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Smith, Caleb B : Speech of Mr. Caleb B. Smith, of Indiana, on the War and Its Cost. Delivered in the House of Representatives of the U. States, February 3, 1848

Printed by J. & G. S. Gideon, Washington, D.C., 1848

Original publisher's beige paper wrappers. Text printed in black ink. Some pages unopened. 5 3/4" x 9." Sixteen pages, complete. Pages are very clean and intact overall except for light age toning, moderate foxing, and some chipping and splitting along spine. A Very Good copy. A speech originally delivered before the United States House of Representatives on February 3, 1848 by Caleb B. Smith (1808-1864), an American judge and politician. He began his career as a Whig and later became a Republican in 1854. Smith served as a U.S. Representative from Indiana from 1843-1849 and was the U.S. Secretary of the Interior under President Abraham Lincoln from 1861-1863. Smith was also appointed the U.S. District Court Judge for the District of Indiana by Lincoln in 1862. He served in that capacity until his passing in 1864. In this speech, Smith states his position against any further loan bills that would add funds for the prosecution of the Mexican-American War. Smith briefly acknowledges that he was among the Congressmen who had voted that President James K. Polk had "unconstitutionally and unnecessarily" started the war and that he was against the annexation of Texas and the war in general. However, he states that the main focus of his speech is to address the funding of the war and that his central argument is that the war should be ended as soon as possible due to its financial costs. He references several monetary figures to back his claim that the war is untenable from a financial point of view. He says a particular loan bill, if passed, would increase the national debt by about $84 million and that the cumulative debt of the Mexican-American War has far surpassed that of the last major war involving the U.S., the War of 1812. He states Polk and his administration have not been honest in their financial estimates of the war and that he is distrustful of any other requests for war funding. Smith expresses his hope that the American people will elect new representatives with "different principles" who will vote against the war and its additional funding. He also voices his concern that any additional land acquisitions from Mexico, especially when "effected by force and violence," will result in "calamity.". Book. Book Condition: Very Good. Binding: Soft cover

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