The Washington union. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1857-1859, 1858-01-24

OF Kansas ecctl0nB nave BASED
upon letter to the st. Louis Democrat, written at Law
the 18th instant The returns not opened
at Lecompton until the 18th instant and conclude
consequently, that the official vote has not reached U.S.
either upon the constitution cast the 2lst Deem
Der, of the State election of the 4th instant.
COLONIZATION SOUTHwARD-MR. CALHOUN's
POLICY
We desire in the present lull of debate the Cen
tral-American topics which have recently occupied
the attention of Congress- to recall to memory the
sentiments thatwere held the subject of the expa
sion of institutions by the great Calhoun No man
possessed the confidence of the southern states-we
might probably say ofthe entire people the Union
more largely than Mr.. Calhoun while alive; no one
has left after him in the popular mind and heart
deeper, stronger sentiment of respect, admiration
and affection
We recall his opinions now in controversial
spirit We shall take pains to contrast the policy
he recommended for the extension of our institu-
tons into more southern portions of the continent
with that which is now advocated or favored by
gentlemen from his own section of tho Union, of
rasher purposes, inpatient temper and more
summary plans, though we doubt not as patr-
otto impulses. Whether the pulse of the great mass
of sturdy southern planters and agriculturists
beats in unison with the sentiments of
Mr.. Calhoun, or with those of this latter class of
southern statesmen, may be predetermined; but yet
we feel instructive conviction that if an issue be-
tween the policy of legal and moral expansion of
our institutions rather than Illicit clandestine ex-
panson, were fairly presented to the country there
would scarcely be a county or a town in the entire
confederacy which would not echo with emphasis the
sentiments of the sage of South Carolina.
We quote first, from Mr.. Calhouns celebrated let
ter to Mr.. King, written in 1874, which rang as
keynote throughout the southern States, and which
was probably the trnest Embodiment of southern
sentiment on the topics it discussed that ever
was written Justifying the efforts of the then adj
ministration to effect peaceful annexation of tho
then independent State of Texas to our Union, dep
recating the morbid and unreasonable hostility which
Mexico manifestiDg to the measure and abiding
to the vast unoccuped domain of Mexico lying west
ward of Texas, some of which we have since ac-
houn wrote:
1t destiny to occupy that vast region to in
tersect it with roads and canals to fill it with Cities
towns, villages, and farms to extend over it our rc
gion, CUSTOMS constitution and laws and to present it
as peaceful and splendid addition to the domains of
commerce and civilization. 1t is policy increase
by growing and spreading out into unoccupicd regions
assimilating all incorporate in word to increase
by accrction, and not through conquest by The addition of
held together b the cohesion of force No system can
be more unsutted to the latter process better adapted
to the former, than our admirable federal system
Further on in the progress of events, when the
war with Mexico, which he had 80 earnestly striven
IN had hrokop ant tha R;o
all know how bitterly land even how unustly) he
condemned the then administration for ordering our
army beyond the Nueces. So bitterly did he repro
bate first acts of hostility against Mexico that
he at threw himself into opposition to the
democratic party which assumed the responsibility
Of the war, and used every exertion in his power
to stay aggressive operations part against the
Mcxicans He maintained that plan of hostilites
should be strictly defensive and proposed that we
which should notlet our own troops proceed, and
within which the Mexicans should BIO resisted if
they should attempt to intrude. As military plan
of tactics of course this programme was utterly out
of the question and we produce an extract from his
speech on the three-mon bill, delivered February,
ls47 only to show the motives which dictated it, and
for the purpose of bringing out e sentiments of gen.
fraternity which he cherished all his life in
gard to the Spanish republics Immediately south of
us. Abiding TO the defensive line of military opera
tons he had proposed, Mr. Calhoun said
He would go further he would say that IL should be
such line would not deprive Mexico in the smallest
possible degree of her and her strength for
while consulted interests in establishing
defensive line should not overlook what was due TO
Mexico He held that we ought to be just and liberal
towards Mexico not only because she our neghbor
only because she emulous and had been
emuous of initiating example in the establishment Of
free institutions not only because she was our
selves the greatest power upon this continent amidst all
the powers which had grown up from Spanish other
European origin though these high considerations
which every American ought to feel and which every
generous and sympathetic heart would feel yet there
others which referred more Immediately to
selves
Mexico was of the greatest problems among
nations and in his opinion the policy of this
try not to her power but the contrary to