Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1847-02-12
disburscd. The bill was then postponed until TO-

morrow.
The three million bill was then taken up, and
Mr.. Calhoun commenced his remarks. tie said
that never since our country has been upon the
stage of action have We been placed in more
critical position. We were in The midst OF war
and there was also question OF great domestic
iuquetude. tle hoped there would be The fullest
discussion upon both topics before The close Vi
the session, short as il was The important ques-
lion was how should this war be prosecuted 2
There were Two ways-lhe one 10 push on in the
hostile country, and The other 10 take defensive
position. Which was best}
Mr. G.. said il was a grave question, and ore
10 which he had given his most deliberate alien
lion. Ills Judgment was that the defensive po
silion was The best; The best 10 bring the war 10
certain ard successful end. This would result
in most economy, and most honor. 1.-The righliul-
" understood the objects OF the war this was con.
sislent The causes for which This war was COM
menced were three.
To rcpel nvasion-to establish the Rio Grande
as a Boundary-io secure indemnify due 10 our
citizens The two frat were first considered.
The President did not ask Congress TO declare
war. He asked Congress 10 recognize The e1is
lence OF The war; and he assumed that there was
invasion because the MeXicans had crossed The
Rio del Noue.
primary objects Of the war The establishment o
Boundary. Congress has avowed no other objec
Than this. Being in the war, however, j, was re-
commended that il be prosecuted tor The payment
OF our claims.
The Two objects OF the war had been maintain
ed-inrason repelled-lhe Rio Grande secured
and we could safely act upon the defensive.
Mr. Calhoun went on 10 slate what the charac
Ter Of this defence should be. IL ought 10 be neal
our supplies-in proximity TO our country, conve
nieni, SC. Towards Mexico We ought 10 be mos
liberal, not only because she was our neigbboi
and sister Republic, but great power upon ouI
continent.
More than this Mexico was one OF The great
est problems connected with our foreign relations
Taere was a mysterious connection between her
aud US. She was as forbidden iruit. The day
of her death would be almost The end OIL our po-
lica existence. Her independence, her capa-
cry, her greatness, should be esteemed BY Us d
next in importance 10 our own.
Mr.. Calhoun defined what he thought good
boundary defence. Beginning a, Inc mouth Of
Del Nolle, continue 10 Pass del Norte, and then
due west 10 the Gulf OF California, and il would
strike the head of The Gull.
This he would defend II would give US the
Rio Grande from its mouth 10 its source and ne
forts and four regiments would BE- sufficient iof
all purposes, as follows
One tort al The mouth OF The Del Nore.
One near CamaIgo.
One al Pass Del Noue.
Fromthe waters which separate the Del None
from those entering The Cult Of California, one
more might be placed
Hence FIVE regiments and small Naval force,
one consistent with our Naval Peace establish
ment, could successfully defend The boundary
This county was of little importance 10 Mex
leo, bul Of great importance 10 US. IL had only
100, 900 people, and these were spread over Co.,
coo square miles An open uninhabied country
was The best Tor Us; we wanted space ior oul
population which doubled once in twenly-hTee
years. II would be eighty millions in foriy-six
years. This country (New Mexico) was remote
IRON Mexico, farther HON her Than from Wash
ingion For the first time the savage were ma
king their great inroads upon the Europeans.
This was no! because the Spaniards were nct
brave, but because they were disarmcd b. 'h-
Federal authorities Of Mexico.
This country he would recommend 10 be held,
no. as absolute, but as subject 10 negotiation; and
50 he would say o,Mexico. He would dea with
her literally, and do 50 from the first. Until such
peace should be mad, he would hold all III poiis
in Mexico which could be held withou: too great
a sacrifice Of men ana money. lie would inn
pose low Iale ut duty net exceeding ten per
cent. and this would yield sufficient revenue I"
ensure the payment Of the defence which would
not cost more than between Two and three millions
Of iulla.s
The effect Of this policy would be no more taxes,
a reduction OF fifteen millions, and The great mea.
sules which he and his friends Gree lrade) held
So much al heart, saved.
Il az: 1 h;rt> III hold
under such state of facts She would see that
We we're resolule, and yet meaning her no hahn.
She was now madcened, excited, bold and deter
mined. Under different policy she would see
an honorable peace ahead Surprising This not
10 be the case we should no, suffer We should
have war without the COST anu without hazard oi
any kind
Mr.. Calhoun went on TO show his opposition
10 an offensive war He wa, opposed 10 il be-
cause there vas no certainty that il would end
the war, and, il il did, il would lose US men, mo-
ney and national reputation. The real and Irue
object OF carrying on such war, we were told,
was not Tor conquest, and we might so presume,
because in The defensive line he had marked oul
il was moi ayowed. To conquer peace was IL
make war. and how could peace be Obtained out
by treaty? A treaty was our OBJECT, not treaty
that would suit Mexico, but one that would sun
U.s. The object, Mr.. c. said, wonld be 10 comrel
Mexico TO say thai was ours which We claimed.
A most vigorous war could do no more than
this, and if we could reach the city vi Mexico
this very campaign would il be worth whilei 4
would take 10000 men, and !orv millions OF dol.
lars, ard what then should we gain by compelling
Mexico 10 make peace in her own homer II
would cost Is 600 men, and all this money, and
all 10 make Mexico acknowledge tina, 10 be ours
which we already held 10 be ours.
Mr. c. appealed 10 the humanity OF men il
such sacrifice could be made. Bni this only
touched the shell Of the case. There was no GER
tany that we could reach the city OF Mexico;
and going there, The presumption was that we
meant to despoil the country or portion OF il,
larger than all The land between the Alleshanes
and The Rocky Mountains. And how could We
hold This country in an offensive war? II would
take still more men and still greater sacrifice
OF life. Mr.. C. said the natural obstacles were
many. There was the hot country, very extend
ed, and eight months, and not unfrequently ten
months, were most unhealthy. March vas
doub tul monlh-Apfl an unhealthy month
Had we now force enough 10 march To Mexico,
enccnnrering the romito' Ii We could not, Mex
leo would be encouraged. And il we got TO Mex
leo, whom had we 10 deal with A proud and
all obstinate peupIe-fnil OF delay, renowned Tor
their disposition 10 hold out.
INr. ". SdlQ " We ldliCu lHclC Wouiu NC liiit'
campaign, and il we hat third campaign, could
we raise The men and money 7 and il we wen, on
we should have guerilla war like that between
France and Algera-belween Russia and The
Caucasus The spirit of volunteering was now
8one-men we're returning sickly and diseased.
II would be necessary 10 recruit 10000 men,
Could We raise them, and il We could whence
would come The money 10 raise ,hem3 MANY Of
the States were oppressed with onerous deb's,
and could moi bear additional Taxation. And il the
taxes could be raised, was there anything like
zeal and unanimity in carrying on The war Z
There were many who believed the war could
have been avoided and ought 10 be avoided
Many believe il unconstitutional and unjust.
Many believe it ought TO he ended, and not 10 be
prosecuted further. tle would like 10 give his
opinion upon all those topics bu, could not con-
sislently now. But there was another lremen-
dous question remaining, 10 whom should this
territory belong il we obtained In The North
had come 10 The conclusion that there should be
no slavery there. If this was feeling in the
Tree States, with how much force did i, come
home 10 the people OF the slave Siaes3 Stern.
ness would be met with seInness, and he could
assure gentlemen Of that. But he would not &c