Staunton spectator, and general advertiser. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 183?-1849, 1848-04-05
MIR. CALH0UN'S SPEECH
ON THE
r z N REGTME EMIT Rrr,r.
In SENATE-Thursday, March Is. lS4S

The Senate having resumed the consideration Of
the bill making provision for an addition to the Ar
my OF ten Regiments of Regulars
Mr. CALHOUN said After very careful ex-
animation, have not been able to find single ar
gument which, in my opinion, would Justify the
passage of this bill at this tme and under existing
circumstances. cannot but feel that those who
have come to different conclusion have overlook
ed the actual condition OF the Mexican Govern
ment, and of the people of Mexico in surprising
that this bill was necessary either to n,imidate or
to coerce that Government into ratification of the
treaty recently acted upon here. II that Govern
ment were strong and vigorous, If the people of
Mexico were united in resistance to u.s. and capa-
BILE OF sustaining war in the event that the treaty
shall not be ratified, there might he strong reason
for passing this bill. But such is not the CASE
On the contrary, the very opposite is. The Gov
eminent itself is little mere than shadow, with
out an army and without revenue; the people in
state OF distraction, with large and powerful par
ty In opposition to the Government and for a con-
tlnuance OF the war-not in hostility to us, bat in
hostility to their own Government, which they de-
sire should be overthrown. The Government it
self exists by our forbearance, and under our coun
tenance; they have been induced to trea, with us
from the dread of their humiliation, and we to
treat with them from the same consideration For
strange as 1t may appear, the very motive that in
duced Mexico to treat with us induced us 10 treat
with her. She dreaded her humiliation, and so
did we. 1t is difficult TO say which would be sub
Jected to the greatest evil in consequence of such
annlhiiatIon. The danger is not that the Mexican
Government, in the event of the rejection of the
treaty, would be able to resist but il is that it NAV
perish before she can ratiiy it. But, if am mis-
taken IN all this, thing is clear; without these
ten additional regiments we haze the means of in
timldatng or coercing that Government to any ex.
tent we please single brigade may annihilateit
Rut ac,N,, Il ~, a.:
another power in hands that is ample 10 induce
her to ratry the treaty, provided there be any
hesitation on her part. We would in that case
have but TO tell her that we will adopt the bounda
ry agreed upon in the treaty, and thus save our
selves the vast sum OF twenty millions of dollars
which rumor states that we are TO give for the ce-
ded territory. This consideration alone is suf
Gent, provided tho Mexican Government can main
tain itself until she shall have acted upon this trea
ty, with the amendments that may have been
made to it by this body.
In this view of the subject, regard the passage
OF this BILL n 1t be intended either for the purpose
of intimidation or of coercion, to be entirely use
less-an unmeaning bravado. But if it were
merely useless, as much as | may be aversc TO it,
my aversion would not be near so great as it now
| is. 1t is worse than useless it is mischevous
and will prove mschievous, both here and there.
Mischievous here, for if this body, conversant
| with all the secret proceedings in reference to the
treaty, and supposed by the country to be fully in
! formed of every thing in relation to the subject,
should pass the bill now before it, it will be re-
celved by the public rs apprehension OH our part
that there Is great danger that the treaty will not
be ratified, and the effect upon our commerce and
upon the money interest of the country will be
highly injurious. 1t will be mischievous there fol
the real danger that the Mexican Government has
TO fear is this there is large party in Mexico
called Puros, which is unwilling to see peace
concluded between the Mexican Government anC
this country; unwilling, not because they are on
friends or enemies, but simply for the reason tina
they wish to see that Government annihilated ant
the power placed in their hands Now. if the i'm
preston produced there by the passage Of this bill
should be- that there is danger that the treaty vii
not be ratified, it will arouse and animate tina
party to double exerion i'll order to fulfill their oh
iect.
But consider it not only useless not only mis-
chievous in the light which have indicated, br
il will be costly bravado. take it for granite
that the honorable chairman OF the Committee o
Military Affairs does not intend simply that th
bill shall pass this body; that would be unworth
of his charactef, He then expects that it will
j so pass the other branch Of Congress and become
. law, and that the force will be raised and be en-
pOyed il the treaty should fail in carrying on tn
o war with Mexico We'll. if the bill pasSes-an
] must consider it in that light-in that case. VIII
C will be the result2 There will be no difficulty
s getting officers and men they will have no appu
d tensions Of going 70 Mexico or fighting future ba
5 Ties; tho enlistment will turn out to be a none
k speculation each recruit will receive for his enlis
,f ment his bounty in land, amounting to one hui
.. bred and sixty acres, his bounty in money, equ
Is TO twelve dollars, the usual issue of clothing.
N mounting at the present price to about twenty OF
lie dollars Estimating the bounty in land at one dc
lar and quarter an acre, it would make the who
IL.
OF 10 two millions three OF four hundred thousand d,
l. lars. add to this the pay and emopments Of t
if officers the pay 70 the soldiers, the expense
us subsistence and that for recruiting. and the wht
no sum will 30 found 10 be not less than three mo
y Of dollars TO which the passage Of this bill wor