The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1847-06-05
THE CALIFORNIAN,
OPINIONS OF THE WAR.

Last week we gave the opinions Of two dis
linguished Locofocos and one Wing, upon
the character ofthe War upon Mexico. We
propose continuing 20 give the opinions of
other Leading men this week-of men upon
different sides in politics. We do so that our
readers NAV know the views OF intelligent
men upon a subject so important as war. o
curse TO all nations, and only Unsuitable in
any, except in self defence. We commence
with an extract Of Col Thomas H.. Bentun's
speech, recently delivered TO his constituents
At 81. Louis. After saying that Mexico and
Texas were ut war when annexation took
place, and by annexation we assumed the
Texas war. Col. Benton proceeded as fol-
lows:
Col. Benton's Speech.
"rThe mission of Gen. Memucan IIuutMn-
ister from Texas. was the next serious at
tempt TO bring Texas in'o the Union; but tie
parties were then changed: it was, ssttter the
battle OF San Jacnfo, and Texas herself he
came the applicant. Sir Van Buren, was
then Presidenr--NIr Forsyth, his Secretary
of State. and both in favor of getting back inc
country. But Texas and Mexico. though uoT
fighting, had not made peace; they were IL
the state of war with respect TO each Other.
and TO have admitted Texas into the Union
would have been to have adopted her size OF
the war. and to have placed the United States
at war with Mexico. Neither Justice nor pol
icv permitted this, especially az. II lett alone.
they would make peace atterawhie: and then
annexation could be effected without breach
with Mexico. Upon this view they acted
He. Mr. b.. concurred with them, ana so did
all the people ofthe United States.
The question of admission OF Texas then
went TO sleeep, and was quietly whiting the
end of the war with Mexico. All The OLD
friends to the recovery of the country wcr,
willing 10 await that event; but in the ycuI
1913, during Mr. Tyler's administrations new
set offriends who had cared nothing uhuU,
Texas before and one ofwhom had given ne.
away when we had her. becune furious 80;
Immediate annexation. and the annexation
treaty OF 1874 was the fruit of t,IRt new ana
sudden iinpatience.n
Mr. b. said this was the history of ghe loss
and gain of Texas. and its sequence: the 1Ccr
igith Dferic6. The country is recovered
war has followed; and the question now Is.
how TO finish t2 For himself he felt clear
His policy had been uniform. from first q.
last; it was TO get back TeXus without -.
breach with Mexico. and was certnin it mi gil.
sells had prevailed.
Mr. b. repeated: his policy, from beginning
to ending, had teen 10 get back Texas with
out war, or even a breach Of friendship with
Mexico. He was grently averse TO such 9.
war. He saw great and extraordinary evils
in il, besides the evils, common TO all wars
loss of lives, distress OF families, interruption
nfcommerce, ruin to many merchants. and
load of dept and taXes-tesides all these or
binary evils, he saw others, OF u new and cN-
traordinary kind, in war with MEXICO. Sit
was a republic, and weak one, and on.
neighbor, and had done us the honon 10 col
v our constitution and form of government,
and had maintained civil wars to keep 1t I'i'.
She was one oftlie Spanish American Srates.
which stretch from the southern boundary
ofthe United States TO Cape Horn, the whole
ofwhich had copied our form Of government.
and established close political and comHer
cial relations with us.
All these states had emaRcipated them
selves from European domination. udoptct
the republican system, and taken Ihe tuI'u
States for their model aud their ttiprd--'itc
elder sister aud parental guardian otthe cnr-
don of republics which stretched across the
two Americas The position of the bnltr,5
Stafrs. at the head ot this long chain ot repHs,-