Washington telegraph., 1848-02-02
SPEECH OF MIR. CALHOUN.
In the Senate Of the United States, January 1
lsis upon his Resolutions

hold IL HitHtf Us province ofto iHtofpofato " III
the Uuon, would be inconsistent with the ayowed
object for which the war has been prosecuted; a
departure from the settled policy ofthe goyernmenij
in conflict with its character aud genius and in the
end subversiyc of our ifre ana popular institutions
Resolved, That no line Of policy IN the further
prosecution Of the war should be adopted which
may lead to consequences so disastrous.
MIR. CALHOUN said
In offering, Senators, these resolutions for your
consideration, have been governed by the REASON
which induced me 10 oppose the war, and by the
same considerations have been ever since guided
In aIluding to my opposition to the war, do not
intend 10 notice the FcasOns which governed me ON
that occasion, further than is necessary 10 explain
my motives upon the present opposed the war
then, not only because | considered It unnecessary
aud that il might have been easily avoided, not
only because thought the President had no au-
thofity to orler Il portion of the territory IN dis
pute aud in possession Of the Mesieans to be oe-
euped by our ,roopsi not only because believed
the allegations upon which il was sanctioned by
Congress were unlounded in truth, but from high
considerations of reason aud policy, because |
believed 1t would lead to great and serious evils
to the country and greatly endanger It's free IN
stitutions
But alter the war was declared, aud had
acquiesced in what could MI prevent, and
which ii was impossible lnr mo Ia arrest;
aud then (rlt II Ia be my duty to limit my
course So as To give that direction 10 the
contuel ol the war as would as far as possi.
BILE, prevent the evil and danger with which
in my opinion. il threatened the country
aud lis institutions. For this purpose, At
the last session, suggested to the SENATE
defensive line, and for thai purpose, lnow
offer these resolutions. THIS aud this only
is the motive which governs me. am
movadby no personal nor piriy consilefa.
iions. My object is neither 10 sustain The
Executive nor Ia strengthen the opposition;
but simply 10 discharge an important duty
To the country. But shall express my
opinion upon all points with boldne.s and
Independence. such as becomes Senator
who has nothing 10 ask. either from the
government or from the people; aud whose
only aim is To diminish, inthe smallest pos.
sibe amnuni, the evils incident To this war
bat, when come to notice those punls Ia
which differ from the President, | shall
the Chief Magistrate ol the uuion.
When suggested defensive line, at
the last session. this country had IN its pos.
session, through the means Il It's arms,
ample territory. and slood IN condition To
force indemnity. Before then, the surces
ses al our arms had gained all the eoniisu
Gus portions Of Mexico, anI our army has
ever since held all that II Is, desirable To
hold-lha, portion whose population L,
sparse aud on that account the more de.
sirahle To be- held. For | huld ii ia reference
to this war a fundamental principle, that
when wc receive territorial indemnify It
shall be unoeeupied territory.
In Offering defensive line. did il be.
cause believe that ia the first place II was
the. only certain mode ol terminating the
war successfully. did 1t also hreause |
believed that It would b. vast saving ol
the sacrifice ol human lie; but aboyc all.
did 80 because saw that any other line
OF policy would expose Us 10 tremendous
evil, which these resolutions were intended
to guard against, The President took a
diiierrn, view. lie recommended a WIG
orous prosecution OF the war not for con
qurst--ihal vas dlsa,owcd-but for the
purpose Of conqlcflng peace; that is, TO
compel Nrtico 10 sign a treaty making a
sufficient cession Of Territory 10 indemnify
ih, Government both Tor the clain, Of iis
citikrns AMI Tor the expense. ul he war
Sir. opposed this pOncy. ! opposed Il
among uihrf reasons, because | believed
that II the war should be ever - successful,
there was great hazard 10 u at least. that
the object intended lo be elected by it
would not be accomplished. Congress
thought dillcrenllyi ample provisions in
men aud money were granted for carrying
on the war The campaign has lcrminh
ted. II has been as successful as the ES.
ceuiiye of the county could possibly have
calculated. Victory alter victory has fol-.
lowed IN succession. without single te.
verse. Santa Anna was Iepcled aud de-.
lealcd with all lorccs-Ncn Cruz and the
Castle was carried with IL. Jalapa, Pc.
roic, aud pucbla fell. aud alicr two great
triumphs, Of our army, the galcs Of Mexico
opened to US. Well, sir. what has been
accomplished What has been donel-
Has tho avowed object oil the war been al.
iaincdl Have we conquered peace'--
Have we Obtained treaty. Have we oil
t.ined any indemnity No, sic: nnl singlc
object contemplated has brcu effected, aud
what Is worse. our difficulties are greater
now than they were then, aud the ohjeels,
iorsoolh, more difficult 10 reach Than they
were before the campaign commenced.
Now Senators have asked what caused
this complete d.comilore Of the views Of
the Executive lar which men aud money
were granted Il is not 10 be charged 10
our troops; they have donn al that skill
and gallauiry Is capable Of c1rcling. Il
must be- charged somewhere and where is
It to be charged, but upon the fact thai the
al. .N