Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1848-01-14
Mr. CalhOun's SpeecIl--A Defensive
Lire.


speech on the war question, delivered in th
Senate that day:
Mr. Calhoun commenced by saying that, in hi
opinion, this war was unnecessary, md mich
have easily been avoided. lie had opposed i
from the beginning, and he should speak bis sen
timents with boldness and independence. ii,
said he was for taking defensive line that wal
the true policy; we could only gain any real in
demnity from unoccupied territory, but none a
all from occupied territory; we must take land
but not Mexicans. The administration was fol
conquering peace,-that was their policy. We
had levied armies, we had gained brilliant victo
ries, but we had gained no peace; we had plunp
ed deeper into difficulties There was mistake
somewhere. We had aimed at indemnity the
wrong way. The administration looked for peace
and indemnity by treaty. We could BY tax.
ing defensive line, get il without treaty. We
had expended at least $4,000, 900 and 1000
lives for nothing at all. We had the power Of
indemnity and peace in our own hands Dy
taking line from the Pacific to the Pass del
Norte, 1t could be held by a single regiment, and
the interest of the money already expended in
the war would have borne the expense
No change of policy was to be pursued by the
administration. The old course is recommended
again. Shonld we aid it with our support ? For
one he would not and could not Already bills
are reported TO increase the army 100000 This
would lead to vast increase of expenditure,
and how were we TO bear up under this vast ac-
emulation of debt2 What was the state of the
money market? Exchange with England is
now against us. Treasury notes were below
par they 60 into the Sub-Trcasuries and specie
goes out He had conversed with men well in
formed, and he had no doubt that to continue
the war as was proposed, VIC should have to vote
S400o0,000 more Of Treasury notes, for which,
at this moment not more than 80 cents on dol
lar could be realised
The President, in his Message, admits all that
he (Alr Calhoun) contended for. lie acknowl-
edged that if his policy does not produce peace,
we must as the last resort, take the power in our
own hands, and force treaty. How can It be
forced but by standing army, and by holding
possession of the country, which he, in another
part of his message, dsavows lie believed that
the more success we had in Mexico, the objects
dlsavowed by the President would come to pass.
and the objects avowed would not be accomplish
ed. One party can make war; but il requires
two to make peace. He had no doubt that the
subjugation and final extinction of the Mexican
nation was sure to follow the policy now pursued,
though much it may be denied. The President
speaks of forcing the Mcxicans into an admis-
sion of our demands, and forcing free institutions
upon the people. This must be done by militia
,
independent governments were to grow UP un-
der military domination.
The people of Mexico were not fit for free
government. The intelligence of that country
was chiefly monopolised by the clergy, and the
property was held by the proprietors of the ran
cheros. Why does not the President, instead
Of waiting for events and talking about support
ing new government, sustain the existing gov
eminent? Mr. Calhoun said the great difficulty
lay in the fact that if our administration should
make treaty Of peace, as soon as our forces
we're withdrawn to within our own lines, anoth-
er party would gain power, and disavow the
treaty, and we would either have to again invade
Mexico and get up a new war, or content our
selves by holding our line specified in the treaty
Why not then make ourselves line, and hold It,
without this delay and expense? If war was
continued, the humiliation Of Mexican independ-
ence was inevitable. Mr. Calhoun said, to pur-
sue the policy which the administration seemed
bound to follow, would not only lead to the en-
tire ubjugation of Mexico, but it would cause
an expenditure annually, equal to the value of
the entire cotton crop of the country, sixty mill
lions of dollars. This nation he contended,
could not survive such an immense drain. If
the President does not know or believe this, then
either the intelligence or integrity Of the admin
istration must be impeached. He held in as
high esteem as any one the brilliant achieve
ments of our troops, and he thought that all our
thanks should be confined to the army; they
had done their duty bravely and well. We
should, said Mr. C., give some regard to the opin-
ions of the civilized world, which was opposed
to our course. We are looked upon as more CIV
en- to the war spirit than any nation on earth
Yes, sir, believe that what we have gained by
renown in arms, we have lost in reputation for
wisdom, justice, and those high qualities, for
nf
our government.
Mr. Calhoun asked, what are we to do with
the Mexicans after we have them annexed P
One half are Indians, not SO highly civilized as
our Cherokees, Greeks, or Choctaws Yet we
never thought of incorporating them in our body
polite. They cannot mingle with us, nor would
our people submit to be governed in Congress
by Mexican Senators and Representatives.
Shall we hold them in subsection by our armies,
and the Mexican States as conquered provinces,
to be governed by army officers and proconsus
Is this in accordance with the theory or prac.
tice of our Government? For one, said Mr.
Calhoun, protest, earnestly protest, against the
whole thing. Al
To incorporate the Mexican Republic with
this country, would end either in anarchy or des-
potism. All history tells us that those nations
which have gone on in a career of conquest,
were ultimately conquered by those they subject
cd. So it will be in this case The standing
army and the number Of Office holders which
this policy would require, would render the pat
ronage of the Government IMPERIAL. The
two Houses Of Congress would be powerless.-
The army and the patronage of the President
would rule the country. By putting in the
hands of the President, said Mr. Calhoun, the
power to conquer Mexico, you put in his hands
the power Cooking around upon the Senate as
he spoke) to CONQUER you. The Executive
would be all powerful, you all powerless.
n Mr. Calhoun then went into brief historical
fHnaysis Of the power of England and Of the
Roman Empire. Perhaps this was the most in
teresting part of his speech but l have only
lime to remark briefly, that he showed that Eng
land, with her hereditary monarchy and peer
pge, had been able to prevent anarchy and
speedy decay by her wars of conquest; but the
etribution was upon her; her people were
brushed beneath the weight of taxes and Ire
iand, though conquered" eight hundred years
pgo, was yet unpacifed During the glories of
Pie Roman Empire, the people became intoxica-
FED with military display, the power slid by de-
srees into the hands of the few, and the people
q Italy became Roman rabble. He also re-
ERRED to the French Canadians, who after the
|xnirotiou of n eent,,rv hatad md detaated tho