Tri-weekly journal. (Evansville, Ia. [i.e. Ind.]) 1847-188?, 1848-01-18
From Hous,on's Official Reports.
SPEECH OF MIR. CALHOUN.
In the Senate Of the United States, January
4th, 1913, upon his Resolutions.

ah, 1915, upon HlS HOsot"toHs'
Resolpsd, That to conquer Mexico and 10 hold II,
either as province or 10 incorporate IN the Union,
would be Inconsistent with the ayowed object Tor
which the war has been prosecuted departure from
the settled policy of the Governments IN conflict win
It's character and genius and IN the end, suoSersiVe
OF our free and popular institutions
Resoiued That no line OF policy IN the further prose-
cutIon of the war should be adopted which may lead
to consequences 80 disastrous
Mr., Calhoun said-ln offering, Senators,
these resolutions for your consideration, have
been governed by the reason which induced me
to oppose the war, and by the same considera-
tions have been ever since guided. In ailu-
ding to my opposition to the war, do not IN
tend to notice the reason which governed me
on that occasion, further than is necessary to-
explain my motives upon the present. oppo-
sed the war then, not only because considered
il unnecessary and that il might have been
easily avoided, not only because thought the
President had no authority, TO order portion OF
the territory in dispute and in possession OF the
Mexicans, to be occupied by our troops; not
only because | believed the allegations upon
which il was sanctioned by Congress were un-
founded in truth, but from high considerations
of reason and policy, because l believed 1t
would lead to great and serious evils TO the
country and greatly endanger its free institu
tons.
|
:. ceived the sanction of the government, l ac-
ouienced in what | could not prevent, and
which it was impossible for me to arrest; andl
then felt it to be my duty to limit my course
so as TO give that direction to the conduct OF the
war as would as far as possible, prevent the
evil and danger with which, i'll my opinion, 1t
threatened the country and its Institutions
For this purpose, at the last session, | suggest
ed to the Senate a defensive line, and for that
purpose | now offer these resolutions. This,
and this only, is the motive which governs me-
am moved by no personal or party consider
atoms. My object is neither to sustain the
Executive nor to strengthen the opposition;
but simply to discharge an important duty to
the country But shall express my opinion
, upon all points with boldness and independ-
ence, such as becomes Senator who has moth
ing to ask, either from the government or from
the people; and whose only aimis to dimin-
ish, to the smallest possible amount, the evils
incident to this war. But, when | come to
notice those points in which ditfer from
the President, shall do it with all the deco
rum which is due TO the Chief Magistrate Of
: the Union.
e When Isuggesteda defensive line, at the last
session, this country had in its possession
through the means of its arms, ample territory
and stood in a condition to force indemnity
e gained all the contiguous portion of Mexico
d and our army has ever since held all that it il
h desirable to hold-that portion whose popula
s. ton is sparse and on that account the more de
Y sirable 10 be held For hold it in referenc,
to this war fundamental principle, that wheI
c we receive territorial indemnity it shall be un
eerevcul rtar m The first place it was the onl,
certain mode of terminating the war success
l. fully. did it also because beleevd that il
n would be vast saving of the sacrifice of human
. life; but above all. did so because saw that
: any other line of policy would expose us tC
: tremendous evil, which these resolutions were
y intended to guard against. The President tool
different view. He accommodates vigorou:
prosecution OF the war-not for conouest--that
d was disavowed-but for the purpose of con-
: quering peace, that is, to compel Mexico to
sign treaty making sufficient cession of ter
rltory to indemnify this Government both fol
the claims OF Its citizens and for the expenses
/ OF the war. Sir, opposed this policy. | op-
posed 1t among other reasons, because beliey-
ed that if the war should be ever so successful.
there was great hazard to us at least. that the
object intended to be effected BY it would not
De accomplished. Congress though; different
ly ample provisions in men and money were
granted Tor carrying on the war, The cam
paign has terminated. 1t has been as success
/ full as the Executive of the country could nos
l sibly have calculated. Victory after victory
has followed in succession, without single re-
verse. Santa Anna was repelled and defeated
with all forces-Vera Cruz and the castle were
carried with it. Jalapa, Perote and Puebla
Tell, and after two great triumphs of our army.
the gates OF Mexico opened to US Well, sir.
what has been accomplished? What has been
done? Has the avowed object of the war been
attained? Have we conquered peace? Have
we obtained treaty? Have we obtained anv
| indemnity? No, si.; not single object con-
tempated has been effected, and what is worse
our difficulties are greater now than they were
then, and the objects, forsooth, more difficult
to reach than they were before the compaign
commenced.
Now Senators have asked what has caused
this complete discomforture of the views of the
Executive for which men and money were
granted? 1t is not to be charged to our troops;
they have done all that skill and gallantry was
capable of effecting 1t must be charged but upon
the fact that the plan of the campaignwas erro-
neous, that the object pursued was mistake
We aimed at indemnity in wrong way. If
we had aimed directly to it, we had the means
to accomplish it directly; they were in our
hands. But, sir, We aimed at an indemnity
through treaty. We could not reach it by
treaty with Mexico, and Mexico by refusing to
treat simply, could defeat the whole object
which we had in view. We put out of our own
power and in her hands, to say when the war