A. LINCOLN.




SPEECH ON DECLARATION OF WAR ON MEXICO

SPEECH IN THE UNITED STATES HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,
JANUARY 12, 1848.

MR CHAIRMAN:--Some if not all the gentlemen on the other side of the
House who have addressed the committee within the last two days have
spoken rather complainingly, if I have rightly understood them, of the
vote given a week or ten days ago declaring that the war with Mexico was
unnecessarily and unconstitutionally commenced by the President. I admit
that such a vote should not be given in mere party wantonness, and that
the one given is justly censurable if it have no other or better
foundation. I am one of those who joined in that vote; and I did so under
my best impression of the truth of the case. How I got this impression,
and how it may possibly be remedied, I will now try to show. When the war
began, it was my opinion that all those who because of knowing too
little, or because of knowing too much, could not conscientiously approve
the conduct of the President in the beginning of it should nevertheless,
as good citizens and patriots, remain silent on that point, at least till
the war should be ended. Some leading Democrats, including ex-President
Van Buren, have taken this same view, as I understand them; and I adhered
to it and acted upon it, until since I took my seat here; and I think I
should still adhere to it were it not that the President and his friends
will not allow it to be so. Besides the continual effort of the President
to argue every silent vote given for supplies into an indorsement of the