THE ABSORPTION OF MEXICO 235
These resolutions drew from Cass a few days later the wonderful assertion that "there is no man in this nation in favor of the extinction of the Nationality of Mexico." Whereupon Calhoun rejoined: "Why, you can hardly read a newspaper without finding it filled with speculation upon this subject. The proceedings that took place in Ohio at a dinner given to one of the volunteer officers of the army returned from Mexico show conclusively that the impression entertained by the persons present was, that our troops would never leave Mexico until they had conquered the whole coun- try. This was the sentiment advanced by the officer and it was applauded by the assembly, and endorsed by the official paper of that State. "^
Calhoun put the case even more strongly in his speech in the Senate, January 4: "There was at that time [L e., at the beginning of the session] a party scattered all over every por- tion of the country in favor of conquering the whole of Mex- ico. To prove that such was the case, it is only necessary to refer to the proceedings of numerous large public meet- ings, to declarations repeatedly made in the public journals, and to the opinions expressed by the officers of the army and individuals of standing and influence, to say nothing of dec- larations made here and in the other House of Congress. "^ Some of these expressions may be briefly noticed. General John A. Quitman, one of the most energetic of the army
is, that I shall be able to carry them [i. e., the resolutions]. If I should, it will do much to arrest the war. If they should be defeated, we may look for the entire conquest and subjugation of Mexico, What a fearful result it will be for our country and institutions !" Correspondence, 741.
1 Cong. Globe, 30th Cong., 1st Sess., Ibid., 54.
2 Quoted by Von Hoist, III, 343. Cf. Niles's Register, LXXIII, 334. For the whole speech see Calhoun's Works, IV, 396-424. A writer in the Charleston Courier aflSrmed : " Most of the leading Democratic papers openly advocate that policy." Niles, LXXIII, 354. Calhoun wrote his son-in-law, February 4 : *' My speech has had a very wide circulation and the impression is that it made a deeper im- pression than any I ever delivered. It brought to the surface the strong feeling which has been working below in favor of the conquest and holding as a Province, or annexing all Mexico ; and which I can hardly doubt, if not intended, was looked to by the administration as not an undesirable result." Correspondence, 742.
