The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1847-03-16


edition as they furnish us subsc ribers for gratis
90 Trr coSeHrssOsAl RsssrrR win be furnished
......-.-.-
am still in favor, not only OF vigorous prosecution of
the war; but in favor OF The most vigorous means of
prosecution OF the war believe that the best for
the United States best for Mexico, for that is the short
est mode, ami best for the cause OF humanity itself.
am therefore IN favor OF adding to, rather than taking
rom the means which have been asked by the Executive
TO carry on this war.
The second proposition is to take defensive line This
proposition, considering the from which it comes
Mr. CALHoUY, IL entitled to serious consideration The
senator who brings forward this proposition only
possesses great Abilities and has long occupied prom
nent position IN the political history OF his country, but
held, for long time, the highest position under the
President connected with the military branch of the pub
lie service Under these circumstances, il but natural
ana proper that his opinions upon war measure should
receive the most serious consideration. But duly i'm
pressed with the Just weight of all these considerations
dissent entirely from the correctness of the line of policy
which he thinks il best to pursue in relation to the
with Mexico feel compelled TO differ from him, out
and out Peace permanent peace should be the object
slider that the establishment Of defensive ne Of posts
through the territory OF Mexico would lead TO proraced
4 not niermlnable war between the two countries For
II Mexico is to be believed when she SAYS she will never
treat until withdraw troop from her territory how
can If be expected, when draw line with the sword
across her territory and declare to her and to the world
that we Will hold IT subject to negotiation, that she will
treat Tor peace The thing is unreasonable, and not
be expected h,
OF all the wars which have agitated. desolated and
distracted the world, these border wars these wars of
posts have been most disastrous They have ever BEEN
and will continue to be, wars of rapine and MURDER OF
robbery and page, and assassination. History abounds
with examples full of fearful instruction upon this
point But this line would be utterly ndefensble upon
the plan OF the senator from South Carolina He proposes
Tor ITS defence three Notifications and five regiments
These posts would be more than hundred and fifty
miles apart. You could not maintain these posts without
sufficient force each one of them TO resist the whole
embodied force of Mexico They would attack them in
detail and they fall, and your men be cut to pieces
Or the Mex,cans would cut your line and march into
Texas and desolae the country. The whole idea of a
defensive line appears to me to be utterly untenable
You have crossed the Rbcon and you must carry the
war into that part OF Mexico where she would feel lis
effects, before you can hope for peace.
The third proposition is to withdraw your troops alto
gether This sir shall not discuss, but content myself
with saying that in my judgment, it would disgrace
IN the eyes OF our c0untrymen and the of the
civilized world, and even of Mexico herself And so far
from adopting it, if had the power, ! would place
prosecute the with all possible vgor and never relax
until she sued for peace and then would grant her such
terms as the events of the and the principles of JUS
tce might seem to require | have heard with regret,
the assaults made upon the administration, with the view,
me, of bringing the government of the United
States into contempt and detesation.
Mr. President it is not my intention enter into de-
fence OF the administration against the unjust, unmert
ed, and iiberal attacks that have been made upon it
But little of my time has been spent, public man,
IN praising those In power remember, right well,
that there was time when exered my influence against
the man power executive encroachment, and the dan
ger OF despotlsm; and when some of those who are
now loudest IN their Remuneration of the present
ecuve were ieastng upon the bounty and running riot
IN the popularity OF him against whom owing, sup
pose, to the philosophy OF circumstances they afterwards
brought these same charges. In this respect at least
can say that am not as some other men. But when |
see an eminent citizen taken, without solicitation and
without expectation on his part from the walks and pur
suits of private life and placed by the voice Of his
hymen at the head of the government and laboring n
cessanty, with patriotic devotion, to promote according
to his views The honor the interest and the prosperity OF
his country, when hear such man assailed, with a
coaseness and vituperaon beyond all former example
he AMI
dignity which ought always TO characterize the prsceed
ing OF this body tina, impus Sc which always prompts
hard to be resisted But shall leave the President to the
proud consciousness of having done his DUTY and the
Ths ana 4, impartial ss judgment Of the American people
his public acts, and from that judgment he has nothing
fear. but everything to hope ana expect.
great Judge OF human nature and of human affairs
has SAID that reproach necessary ingredient in the
composition OF all true glory The opponents OF this ad
mnistration have administered that drug with most
sure to reap in the bitter fruits TO them, of the glory and
applause with which this administration will be crowned
Inc hand OF hstory-sl N, inlexble history-will
and the acts of this administration fairly exhibited,
ture to assert that when that is done there will be
seen in the acts OF the present administration approve
than in any since the adoption of the constitution.
and that an impartial people will SO decide This is all
haye to say IN regard to the present administration
mentioned, IN the opening of my remarks, that the
scenes in which are engaged, and that are daily
passing around us, were full Of interest and full OF in
NlOSl OF the elements ana principles OF Tree
government have been drawn into this discussion Sen
aors have taken wide range, and traversed the portal
OF the temple of liberty, and examined the foundation of
the great pillars that sustain it, Among the most mpor-
ant OF these is the liberty of speech and free discussion
and the liberty of the press. And while have been
grahhed almost to modification, at the pertinacty and
zeal with which the first is maintained, have not been
without some msgvings with respect the safety of
the other. 1t was not without deep modification that
heard the senator from Ohio Mr. CoRwIN] pronounce
the message OF the President of the United States be
document feculent with lies. Still was disposed TO
pardon something to the spirit of libertyto make
allowance for the freedom OF speech. the heat of de-
bate But when memory, faithful to her office, admon
shes that that only few days ago, voted for
eypelng from this body, account of something pub
shed in the Union with respect to certain members of
this body venerable for his age, and for than
forty years Intimately and honoraby, and usefully
ISOLATED with the great republican party and whose fail
ngs lean to virtues sde and always to the side of his
country--if did consider the assault made upon the
liberty of the press, in the person OF such man,
ominous of evil, ! could not resist the conclusion
that the senator from Ohio was much more dis
posed to teach by precept than example, i'm re-
gard TO the decorum of debate and the decences OF
the press But venture to predict that whether this act
OF expulsion intended by those who perperated TO
nct wound upon the freedom of the press or disgrace
upon the editor will prove equally impoent and vain
Instead OF sencng the press you have aroused against
you Throughout the land and hundreds of thousands of
tongues, speaking in tones of unrammeed freedom, will
pronounce sentence of condemnation upon the you
have done And, so far from having disgraced the edi
tor you will find the voice of public opinion, like the