New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1848-01-07
CONQUEST OF MEXICO.
SPEECH OF JOHN &. CALHOUN.


tions. submitted By Mr. CALHouS, On the 18th Dec.
Rsolr,5 Tbstto conqasr Mexico sad ., hold IT, either
a. province Or 20 Incorporate t 10 the Union, he
incoasstent with The sv0wsd object for which the
has been prosecuted departure fom tbs settled policy
n lie Government. ia conflict with rs character and
genius sad 10 the end subversve OF our Tree and popular
RsissJ That no line Of policy 10 tho father rrosscu
ton d the should be adopted which may lead 10 con
sequences - ai-asirous
Mr CALHOUS said In Offering 20 the Senate
these resolutions iofyOar consideration, have been
governed by the reason which induced me 10 oppose
the war and by the same considerations have been
evorsince guided. w abiding % my opposition %
tire war Do not intend o notice the reasons which
governed mt on that occasion, farther than u is ne
cessery % cypsin my motives upon the present
opposed the .hsn not only because considered Il
unnecessary ard hat might have been easily avolted
lot only bee thought the President hid no authority
% order portion OF he territory In dispute and IN pys-
session Of the Mexicsus, be occupied by r1u7s
sanctioned 0y Congress, were unoun1cd la rutn bot
fem high considerations Of reason and policy, because
believed would lead TO great and serious evils . the
country and srenty cnfanger its free Institutions
But afer the declared, aud had received the
ncOn 81 he Government, acquiesced 10 what coma
not prcvcft and which possible FOR me 90 arrests
and then felt il 70 be my duty limit my course 80 ~
give such direction 10 the conduct u The wsr as would
~ a rs possible prevent the evil and danger With which,
III y opinion. t threatened the county and is ustu
tons For this purpose, at The ast se.siCn suggested ~
the Seuae sdeensiye line. and for hat purpose now
offer these revolutions This and this only Is th. motive
which governs me. J moved 6y personal nor party
consdera1ls. My object is neither " sustain tho ~
ccutive 70 strengthen the opposition but SIMPLY %
discharge important duty 10 Tue country but snal
express NY opinion upon al points with boon-ss nt5 m
dependence, such becomes Senator who has nChne
20 ask either from the government or from the People
and whose only aim il 10 diminish the smallest posi-
bic amount the evils incident - THIS war bot mr ifss
when notice those points 10 which diher
from the President, she'll do IL with all The decorum
which is due 70 the Chief M9siIate OF The Union.
When I suggested dsfsnNve line a, the last session
this country had its possession, through ihe means Of rs
arms ample territory aud stood IN condition 70 force IN
denitv before the successes II our army had gained all
The otrnos nations Of Nerfr0 and our army
Al nee he a that Is deliratle 10 hod-that portion
whose population sspase ami % that account the more
desirable be held Tor hold 10 10 reference 10 tis war
Fundamental prime pie that when receive terfoiA
indemnity It shall be unoccupied territory. ~
In Offering defensive line, did 10 because believed
ma ~ ~ ~, 49, 80 sf,llv did II sl.o because be-
eved that would be vast saving Of the sacrifice Of hu
lie bot above ALL did 20 because saw tn-l any
other lne Of policy would expose Us 70 tfeneno ev'
which these resolutions intended 70 guard against
Sir the President took different course lie recommend
ed vigorous prosecu lon Of the waf-not for conqoe'-
that dsayow.dbut for the purpose OF conqueins
peace that IT, u comPe Mexico to sign rests making
sufficient cesson Of territory 10 indemnify s Govern
both for the claims Of its citizens and for the ex
penses Of the
Sir, opposed this policy l opposed it, among other
reasons because believed that II the wal should be ever
successful there was great hazard 70 Us a. least hat
the object intended 20 be effected BY would not be &C
compshed Congress thought ollie emily ample proyi-
sons aud money were granted FOR carrying on TIE
The campaign has terminated IL has been a. sue
Cessfu the Executive OF TIE country possibly
have expected Victory after victory has followed IN sue
cession, without single reverse sants Anna was re-
PEELED and defeated with all his forces. Vera Cruz snd
The Castle with IT, the nights OF Ceo Oordo AND the Ca
tie fPeIoe are IN our possession and after two gei
umphs Of our army the gates Of Mexico we're opened
Well cir what has been accom- plished What has been
done Hss the ayowed object Of the war been attained
Have we conquered peace, Have we obtained treaty
Have we obtained any indemnity No, sir not sipgls
object contem plated has been effected and what wore
Nj President our difficulties greater now than they
~ aQ0 objects. fOTEOIth. difNcuH 70
reach than they before the campaign commenced
Now have asked what has caused this complete
discomfue OF The OF the Executive for which men
and money granted IL not 10 BE charged 10 our
troous thew hays done all III skill and gallautTy
pable Of edecng II must be charged somewhere, aud
where to b charged but upon the fact that the pan OF
The oapaign wa. At the object pursued
mistake We aimed at indemnity in o wrong way. II
had aimed directly Of it, we had the means TO accom-
plish II drectly-they we're IN our oai HANDS buy 81
" aimed indemnify through treaty. We could mol
reach it By treaty with Mexico ard Mexico b, refusing
simply could defeat the whole Object we he'd ~
view We put Of power, ana 10 her hands 10
say, when the war should terminate. .,
the loss of blood and have nothing but The pl
tary glory which the campaign has furnished. 49,.
