Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1848-01-14

A.. C.,r,o,tN,s SPEECH On the 4th inst,
ar Calhoun delivered himself of speech OF
.bout one hour and half in length, IN sup
mort Of his resolutions, and in opposition 10
,bs war Entertaining the opinion that we
!, wa cannot for moment believe that the
,v;,bdrawal of our troops to certain nne
,ropH facilitate the object Mr. T. aims at
reace. We are, now in possession OF very
large number Of the principal fortresses of the
enemy, and to retreatto line would, in our
on n, not only spFotract the war, but it
,up. evidently prevent US from reaping any
,er advantages which might be derived
.-n vigorous prosecution OF the war, until
zro shall sue for peace Mr.. Calhoun
IS not tell us where he would run the line'
nut it would most certainly extend from the
Atlantic to the Pacific, if it is intended TO en-
brace the territory claimed by this Govern
roent and would, it appears 10 US, require as
large. if not a larger, force TO defend and hold
That line, as it now requires for the present
mode of operations. We have no inclination
n discuss the subject, but we do not see' from
all the lights before US, that if the Ine-pollcy
,boud be adopted, how we are to obtain peace
ot aIl-at all events for years to come. II
Mexico will not trea: for peace under present
.;rormstances. it is not likely she will appre-
o;otp the withdrawal of our troops as an act
of magnanimous forbearance towards her
Haughty, selfish, and obstinate, she would
most probably construe our magnanimity into
cowardice and inability TO carry on the war.
What, then, should we gain by the line poll
cy? Literally nothing. But if Mexico saw
fit to carry on border warfare, she would
have it in her power to recruit her scattered
resources, and bring them into acton along
the whole line of operations, and thus compel
this government to maintain standing army
Of some $4,000 or 100, 900 troops What,
then, would be the result, in case she should
rec fit TO pursue the border warfare Why,
according to our thinking, we would be COM
PEELED to re-conquer the very places we now
hold. In a word, the whole work we have
already succeeded in accomplishing would
have 10 be done over and, perhaps, the exls-
tence of Mexico blotted out from amongst the
list of nations forever The people, from one
extremity of these United States to the other,
would be satisfied with nothing less. If the
AIexicans wont deal Justly with us, we mus:
make them feel the power Of our mighty
strength, and bring them TO terms, by giving
them decent foggng, and keep itup till they
learn how to appreciate the forbearance and
magnanimity we have heretofore extended 10
them We think, but we do not pretend to
place our poor judgment against Mr. Cal
houn's; we think though that Mr.. c. will be
mistaken as TO the propriety of his line policy,
should Congress see fit 10 adopt it. But we
do not fear the result We believe there are
stout hearts enough in Congress to sustain
the administration in vigorous prosecution
OF the war. The Mexicans must be made TO
feel the tsrrors of an oppressive war. They
have never yet felt our power. We have
been entirely too lenent with them. They
nave not the soul to appreciate our kindness,
and we must whip sense into them. Then
we will have peace; and not before.
We have thrown together the above hasty
remarks upon rising from the perusal of Mr.
CaIhoun's speech The reader may take them
for what they are worth.