the evil as it existed in his day, and that it was expecting too much of him that he should have anticipated every twist and turn in politics and the administration of govern mental affairs. We do not hold the public men of our day to any such strict account ability. We should not expect public men to foresee everything. When the electoral system was established, who anticipated that it would prove to be a mere formality and that the selection of our chief magistrate would be practically in the hands of our nominat ing conventions? When the Spanish-Ameri can War was first agitated, who had any idea that President McKinley, who was so reluctant to engage in it, would, in so short a time, become an expansionist and would be dubbed with the title of "imperialist"? Time is an important factor in political as well as in other matters, and our statesmen have to alter their plans in accordance with changes which it renders necessary. Speaking of expansion suggests that it is interesting to inquire how did Mr. Calhoun look upon this question. Was he in favor of it or not? He was perhaps the leading advocate of the annexation of Texas. At that time, he was a member of the cabinet, occupying the important place of Secretary of State. Indeed, it is an admitted fact that he was appointed secretary by Mr. Tyler and accepted the office for the very purpose of accomplishing the annexation of Texas. He carried the matter through successfully and was proud of his achievement with re ference to this matter. In speaking of this subject, in a speech in reply to Mr. Benton, he said: " He traces the authorship to me, because, as he asserts, I am the real author of annexation. Less than twelve months since, I had many competitors for that honor : the official organ here claimed, if my memory serves me, a large share for Mr. Polk and his administration, and not less than a half dozen competitors from other quarters claimed to be the real authors. But now, since the war has become unpopular, they
all seem to agree that I, in reality, am the author of annexation. I will not put the honor aside. I may now rightfully and in disputably claim to be the author of that great measure, a measure which has so much extended the domains of the Union, which has added so largely to its produc tive powers, which promises so greatly to extend its commerce, which has stimu lated its industry, and given security to our most exposed frontier. I take pride to my self as being the author of this great mea sure." This quotation from his speech shows that Mr. Calhoun appreciated highly his own efforts in behalf of the annexation of Texas, and it also presents forcibly and succinctly the advantages which resulted from that measure. At first blush, Mr. Calhoun's position with reference to the war with Mexico seems to militate against the idea of territorial ex pansion. It is well known that he was op posed to that war. Not only did he regard it as unnecessary, but he looked upon it as a war of conquest. He was bitterly opposed to holding Mexico as a province or incor porating her into the Union. He held that it was against the character of our govern ment and contrary to the policy of free in stitutions for us to hold Mexico as a con quered province. He contended that it would put too much power into the hands of the President, that it would clothe the Executive with an immense patronage, that it would tend to strip the States of influence, and strengthen the central government at Washington; and that it would make the general government a strong, central power and would be utterly subversive of the rights of the States. He referred to the Roman government as illustrating the point for which he was contending. He said that "when the Roman power passed beyond the limits of Italy, crossed the Adriatic, the Mediterranean, and the Alps, liberty fell prostrate; the Roman people became a rabble; corruption penetrated every depart
