The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1898-11-09
SUMTER s.. G. "WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 1898.

vas largely 10 agreement with Mr..
Calhoun, especially on the dnauoia!
question. Before bis death. Mr.. Phil
lips saw. with CONSERVATION. that the
agitation Of the slavery question aud
the results of the war had brought this
country toto the domination of the
money lenders AMI species of impe
rialism. Sioce Mr.. Phillips death,
bis ardeot friend and disciple. Gordon
Clark, has powerfully attempted, by
writing essays aud BOOKS, to bring back
this country to the Calhoun doctrine Of
finance ia harmony with free coinage OF
both gold and silver. allied with treas
ury notes. Mr.. Clark predicted that.
at some future time. monuments of
honor would be erected to Calhoun in
New England. Aud DOW comes the
Springfield (Mass.) Republican and
shows how, 10 1848, that great Demo
cratic statesman" Johu G. Calhoun
had rolled back the tide of imperialism
following the conquest of Mexico,
History is simply repeating itself
One DAY John c. Calhoun rose in bis
seat aod offered the following resolu.
tion !:
Resolved, That to conquer Mexico
and to hold it either as province or to
Incorporate it into the Union would be
consistent with the avowed object for
which the war has been prosecuted a
departure from the settled policy OF the
government; in conflict with it's char
ac,er and genius, and 10 the end snbver-
sive of its free and popular institutions.
Resolved. That no line of policy 10
the further prosecution OF the war
should be adopted which nay lead to
consequences SO disastrous.
Confronting the Jiugoes Of bis day.
Mr.. Calhoun. 10 8 powerful speech.
aopibilased the expansion argument
aud argued in this way
You know the American constitution
too well-you have looked into history
and are TOO we'll acquainted with the
fatal effect which large provincial pos
sessions have ever bad op the iostitu-
tions of free states to need any proof
to satisfy you how hostile it would be
to the institutions of this country to
hold Mexico as a subject province.
The oations conquered aud held as
provinces have 10 time retaliated by de.
ssroyiug the liberty Of their ccuquerors
through the corruptlug efec. of extend.
ed patronage and irresponsible power.
Such certainly would be our case. The
conquest Of Mexico would add so vast
ly to the patronage Of this government
that i. would absorb the whole powers IF
the states the Union would become an
imperial power and the states reduced
to mere subordinate corporations.
But the evil would not end there !;
the process won!a goon and the power
transferred from the states to the Unioa
wouid be transferred from the legisla-
tive department to the executive. All
the immense patronage which holding
it as province would create, the main
tepance of large army to hold it 10
sutjection. and the appointment of
multitude Of civil officers necessary to
govern it, would be vested in him.
The great Influence which it would be
the means OF controlling the legislative
department aud subjecsing it to his
dic'ation The struggle to obtain the
presidential chair would become proper.
tiouately greas-so great as TO destroy
the freedom of elections The end
would be anarchy or despotism as
certain as | am now addressing the
senate
Differing only 10 time and degree,
Mr.. Calhoup's words 10 184S are
propbetically oppostune to-day. What
he predicted of the executive encroach-
mept has come to pass. 1t will become
more and more menacing and terrible
if the expapsionists have their way ie
this epoch. The Republican pertinent
ly says
"Mr. Calboun's protest against
acquiring subject provinces succeeded
80 gears ago, and the government
plucked up courage to haul down the
flag where occe it had been raised
Sioce then 90 one has regretted that all
Mexico vas not annexed to this couu.
try. But what change in so years
has come over the land 10 1848 the
party Of the administration had seua-
tor of strong leadership who was cour-
ageous enough to rise 10 tbe seoate to
battle against what be considered
disastrous policy Calhoun did not
"teust" 10 James K Polk. Where is
the Republican oator to-day who is
brave enough to perform the service
Calhoun performed Just half century