The Ashland union. [volume] (Ashland, Ashland County, Ohio) 1854-1868, 1860-07-04
LINCOLNS POLITICAL RECORD-HOW
HE WANTED TO THANK GEN TAYLOR.

Since Abraham Lincoln has been nominated
for the Presidency, his friends are trying to
make him out the greatest man in America
But unfortunately his history will not sustain
such character. W hat has Lincoln ever
done that he should be called great or worthy
of the Presidency of a great nation? Abso-
lutely nothing! He has been a member of
the State Legislature of Illinois two or three
times, and for one session member of Con-.
gress-and that completes has political career
| up to this time. " hile in Congress he was
celebrated for only one thing, viz: opposition
to tie Nerican Mar; and that, too, after the
war had been in successful operation for near
IN taoo gears! He took his seat In Congress
in December, l847. the battle of Buena Vis-
ia having been fought IN the February pre-
yious.. Did Lincoln, while Congressman, en-
deavor to bring the war to an honorable ter
mination, or was he engaged in the discussion
of measures intended to embarrass our Gov
ernment, and encourage the Mexicans in their
acts of hostility? Let his record speak.
On the Goth day of December, 1847, Hon.
! VIM. A. Richardson, of Illinois, introduced
the following resolutions relative to the war:
Resoloed, That the existing war with Mex
! leo was just and necessary on our. part, and
has been prosecuted with the sole purpose of
viDdicating our national rights and honor, and
of securing honorable peace. -
| Resozued, That the rejection of our repeat
ed overtures of peace leaves the Government
no alternative bat the most vigorous prosecu-
tion of the war, in such manner, consistent
with laws of nations, as will make the enemy
| fell all its 7calamities and burdens, and until
| Mexico shall agree to Just and honorable
peace, providing satisfactory indemnity in
money or territory for past injuries, including
| the expense of the war. -
Resolued, That the amount of the indem-
nifty must necessarily depend upon the obsti-
macy of the enemy and the duration of the
war Vide Con. Globe, 1S47, p. so. 80
Mr.. Lincoln voted against these resolutions,
as he said in his speech in the House on the
18th of January, 1S4S, from which the fol
lowing will explain his position. Mr.. Lincoln
said :: ~ me 80 -
! "But in addition to this, one of his col
leagues (Mr Richardson9 came into the House
with resolution in terms expressly endorsing
the Justice of the Presidents conduct in the
beginning of the war. So that he found him
self here, ifhe aoas inclined to giue the Presi
dent his supplies, and say nothing about the
original justice of the war-if he was inclined
to go with him, to look ahead, and not back
in position that he could not do so. 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 woult
even have voted against "the Presidents "sup
plies" if that question had come up by itself
Richardson's resolutions were for the honorabl
| prosecution of the war, but Lincoln opposed
them, and thereby placed himself on the rec
ord in favor of dishonorable termination o
the same In short, he was in favor of with
drawing our troops, and telling Mexico ant
the world that we had been engaged in an un
just war of aggression.
When resolutions of thanks to General Tay
lor were introduced into the House, Januar,
Sd, 184S, Mr. George Ashmun, the Presiden
of the late Chicago Convention, moved to ado
as an amendment, the following: "Las a aca
unnecessarily and anconstitutionGlly5 begun 6yth
President of the United States" Lincolr
voted for this amendment. See Cong. Globe
l84S, p. 95.) Hence it appears that Lincoll
desired to thank Gen. Taylor for Containing
!, victory over the enemy Cat Buena Vista,
which, for its signal and brilliant character, i
unsurpassed in the military annals of world,
but "in q ,car unnecessarily and atnconstitu
tionaly begun" That is the kind of thanks
that Lincoln desired to give Gen Taylor f'ant
the officers and soldiers of the regular arm.
and of the volunteers under his command. p
!: In another place in Lincoln's speech on tn
war, he thus spoke of the President: 9Th
J blood of this war, like the blood Of Abel, was
7 crying from the ground against him." Thu
it will be seen that Lincoln regarded the bloot
that .our soldiers shed in Mexico, as cryin.
from the ground against them, like the bloo'
. of the murdered Abel. Were our officer
and soldiers in Mexico murderers? Lincoll
answers, in effect, that they aoere! For thi
speech see Congressional Globe, 1S48, pag
: 155.-Edtriot and Union. $50