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had to skulk many more before the end of the session。
Richardson's resolutions； introduced before I made any move or
gave any vote upon the subject； make the direct question of the
justice of the war； so that no man can be silent if he would。
You are compelled to speak； and your only alternative is to tell
the truth or a lie。 I cannot doubt which you would do。
This vote has nothing to do in determining my votes on the
questions of supplies。 I have always intended； and still intend；
to vote supplies； perhaps not in the precise form recommended by
the President； but in a better form for all purposes； except
Locofoco party purposes。 It is in this particular you seem
mistaken。 The Locos are untiring in their efforts to make the
impression that all who vote supplies or take part in the war do
of necessity approve the President's conduct in the beginning of
it； but the Whigs have from the beginning made and kept the
distinction between the two。 In the very first act nearly all
the Whigs voted against the preamble declaring that war existed
by the act of Mexico； and yet nearly all of them voted for the
supplies。 As to the Whig men who have participated in the war；
so far as they have spoken in my hearing they do not hesitate to
denounce as unjust the President's conduct in the beginning of
the war。 They do not suppose that such denunciation is directed
by undying hatred to him； as The Register would have it
believed。 There are two such Whigs on this floor （Colonel
Haskell and Major James） The former fought as a colonel by the
side of Colonel Baker at Cerro Gordo； and stands side by side
with me in the vote that you seem dissatisfied with。 The latter；
the history of whose capture with Cassius Clay you well know； had
not arrived here when that vote was given； but； as I understand；
he stands ready to give just such a vote whenever an occasion
shall present。 Baker； too； who is now here； says the truth is
undoubtedly that way； and whenever he shall speak out； he will
say so。 Colonel Doniphan； too； the favorite Whig of Missouri；
and who overran all Northern Mexico； on his return home in a
public speech at St。 Louis condemned the administration in
relation to the war。 If I remember； G。 T。 M。 Davis； who has
been through almost the whole war； declares in favor of Mr。 Clay；
from which I infer that he adopts the sentiments of Mr。 Clay；
generally at least。 On the other hand； I have heard of but one
Whig who has been to the war attempting to justify the
President's conduct。 That one was Captain Bishop； editor of the
Charleston Courier； and a very clever fellow。 I do not mean this
letter for the public； but for you。 Before it reaches you； you
will have seen and read my pamphlet speech； and perhaps been
scared anew by it。 After you get over your scare； read it over
again； sentence by sentence； and tell me honestly what you think
of it。 I condensed all I could for fear of being cut off by the
hour rule； and when I got through I had spoken but forty…five
minutes。
Yours forever；
A。 LINCOLN。
TO WILLIAM H。 HERNDON。
WASHINGTON； February 2； 1848
DEAR WILLIAM：I just take my pen to say that Mr。 Stephens； of
Georgia； a little； slim； pale…faced； consumptive man； with a
voice like Logan's； has just concluded the very best speech of an
hour's length I ever heard。 My old withered dry eyes are full of
tears yet。
If he writes it out anything like he delivered it； our people
shall see a good many copies of it。
Yours truly；
A。 LINCOLN。
ON THE MEXICAN WAR
TO WILLIAM H。 HERNDON。
WASHINGTON； February 15； 1848。
DEAR WILLIAM：Your letter of the 29th January was received last
night。 Being exclusively a constitutional argument； I wish to
submit some reflections upon it in the same spirit of kindness
that I know actuates you。 Let me first state what I understand
to be your position。 It is that if it shall become necessary to
repel invasion； the President may； without violation of the
Constitution； cross the line and invade the territory of another
country； and that whether such necessity exists in any given case
the President is the sole judge。
Before going further consider well whether this is or is not your
position。 If it is； it is a position that neither the President
himself； nor any friend of his； so far as I know； has ever taken。
Their only positions arefirst； that the soil was ours when the
hostilities commenced； and second； that whether it was rightfully
ours or not； Congress had annexed it； and the President for that
reason was bound to defend it； both of which are as clearly
proved to be false in fact as you can prove that your house is
mine。 The soil was not ours； and Congress did not annex or
attempt to annex it。 But to return to your position。 Allow the
President to invade a neighboring nation whenever he shall deem
it necessary to repel an invasion； and you allow him to do so
whenever he may choose to say he deems it necessary for such
purpose； and you allow him to make war at pleasure。 Study to see
if you can fix any limit to his power in this respect； after
having given him so much as you propose。 If to…day he should
choose to say he thinks it necessary to invade Canada to prevent
the British from invading us； how could you stop him？ You may
say to him；I see no probability of the British invading us〃；
but he will say to you； 〃Be silent： I see it； if you don't。〃
The provision of the Constitution giving the war making power to
Congress was dictated； as I understand it； by the following
reasons： kings had always been involving and impoverishing their
people in wars； pretending generally； if not always； that the
good of the people was the object。 This our convention
understood to be the most oppressive of all kingly oppressions；
and they resolved to so frame the Constitution that no one man
should hold the power of bringing this oppression upon us。 But
your view destroys the whole matter； and places our President
where kings have always stood。 Write soon again。
Yours truly；
A。 LINCOLN。
REPORT IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES；
MARCH 9； 1848。
Mr。 Lincoln； from the Committee on the Postoffice and Post Roads；
made the following report：
The Committee on the Post…office and Post Roads； to whom was
referred the resolution of the House of Representatives entitled
〃An Act authorizing postmasters at county seats of justice to
receive subscriptions for newspapers and periodicals； to be paid
through the agency of the Post…office Department； and for other
purposes；〃 beg leave to submit the following report
The committee have reason to believe that a general wish pervades
the community at large that some such facility as the proposed
measure should be granted by express law； for subscribing；
through the agency of the Post…office Department； to newspapers
and periodica