Page:Oregon Historical Quarterly volume 13.djvu/331

 CALHOUN AS SECRETARY OF WAR 323 Congress became impatient at his delay, and on March 9, 1820, the Foreign Affairs Committee, at ACTION OF the suggestion of the President, intro- CONGRESS AND duced a bill which recommended, in very ITS INFLUENCE strong terms, the immediate occupation ON CALHOUN of Florida. 90 President Monroe called a cabinet meeting on March 21, to con- sider the postponement of proceedings relative to Florida to the next session of Congress. At this meeting Calhoun firmly opposed such a measure and ridiculed the idea that we hesitate on account of foreign interference or the recent revolution in Spain. 91 In the same month he wrote to Jackson expressing his hope that Congress would take immediate action in regard to Florida, but he made no reference to his disapproval of Jackson's conduct in the Seminole War. 92 The following May, Calhoun took exactly the opposite stand and advised the Presi- dent to refrain from acting on the matter until the next Con- gress met. 93 He was convinced that at present they should not take such a step, which he felt would bring about a disagree- ment between the Executive and the Legislature. Calhoun had reasonable grounds for this last opinion, because on March 30, the House had voted to lay the Florida bill on the table, and doubtless did not wish to consider the matter again. 94 Above all things Calhoun did not think that the United States should go to war with Spain for SUMMARY the possession of Florida. If the nation OF HIS could annex the territory in peace, he PRINCIPLES would approve of the step, but they could not afford to fight for it. He con- demned Jackson because his actions might lead to a war in which not only Spain, but also England, would oppose the United States. The nation needed to accumulate strength in commerce and internal development. It could not afford to 90 Annals of Congress, i6th Cong., ist Sess., II, 1618-9. 91 Adams, J. Q. Memoirs, V, 29, 92 Letters of Calhoun, House Document, V, 115, Am. Hist. Ass., V. II, 171; 1899-1900. 93 Adams, J. Q., Memoirs, V, 100-1. 94 Journal of the House, i6th Cong., ist Sess., 353.