The Middlebury galaxy. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1848-1850, 1848-01-18
From de BraMeLoro' Eagle.


JOHN c. CALHOUN AND THE WAR.
On the 18th of December last, Mr.. Cal
houn introduced into the Senate of the United
States the following resolutions
Resolred, That to conquer Mexico and to
hold it, either rs a province or TO incorporate
it into the Union. would be inconsistent with
the agowcd object for which the war has been
prosecuted; departure from the settled poll
CIV of the Government, in conflict with its char
acter and genius and i'll the end, subversive
of our free and popular institutions.
Resolred, That no line of policy in the far
Their prosecution Of the war should be adopted
which may lead to consequences so disastrous.
These resolutions were made the order of
the day for January 4th, and accordingly
week ago to-day, they were brought up, and
ilr. Calhoun proceeded TO define his position
in reference to the war, At some length, in a
speech of great power.
At the outset, he declares himself in favor
OF taking a defensive line and Withdrawing our
troops to that line, as the only sure means of
bring NJ the war to 4 successful termination, &
stop the sacrifice of life attendant thereon.
He reviews tho policy Of the President, and
asks with great pertinacity what all our victo-
ries have accomplished? The friends of \
vigorous prosecution have said that the OK
penso of taking and holding defensive line
would equal that of acanpaign but he thinks
he hazards nothing in asserting that the very
interest of the money spent in the last cam
paign would have secured that line, for an in
definite period, and that the men who have lost
their lives would have been more than suili-
Gent to defend it. Mir. c., in considering the
expense Of another Campaign, takes a view of
the money market, which he looks upon as
highly dangerous and critical: exchanges are
in our favor, treasury notes and stocks are be-
low par, and in event that the war policy is per-
siStei in, he foresees "a great commercial crisis
-agreat financial crisls-evcn, possibly, sus-
pension of the banks
The professed Object Of the Administration
is to obtain peace; but the more succc sfulv
the war is prosecuted, the more distant, in the
eyes of Mr.. Calhoun, seems the accomplish
men! of this object One party may make
war, but it requires two TO make peace. If
the war is TO be prosecuted, the shadow of
government, now existing in 1exico, entirely
broken up, and her nationality destroyed, she
has no longer the pOlror 10 treat, and we are
defeated inlour success In such an event,
the plan of the President is to build up and
establish under our own power and protection,
republican form Of government from those
citizens who are well disposed, and with this
government, treat for peace. OF this project
Mr.. Calhoun says
4 must confess am little at a loss to see
how free and independent republic can grow
up under the protection and AUTHORITY of its
conqueror. can readily understand how an
aristocracy-how kingly governmental des-
potism, might be established by conqucror.
But how free and independent republic can
grow up under such circumstances, is to me
lncomprehenslble.-Ih had a WAYS supposed that
republican government vas the Spontaneous
work of the Peopie-that it came from the pco-
ple-from the hearts Of the people; that it was
supported by the hearts OF the people. and that
It required no support-no protection from A.
ny quarter whatever. But sir, it seems that
these are antiqnated notions-obsolete ;dcos
-and that we may now manufacture renubl;cs
to order, by authority of conqucring govern
ment.
Sir. such government would be impossible
and if put up, would tumble down The next
day after our protection was withdrawn
The President says that if these attempts
fail, we must hold on to the occupation of the
country, take the measure of indemnity int6
our own hands, and enforce such terms as the
honor of the country demands In other
words, the whole country must be conquered
and occupied provincial government must
be established over the people. Now. Mr..
calhoun argues that all hope of indemnity is
futile; that every step taken in this war is but
plunging us deeper and deeper in debt, with
no prospect of ever obtaining from Mexico A.
ny adequate compensation. And this policy.
saws MIR. C.. will lead to the bIotting out of
the nationality Of l1exico, and throw their en-
tire population into our hands. However SIN
cerely the Admin stration may disayow any
such intention, their present course will inevi-
tably lead to such a result. DR. Calhoun be-