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.