Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1848-01-14
John e. Calhoun.

The original friends of the feeble but mischief
leaving their defence and support of it, as rats
are said to leave sinking ship. 1t is but a few
days since we had the profound satisfaction OF
recording the adoption of resolution, intro
duced by an early supporter of MIR. Polk, (Mr.
Wentworth, of Illinois,) which asserted doc
trine in regard to Internal Improvements directly
in opposition to that which forms the staple of
the Veto Messages Of the President - resou-
ton, too, manilestly aimed at the last expression
of Executive hostility to such Improvements.
This resolution. it will be recolected, was adop-
ted by a vote of 1873 to gilmore than the two
thirds majority required to pass bill, veto or no
veto. Such vote, under such circumstances,
was singing commentary on the elaborate
reasoning Of the President, and was nothing
more nor less than the expression of " mdm
of confidence" in his principles and policy.
We have, to-day, the still further and higher
qualification of announcing that the great South
ern Statesman, whose name stands at the head
of this article, has joined the patriotic brother
hood of great men (CLAY, GALLATIS, kENT)
who have, fearlessy and in the spirit and tone
of true patriotism, denounced the existing War
with Mexico as unnecessary and wrong in its
commencement, wrong in its continuance, and
fraught with manifold dangers to the Republic
We shall publish the speech of Mr. CALHOUN
next week. 1t is, as would be expected, clear,
cogent, powerful A; and the striking coincidence
= e T..
Mr.. GALLATIN cannot fail, at once, to arrest the
attention. Mr.. CALHOUN says, in the begin.
ming
In offering, Senator'S these resolutions for your con-
sideration, have been governed by the reasons which
induced me 10 oppose the war, and by the same con-
sderations have been ever since guided In allud-
ing to my opposition to the war, do not intend TO
notice the reasons which governed me on that occa-
sion, further than 1t Is necessary 10 explain my
tves upon the present opposed the war then, not
only because considered ii unnecessary and that II
might hare been easily droided; not only because
thought the President had no authority to order a
portion Of the territory IN dispute and in possession
only because beiiered the allegations upon tchich IL
tcas sanctioned by Cangress mere unfounded truth
but from high considerations OF and policy be
cause l believed it would lead great and serious
evils to the country and greatly endanger its free
situations.
Oui CdHiut Idil u oUseENe tual tne
passage we have marked in italics presents pre-.
cisely the ground on which the Wings base
their opposition to the War, and for maintaining
which they have been universally reyiled and
illuminated, by every Locofoco paper in the
Union, from the Union down, as "trators" to
their country 1t is the broad platform, too on
which are found Mr.. CLAY and Mr.. GALLArIy-
the ground OF Truth, Of Justice, OF Humanity.
What singular spectacle is thus presented
by the existing state of opinion in this grea
Union respecting this despicable War. Or
one side we find GALLATIy, KENT, WEBSTER
CLAY, CALHOUN, and on the other, rampant 70
the war, and for digging Into the vital parts
of a miserable shadow of Republic on our Dor
ders, we find Polk, Marcy, Cass, Alien, and
multitude of such political small fry and rene
gades as Piiiow and Gushing In such an ar
ray, where is it likely that true Statesmanshi
and true Patriotism are to be found To whic
class OF men. in times of danger or of great ma
tional exigency or embarrassment, think yor
would the AMERICAN PEOPLE commit the rein
OF their Government! The question is an i,
suit to the intelligence and patriotism of on
readers. When the Poiks and the Marcus an
the Aliens OF this belligerent dinasty of partisa