Page:Confederate Military History - 1899 - Volume 1.djvu/211

Rh fine, on the side of Great Britain, a state of war against the United States; and on the side of the United States, a state of peace toward Great Britain. Whether the United States shall continue passive under these progressive usurpations, and their accumulating wrongs, or, opposing force to force in defense of her national rights, shall commit a just cause into the hands of the Almighty Disposer of events, avoiding all connexions which might entangle it in the contest or views of other powers, and preserving a constant readiness to concur in an honorable re-establishment of peace and friendship, is a solemn question which the Constitution wisely confides to the legislative department of the government. In recommending it to their early deliberation, I am happy in the assurance that the decision will be worthy the enlightened and patriotic councils of a virtuous, a free and a powerful nation.&quot;

The next day John C. Calhoun, chairman of the House committee to whom the President s message was referred, made a report (Annals of Congress, 1811, 1812, part 2, pp. 1546-1554) stating at large the causes and reasons for war. The report is an able exposition of the whole subject, and its conclusions are unanswerable. After reviewing the course of the United States in the honorable effort to seek redress by peaceful means, the report says: &quot;The time has now arrived when this system of reasoning must cease. &quot; It concludes: &quot;Your committee recommend an immediate appeal to arms. (Annals of Congress, 1811-1812, part 2, pp. 1631-1637.) On the same day, Mr. Calhoun offered a bill declaring war with Great Britain, which passed the House June4, 1812, by a vote of 79 yeas to 49 nays. This bill was transmitted, confidentially, to the Senate June 5th, and was referred to a committee, of which Mr. Joseph Anderson, of Tennessee, was chairman. The committee reported it June 8th, with amendments. After debate and amendment,