Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1848-01-14
From the Washington Union, 4th inst
MR. CAI.iIOJIN

Inc cndmDeT was cTOWuGu. lie 1ddleS Occu-
pied all the front seats, and many of the back,
in the galleries; and the privileged sofas were
graced by their presence. Members. stran-
gers, and citizens filled every seat or stand
which could be obtained. 1t was brilliant
audience, worthy of the orator and his theme.
But. we must confess, he defined his position
very little TO our satisfaction. Ii turns out
that Mr.. Calhoun is as much opposed TO the
war as he was at first; and that he still stands
up for defensive line, instead OF adopting the
plan of vigorous prosecution OF the war.--
We regret his course. There were hopes that
he would support the war and the administra-
ton. But he is decidedly opposed to Its ener-
getic prosecution, and TO the plans which The
President and the Secretary of War have pro-
posed. and which the great body OF the officers
and of the people appear TO approve.
Mr. Calhoun assailed the position OF the
administration in vain He defended his own
defensive line with no greater success than he
obtained at the last session. He neither show
ed that it was cheaper mode of carrying on
the war, nor more efficient means of secur-
ing peace.
There was one chimera which affected the
whole of his argument He is alarmed at the
prospect Of annexing the whole of Mexico 10
the United States, with population of seven
or eight millions of people, who are unfit 10
participate in the benefits of our free institu-
tons. The President has particularly dis
claimed such a scheme. No member of Con-
gress has avowed it, There is not the slight.
est prospect of It's accomplishment for years TO
come, if ever. There is no danger OF our
graspirg the whole of Mexico as our arms
subdue the different States or cities There
is not the slightest fear of our officers or
troops acting upon their own impulses, and
presuming to dictate new line of policy to
their government. No men were eve: more
obedient to the laws under which they serve,
and less willing to exchange their own coun
try for the valleys or mountains of Mexico.
The President has declared his anxiety tc
maintain the nationality of Mexico. He is as
little disposed TO blot Mexico from the map of
the world as Mr. Calhoun himself. We are
happy to hear MIR. C. admitting that we must
have territorial indemnity but he does not
chalk out the line which would satisfy him.
Last session he would have been content with
New Mexico and California, and we take for
granted that he would ask as much, II. not
more, no,r than he did then.
But he objects TO vigorous prosecution OF
the war for efectng this object. Nothing
suits the Senator, except the defensive line
his old system of '&masterly inactivity But
is there military man in the nation who eX-
poets to secure this line, and obtain perma-
nent peace, without great expense OF men and
money-without procrastlnatlng the war to
an indefinite perIod-and without forfeitng
most of the military advantages which we
must derive from an aggressive war? 1t IS
idle to talk of i" mastery inactivity" in war
with such people. We should be compeli-
ed 10 wage war constantly at some point or
other with them Who believes that we shall
sooner obtain peace by yielding nearly all
the advantages that we have won by sur
rendering the capital and Vera Cruz, and all
the central territory we now hold, and retir-
ing to line OF military posts' Mr. Calhoun
is anxious to "disentangle' ourselves from
this war; hut how is he to effect it by the
system which he supports? The war must
go on. 1t takes two parties (as he says) to
make peace but, taking the indemnity into
our own hands, as he proposes, does not a.
mount to treaty with Mexico On the con-
trary, the abandonment of our central position
gives her new spirits and new resources to
carry on the war, which al last cannot be ter
minated but with her consent.
Why censure the President for proposing
to establish temporary government IN Mex
leo and California, when Mr. Calhoun's own
| system, upon his own defensive line of last
session, will make such regulations necessa.
> ry?
We do not propose this evening TO analyze
or to answer tine several points of the speech
We are certainly astonished al some of his
, statements. He asked what we had accom-.
pllshed by the last campai gn: We had &C.
5 quired military glory enough, but we had los
| cfo 9TH 4bo <>f
: nations. We Were considered more Cypress.
i've, more grasping in our views; ana we re-
GREETED to hear him declining to pass any opin-
ion upon these charges. and to vIndcate the
character of our countrymen from such asper.
sions. He contended that we were no nearer
peace, and, in fact, that our difficulties were
greater than they were. Surely Mr. Calhoun
might have recollected that though we had no
attained peace, yet we had gained something
e from Mexico. Formerly she had refused tt
e negotiate with us until we had abandoned he
: soil and her ports. We have forced her, how
ever, into anegotiation without any such con
ditons. She not only treats with US, but sht
: has abandoned part of her claim upon Tex
= as, and offered 10 transfer into our hands {
i portion of her territories in her upper and dis
r tant provinces-in new Mexico and Califor
MIA. Is there no change of tone in all this
i And rumors are even now reaching us of new
: commissioners being appointed on her part Il
: treat of peace. 1t is certain we have made thu
: deepest impression upon her She has aban
e doned her arrogant tone and boasting pronu1e
= ciamentos Her guerrIleros are scattered. Sh
must feel her utter inability to cope with IL
e in the field; and all that we want to bring tn
n war to successful termination is to sen'
e more reinforcements, as the President recon-
mends, and to see that course abandoned OIL
the part of the opposition, which is SO wei
!. calculated 10 keep up the spirits and struggle
g of the enemy.
: We have all the necessary means of carry
II ing on this war with spirit and success,
o Congress will but vote promptly the necessa
O ry supplies. Mr.. Calhoun imagines Difficult
culties in raising money. But he has prove
V himself too little of prophet in past times t
v command much respect for his present predic
1t tons. At the last session of Congress, W
find him, on the 9th February, standing up 70
/ his defensive line, and depreciatng our resour
: ces for an active warfare We find him the
saying:
swell, then, we must have another cam
palgn Now a solemn question comes up
IS have we the means-can we raise the money
Remember it must be mnch more costly tina
either of the first 1t will be carried on at
greater distance. 1t will be of characte
different from the others for if we do not con
quer AlexIco-lf her government withdraws
- and we can make no ueace we must the