Columbia Democrat and Bloomsburg general advertiser. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1850-1866, 1860-07-07
Lincoln's Political Record.
now HE WANTED TO THANK GEN. TAYLOR

trying hard 10 make MIN out the greatest
man in America. But unfortunately his
history will not sustain such a character.
What has Lincoln ever done that he should
be called great, or worthy of the Presi-
dency of great nation! Absolutely moth
ing! lie has been member of the State
Legislature of Illinois two or three times,
and for one session member of Congress
and that completes his political career up
to this time. While in Congress he was
celebrated for only one thing, viz oppo-
sttton 10 the Mexican War; and that, too,
after tho war had been in successful op
Grafton for nearly tseo yearsi He took
bis seat in Congress in December, 1s47,
the battle of Buena Yesta having been
fought in the February previous. Did
Lincoln while Congressman, endeavor to
bring the war to an honorable termination
or was he engaged in the discussion Of
measures intented to embarrass our Gov
erDment, and encourage the Mcxicans in
their acts Of hostility! Let his record
speak.
On the 2Oth day Of December, 1s47,
Hon. VIM. A. Richardson, of Illinois, in.
sroduced the following resolutions rela-
tive to the war:
Resolued, That the existing war with
Mexico was Just and necessary on our part,
and has been prosecuted with She sole pur-
pose of vindicating our national rights and
honor, and Of securing an honorable peace.
Resoloed, That the rejection of our re-
peated overtures of peace leaves this Gov
ernment no alternative but the most vigor-
GUS prosecution of the war, in such man
ner, consistent with the laws of nations, as
will make the enemy feel all its calamities
and burdens, and until Mexico shall agree
to just and honorable peace, providing
satisfactory indemnity in money or terri
tory for past injuries, including the expen-
ses of the war.
RESOLVED, That the amount of theindem-
nifty must necessarily depend upon the OBJ
stinacy of the enemy and the duration of
the war.-Vioe Con. Globe, 1847, p so.
Mr.. Lincoln voted against these resolu.
tons, as he said in his speech in the House
on the 18th of January, ls4S, from which
the following will explain his position,-
Mr.. Lincoln said:
" But in addition to this, one of his col
leagues Mr.. Richardson) came into this
House with a resolution in terms expressly
endorsing the justice of the Presidents
conduct in the beginning of the war. So
that he found himself here, If lie aas in
claned to giye the President his supplies,
and say nothing about the original Justice
of the war-if he was inclined to 90 with
him, to look ahead, and not back-in
position that he could not doso He should
feel compelled to vote on this resolution in
the negative"
Does not this show clearly, that Lincoln
no. only opposed the justice of the war,
but would even have voted against " the
Presidents smpplies," if that question had
come up by itself! Richardson's resolu
tlons were for the honorable prosecution of
the war, but Lincoln opposed them, and
thereby placed himself on the record in
favor of dishonorable termination of the
same. In short, he was in favor of with
drawing our troops, and telling Mexico
and the world that we had been engaged in
an unjust war Of aggression.
When resolutions OF thanks to Gen. Tay-
lor were introduced in the House, January
Sd, l64s, Mr.. George Ashmun, the Presi-
dent OF the late Chicago Convention, moved
to add as an amendment, the following
" In a '8ar unnecessarily and unconStitu-
tiona ly begun by the President Of the
United States" Lincoln voted for this
amendment. (See Con. Globe, ls4S, p.
95.) Hence it appears that Lincoln de-
sired to thank Gen. Taylor for Containing
a victory over the enemy (at Buena Vista)
which, for its signal and brilliant charac-
ter, is unsurpassed in the military annals
of the world" but SIN l0ar unnecessarily
and anconsl,tutionaAy begun" That is
the kind of thanks that Lincoln desired to
give Gen. Taylor, Sand the officers and
soldiers of the regular army, and of the
volunteers under his command" In a.
mother place in Lincoln's pecch on the war,
he thus spoke of the President: "The |
blood of this war, like the blood of Abel,
was crying from the ground against him" d"
Thus it will be seensthat Lincoln regarded
the blood that our soldiers shed in Mexico,
as crying from the ground against them,
like the blood of the murdered Abel
We're our officers and soldiers in Mexico
murderers Lincoln answers, in effect,
'hGt Mey acre! For this speech see Con-
gressiOnaI Globe, ls4s, page l55.
But the most noted, as well as the most
ridiculous act of Lincoln's Congressional
career, was the introduction into the House,