We cannot presume esamste IhS rasSo conn
pute the with any degee OF precision but believe
may say about est sum- and between the s~eIo sDa S
thousand have been sacrificed aud all this tor nothing al
all ,-,---,... H.
would have been expensive the campaign ITSELF Inc
President has assigned msny reasons Tor hat opnoh ana
the rcrctary OF w mas uOnr saih7s ~~o''
iued these reasons with care ms is no, he poI a.
sion to discuss them bat mustsay, with all possible dei
they are to my mind utterly ahsclous win pus
the question general point Of view and satisfy Inc
minds Of Senators that such Is the case - .e
Ocean to the Paso del Norte would have been covered
by the Gulf Of California ana Wilderness popped by
hostile Tribes Of Indians and for It's defence notIins
would have been needed beyond few vessels Oh w" hln
single regiment. From the fsso del Norte tots NOUN
readily estimate the amount OF force Necessary ioI
its defence ltwas frontier between -Nas az
when Texas had not than one hundred aud
sand VI nwi bout any standing amy whsevef
ard yery few troops lettor seven ears sAas
frontier line; ana that, too, when Mexico was lar
consolidated then she Is now, when her esouons
frequent her resources IA money niue seairI
and Texas her only opponent Can any man DecNr lhat
Mexico, exhausted she now s-pfosIaiel as SIZE mas
been-d,eaiei-can any man believe that II VIII COS, As
much defend thai frontier as the last campaign has
cost, No sir will hazard nothing In asserting that the
very Interest o the money spent "a te las. s -
would have secured that line for an INDEFINITE peIon ao
that the who have lost their lives would have oeeh
more than sufficient 10 defend n -
50 much for the past; come 10 the Commence
ment of another campaign and the question IS what
shall be done The same measures are proposed. l. Is
st vigorous prosecution OF the war; The me asures
are dencay the IL Is not for the conqucsi-tha'
emphatcsly disowned a. was IA ths hrsl IN
stance The object blot Mexico out OF the llst OF
nations for the President emphatic IN me expression
Of his desire the nationality OF Mexico q. ever
lie desires TO her independent and t0u'lshns
community and assigns strong and cogent reasons oI Al
that Well, sir, the question . now what Vusnt W pc
done, We are now coming to the piaenSai qassn;on
Shall aim at carrying another vigorous CANT alsn
under present circumstance
MIR. President nave examined TINS
and rel peat, that cannot support the
of the sident There many and powerful reasons
STRONGER those which existed at the commencement
OF the last campaign to justify my oPPesuon Aows--
The cost Ia money VIII be vesty greater IheIe Is o
foy ten additional gimeuts before the senae ana
smother bill pr vidins for twenty regiments OF volunteers
has been reported making in all not ies suppose thAn
twenty thousand tTo0fs raising the number OF 9o'
in the serice-as presume, the Chairman OF the 'on
mittee on Military Affairs inform you-to not mueh
less than seventy thousand IN the whole Nel sit me
expense will be much than thai OF the ias eh
Ii will cost not much short OF sixty millions Of collars
Now sr what 10 the condition OF the money nMso a.
present Last year II most houfshioe An uuieI-
unae famine 10 Euope created great demand 'oi oar
agricultural products. The balance OF trade wS IN ouI
favor II money poured al end OF the SUP uease
ID poured in at the other But how stands lhe case no"
We stand, now with drain both ways The exchanges
are favor and therefore instead cf rod sna sNe
drafts founded on exporis viii be RENTED Inc eA
changes Mexico must be met either BY fenianecs IN
cold and silver BY drafts drawn n favor OF bIitish he
chants or other capitalists there which must be ahca
bere snd also transmitted sboad Now, Ill, whA1 VIII
h. The operation OF this stale OF ihngs. How ions
IAN hi. continue What j. the present price OF i-a
snrv notes aud OF sincks IN the m$sctf Are they
49, mar No sir / see shem quoted below par IN
s.t.,d the treasury notes seusioiy eeo" par ana
s1ocss attn lower Nov what Is 10 be the result 70
~ "a rsssury totes sre below par, - long IS tney aie
Shef dun the end q u viii De tna' iIessuis no'es
viii 30 into the treasury and specie eo"ie ~ ~ III
There Is very srest danger th2i ST iss' jour ~"