Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1848-01-08
SPEECH OF MR. CALHOUN,
OF SOUTH CAROLINA,
\, ,bc Se,aie ofMe United States, INJURY . lSfs'

,,. ,csolutions submitted some days ago by
NJ q ,rpouS coming up for cons deia'lon-
,, That 10 conquer Mexico and 70 hold IT, either as
IieSc'pe III incorporate il in the Uron would be IN
pro'lnoe he ayoaed object tor which the has been
eonsse drnature from the settled policy OF the Gov
II conflict with its character and genius and IN he
eris nh,ersiye of free and popular institutions
eh That no line OF policy in the further prosecution
e h ar should adopted which may lead to consequences
so disastrous
CALHOUN said In offering, Senators, these rcsolu-
;o for your consideration, governed by the reasons
,ybh induced to oppose the war; and by which nave
been governed it sanctioned by Congress In au-
n 10 my opposition the war, do not intend 10 touch on
The which governed me on that occasion further than
i necessary 10 explain my motives upon the present
then opposed the war, not only because 1t might have
been easily avoided not only because The President had no
authority 10 order part of the disputed territory in possession
of The Mexcans be occupied by troops not only be-
cause believed The allegations upon which Congress
toned the war untrue bot from high considerations OF pdy;
because believed would lead to many and serious evils to
the country and greatly endanger IS Tree institutions But
,cr The war declared by authority OF the government
acouesced in what could prevent, and which It was
impossible for and then felt 1t TO be my duty
10 limit my efforts giving such direction 10 the waras would
as possible prevent the evils and danger with which II
threatened the country and It's institutions or nis purpose
a the last session. suggested 10 the Senate the policy OF
adopting defensive line and for the same purpose no"
offer these resolutions This, and this only, is the motive
which governs this OCCASION am moved ny no per-
sopa or party considerations My object neither TO sustain
the Executive nor strengthen The opposition, bus simply TO
discharge an important duty to the country In doag SO
shall express my opinion all points with me freedom anu
bodness which becomes an independent SENATOR VINO mas
nothing ask from the Government or from me people
But when come those points which differ from
the President shall do il with all the decorum which Is due
tothe Chief Magistrate Of the Union
suggested defensive line because in the first pace,
believed that tho only certain mode of terminating the
successfully was take indemnity in our own hanis, by
occupying deensseE, with military force, portion oil
the Mexican territory, which we might deem ample Tor IN
haIipy N Dray
great sacrifice Of life and property but above all because
believed thar Inc only way could avoid the great
danger our institutions against which these resolutions
intended 10 guard The President took different view.
He recommended vigorous prosecution of the for
conuuestihat emphacaly dsavowedbut for the pur
pose conqueng peacehat Is, to compel Mexico to sign
treaty ceding sufficient territory TO indemnify the claims Of
our citizens and Of country tor the expenses of the
could not approve Of thu policy. opposed it. among other
reasons because believed there certainty that the
object intended lie effected would be accomplished let the
war be ever 50 successful Congress thought differently and
granted ample provisions, in and money, for carrying
out the policy recommended by the President II has now
been fu tested under the favorable circumstances. 1t
has been successful the sangune hope the Execu
tive could have anticipated Victory after victory has followed
in rapid suceesson without single reverse. Santa Anna
repealed ana defeated with all his forces Buena Vista
Vera Cruz with It's CASTLE captured the heights Of Cerro Gordo
tiumphanty carried; Jaapa Perote, and Pueba occupied
and after many triumphant victories under the walls Of Mex
co. its gates opened 10 and put in possession The
capital But what has all these splendid achievements
compshed Has the ayowed object OF the been
ed Have conquered peace Have compelled Mex
leo 10 sign treaty Have we obtained indemnity No.
Not single object contemplated by the campaign has been
effected and what is worse difficulties greater
than they the and the objects sought
difficult % be accomplished. To what is this complete
failure 10 be attributed Not TO army 1t has done all
that skill and gaantry could accomplish. 1t be attributed
the policy pursued The Executive aimed indemnity in
a wrong way. Instead Of taking into hands, when
had territory possession ample 10 the claims
AZ. T,l.. -.
recty through treaty with Mexico He thus put it out
power, and under the control of Mexico say
whether should have indemnity or not and thereby en-
aeed her defeat the whole object Of the campaign by simply
refusing with Owing this mistaken policy
after successful and brilliant campaign involving al
expenditure not less probably, than forty millions dollars
and the sacrifice by the sword and by disease many vau
able lives probably less than thousand
thing left bin the glory which army has acquired
But apology for all this is insisted that the main
Of a defensive line would have involved great
sacrifice the campaign itself The President and the Sec
rotary of War have assigned many for entertaining
this opinion. have examined them with This
the proper occasion discuss them but say with
due Difference, they are, my mind utterly faacou
satisfy your minds that such i the case will place tn
subject in single point of view.
The line proposed by me, which suppose their
intended be applied, would be covered in its Who'll
extent from the Pacific Ocean TO the Paso del Nore tn
Rio Grande by the Gulf Of California, and the wilderness
peoped by hostile tribes of Indians through which no Mex
force could penetrate For its occupancy an
defence, nothing would be required but a few sms
vessels Of stationed in the Gulf and single regimen
keep down any resistance from the few inhabitants within
From the Paso del Nore the month Of the rver dsanc
Of few hundred miles, single fact will show what it'll
force will be necessary TO Its defence. II frontier be
tween Texas and Mexico when the former had but
siderable populaiion-not than hundred and fit
thousand al the utmost any timewith standing army
and but very w irregular troops yet for years sh
maintained this line, without any, slight occasional
intrusion from Mexico and that when Mexico was "a
consolidated in her power and when revolutions wer
not frequent and her money resources were far greater
than at present, IT, them Texas Alone under such circum
stances could defend that frontier for so long perod car
any believe that now when she is backed by the whole
Of the United States-now that Mexico defeated
and prostraedI repeat, any man believe that il wou
involve great sacrifice 10 Of and money to deen
that frontier did the last campaign No hazard nohn
in asserting that defend il for indefinite period woul
have required less than the interest the money spea
the campaign, and fewer than sacrificed carry
ing il on.
50 much Cor the past. We come TO the commence
ment Of another campaign and the question ecur what
be done The President, in his message, recommends ID
same line Of pocy-a vigorous prosecution Of the m
conquest, that again emphatcaly disavowed not to bic
Mexico out 81 tie list Of naons he desires to her
independent and fourshing community, and assigns stron
reasons Tor y but u obtain honorable peace. We hea
no more q cnquerng peace, but presume that he
an honorable peace the thing that ISL compel Mexc
to agree % treaty cedng sufficient part Of her territory
an indemnity iof The expenses Of the and for the claim
Of our citizens.
have examined with the grounds on which the Pres
dent renews MS recommendation, and again compelled