LESTER BURRELL SHIPPEE
66
westerners feared the extreme demands might be dropped. of Mexico it would never do to
The Calhoun wing thought
break out with the southern neighbor while the Oregon affair was pending, for they felt that war with Great Britain would surely follow. 15
have
hostilities
All efforts, then, to take steps which were in the direction
of violence were opposed, usually with success, by the moderFor example, Calhoun prevented the reading of Allen's ates.
which reiterated Folk's statement of the applicabildoctrine. Benton in a vigorous speech opFair field's posed navy bill, denouncing it as a war weapon when all indications were pointing to peace. Webster thought this speech might have some good effect and give trouble to resolutions ity of the
the
war
Monroe
16
Benton's efforts throughout
party.
summed up
in his
asked his attitude
all this
period are
words at an evening reception when he was on Crittenden's resolutions, 17
"Sir, conciliation, conciliation
it
is
necessary in a national
struggle."
Through listened to
it
all,
all
was not to be drawn out. He was a suggestion from Calhoun or
the President
whether
it
Benton on the necessity of compromise, or Allen with a new argument against compromise. To leaders on both sides he dropped the hint that, if a reasonable proposition were made by Great Britain, he would probably submit it to the Senate for advice before he acted, and in this both sides thought they saw a gleam of hope for their contentions. He always informed his callers that he believed there would be no war, and yet,
talked with him about the probable results of the of the Peel ministry and was strongly in favor of vigorous preparations for defence, Polk appeared to concur in the view.
when Cass fall
When
he received from both houses of Congress requests for copies of correspondence which had taken place after that sent them with the Annual Message he agreed with Buchanan that
Congress and the American people should know of the military 15 16 17
Calhoun to T. W. Clemson; 29 Jan., Corresp. of Calhoun, 679-80. Webster to F. Webster, 27 Jan., Van Tyne, Letters, 307. Blair to Van Buren, see note 17 above.
