The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1858-07-31
Mr.. I,neoln,. War Record.

In the summer Of 1876 A. Lincoln was
elected to Congress from the Springfield dis
trict, by 1900 majority. During the can
vass, volunteers were being raised in this
State for the Mexican war. MIR. Lincoln FIRE.
oucntly spoke in the presence of volunteers
who were on the eve of departure for the
seat of war, al d invariably pledged himself
to vote for measures in Congress looking TO a
vigorous prosecution Of the war.
He took his seat in Dec, 1s47; it is true,
after most of the glorious battles in Mexico
had been fought and won, but not before the
treaty of peace, or before the volunteers had
been called home and paid off Durin. this
and the preceding two sessions of Congress-
although q formal declaration Of war had
been made against Mexico by an over
whelming majority, there was small squad
Of ultra wings ard abolitionists in both
houses who were opposed to the prosecution
of the war and sought by every means, by
speeches an v..es, TO cast embarrassments
in ITS way. Lincoln represented district in
which tie public sentiment was overwhc,m-
ingly in favor of the war, he had given
pledges fairly to represent that sentiment in
Congress; yet glance at his record shows
that he at once attached himself to, and in
every instance spoke and voted with the
small ant-war squad, OF which Tom Corwin
was the acknowledged leader, who made the
famous speech in which he hoped the volun-
teers would be received in Mexico by
bloody hands in hospitablc graves"
Three weeks after Lincoln took his seat,
while the administration was seeking, nv
treaty to obtain an honorable peace, Hr.
Lincoln introduced in the house his famous
Spot resolutions, the object Of which
were to embarrass the negotiations for peace
by showing that cur country had waged a n
unjust war. and therefore ~as not entitled to
| honorable terms.
Two weeks afterwards Dan. 3d) Mr.
Hudson, Of Mass, another of the small anti.
war squad, introduced a resolution in Con.
gress to instruct the President to uiatdrau
our armies 10 tie east Of tie Nio G,abde
and to negotiate fer peace again on the as
sumption that the war was unjust. Mr.
Lincoln voted for this resolution.
/ On the same day, another resolution wal
/ offered in Congress declaring that the wal
/ had been unnecessarily and unconstitu
/ t;onally begun" Mr.. Lincoln, with tn
small abolition squad, again voted AYE"
/ Two weeks more Mr.. Lincoln made hi
admirable" an,-war speech in Congress
which the Wisconsin farmer so indignant,
returned to him.
On the 18th Of Jan, Mr.. Chase, of Tenn.
offered re, olution in the House, that !, wa
d" inexpedi.rt TO order cur troops in Mexic
20 retreat from the position they had S
CALAMITY won," &c. Mr.. Lincoln voted t
Law the resolution on the table.
Feb. 2lst, Mr. Lincoln voted against Sc
ries OF resolutions rendering the thanks c
C"ngress to Generals Taylor, Worth, Woo
&c, for their gallant services in the war wit
Mexico.
On the 9th of March. lSis, and sgain o.
the 9th Nav, and through al :ho stages c
that bill Mr. Lincoln voted against the ate
regiment bill" as it was called, the object c
the bill being, TO expedite the negotiation
for peace in Mexico, by keeping up the AZ
pearance a. home OF resumption Of VI
gorous prosecution Of the war IN ease III
negotiations failed.
And towards the close the session, Mr
Lincoln cast votes TOO numerous to particu
larzc On a.! parts Of til. appropriation bill
to pay the army, the objec, Of which a way
were 10 embarrass their passage, by insert
ing an amendment declaring the war u
just, &c.
Such a record in Congress, after Mr. Lis
coins pledges so opposite on the stump, eS
ci,ed such settled feeling of ,ndignaiio
agains; him in his district that his name wa
never whispered for reelection, and ha
he been candidate, he would have bee
beaten By thousands. Even Judge Logar
when a candidate { r Lincoln's succession
felt the effect of his votes. which great
aided in cha ,.,c L;.coln ajority Of ! so
to minority. and IA sending the gsllan
Harris, fresh from the bloody fields of tn
war which Mir. Lincoln so Professionally OF
posed, to occupy the seat the latter dsho
nored, and from that DAY forth, on accoun
of this "spotty' record, Mr.. Lincoln r,
mainsd in obscurity, until the republican
recently resurrccted" him by making hI
their candidate for the L. S. Senate.