according 10 Mr.. PoLK's
view, will cost us ONE HUNDRED THOUSAND LIVES
and THREE HUNDRED MILLIONS OF DOLLARS. and
when we have obtained the prize for which we are
contendng, or, in other words, when we shall
have plundered Mexico of one half her domain. we
VIII only have introduced into confederation an
apple OF discord, which will soon lead TO 4 dissolu
ton Of the Union and destruction of our Rcpub-
lie.
lie endorses throughout the opinion of General
TAYLOR, that instead Of seeking to prosecute
bloody and expensive war Of fence, we ought i'm
mediately 10 assume some definite lne-;he Rio
Grande from lis mouth to lis source and thence hv
line striking due West to the Pacific. near the
head OF the Gulf Of California which we would be
Wiling TO accept future boundary line. and
then Withdraw our troops 10 that line and say TO
NdeAico mere we mean TO take stand-if YOU
are willing for peace. You can have it by adoptinU
ilhs llne-ir YOU are for war, come and drive us
from this position" This would throw the bur
then and expense Of an offensive war on Mexico
Our people would soon settle the country North Of
the line, and our citizen soldiers and few reri-
ments OF regulars could defend it against all the
force Mexico could bring into the field. This
course, with rigorous blockade of the Mexican
ports on the Atlantic and Pacific, would soon bring
peace.
II seems to us that the views Of Mr.. CALHouN
are sound and statesman-like and we cannot for
bear from returning him our heart felt thanks for
the manly stand he has taken in defence of the
Constitution and the glory and interests of the
Country. We differ widely from Mr.. CA1uouY
In regard 10 most al the opinions which he now en-
terialns ON questions OF domestic policy. The day
was, 1t is tue, when lie acted with the old Rpnuh
hcan party, and held most of the principles which
now constitute the basis of the organization Of the
Wing party But he has seen cause to chance his
pP'hohS IN regard u the great measures connected
win The currency and the protection of domestic
industry. We cannot follow him in these chan
ges, and hence we are, so far as these matters 90.
the very antipodes Of each other But still we do
not pretend TO question his integrity Of motive
The unsullied purtyoi his private character would
make us pause long before we would entertain even
suspicion OF the honesty of his purposes
But upon all questions connected with our FOREIGN
relations we find an American spirit about him.
o.
sPec'. on tie Oregon question he unques;ionably
saved our Country from a war; in CO mparison with
Which, the Mexican contest would have been
mere bdgGteEe. We shall never cease 10 feel oroti-
tude for his services On that occasion. When. Inv
the madness and folly Of Mr.. Polk and his advi
sers, all hope of an amicablc adjustment was alb u
to be lost, he magnanmously stepped forward into
the pathway Of Mr.. Polk, and with a strong arm
thrust him lack from the very verge Ct the abyss
into which he was about to lead the Country We
have good reason 10 believe that ne has never been
forgiven by MIR. Polk for his conduct on that occa-
sion, but lie obliged to submit and tamely re-
cant all his empty brayado about ''al Of Oregon or
nome"
Again, MIR. Polk, under the influence Of SINH
lar spirit OF ntatuation, has actually involved us in
d war, and, III order TO carry it out, is bcsiegnp
Congress with all kinds of opportunities for extra
VACANT and unusual powers and privileges. demand
ing first the appointment of Lieutenant General
10 superSede all the present military officers, and
then that THREE MILLIONS OF DOLLARS
may be placed in his hands 10 t1y the peace, which,
he thereby admits by implication, he cannot CON
qNer. And again Fir. CALHOUN stands in his
path, and says these things are not warranted, bv
sound policy or Justice and you shall not have them
and MIR. Pork is forced to subm; to the terms
which the great Caroliman thinks proper TO pre-
scrI1e.--Ihc Lieutenant General bill is defeated.
and the S3,CtO,OC0 bill is likely to "foow in the
footsteps OF It's uslrious predecessor ="
These things are very CALLING TO Mr. Polk and
his par'zans. AT first they Submitted in sulIcm