Carroll free press. [volume] (Carrollton [Ohio]) 1834-1861, 1848-01-27

Now let me say that IN asserting that defen.
slve line was the only alternative 10 the plan rec.
commended by the President. have put out oI
the question the course which most Of Won nd.
yocaIe-lnkiug no indemnify for territory; be.
cause, believe thai the voice Of the country
has decided inevocably against il; and that to
keep Il as the alternative would but render more
ceriain the adoption Of the policy recommended
by the Executive, and in consequence the con.
quest Of the whole country. Let me say far.
Iher, 10 my friends on the other sideoflhe Cham.
Der, for ! regard them as such-tiI is our good
fortune to differ in politics here, without permit.
i ting our personal feelings to be affected that
they have contributed by theircourseto 10 give the
public opinion that strong and fixed delermina.
ZION, not to terminate the war without some suit.
able indemnify. ] do not allude 10 your voting
on the bill recognizing the existence Of war be
tweenlbe repubicof Msxconnd the U. Siates.-
No one knows better than myself, that YOU voted
for the bill with the view Of furnishing immediate
reliefto General Taylor and his army--and not
in reference to the war--lbat you even protested
and demonstrated against that Interpretation be.
ing putupon your vote But after the bill passed
and the war was authorized, most Of YOU have
continued 10 vote appropriations to prosecute
The war with the object expressed Of acquiring
territory as an indemnify. Now, | must saw, |
cannot see how the Two can be reconciliation
your vote TO acquire territory can be justified,
and at the same time your opposition TO the
acquisition OF territory as means of indemnify,
when It is acknowledged on all sides, that that is
the only means by which il can be acqured.-
The people will find It hard to believe that il was
necessary TO vote much money for the purpose of
getting territory for indemnify, which you intend
to throw away when you get it! But, whatever
may be The causes which have led to this state
of public opinion, il has, beyond all doubt, de.
cded against any conclusion of this war that
does not involve territorial indemnify to some
extent Hence, lrepeat, the alternative whelh.
er this war Shall 60 on and consummate itself
is between taking defensive line and adopting
the course pointed out by the Executive, and
that the decision must be made now; for if'it be
passed over until another session, the end will
be, doubt not, the subugation Of the whole
country, thereby involving us in all the difficult
ties and dangers which must result from it.
Now, have delivered my opinion with that
candor and lrankness which, hope, become my
position on this floor. ! shall now propose
nothing, but if find that can be supported in
these my views, will undertake to raise com.
mttee to deliberate, after consulting with those
officers W no are now fortunately in this city,
upon the best defensive line that can be taken.
If it should be forunptlly adopted, we may not
get peace Immediately. The war may continue
for some years, but we viii. accomplish that all
important consideration, the extraction of our
selves and the country from this enrangIement
with Mexico.