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elections； or paying tax； or serving on juries； or having process
served upon them； or in any other way。
Sixth。 Whether the people of that settlement did or did not flee
from the approach of the United States army； leaving unprotected
their homes and their growing crops； before the blood was shed；
as in the message stated； and whether the first blood； so shed；
was or was not shed within the inclosure of one of the people who
had thus fled from it。
Seventh。 Whether our citizens； whose blood was shed； as in his
message declared； were or were not； at that time； armed officers
and soldiers； sent into that settlement by the military order of
the President； through the Secretary of War。
Eighth。 Whether the military force of the United States was or
was not so sent into that settlement after General Taylor had
more than once intimated to the War Department that； in his
opinion； no such movement was necessary to the defence or
protection of Texas。
REMARKS IN THE UNITED STATES HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES；
JANUARY 5； 1848。
Mr。 Lincoln said he had made an effort； some few days since； to
obtain the floor in relation to this measure ＇resolution to
direct Postmaster…General to make arrangements with railroad for
carrying the mailsin Committee of the Whole＇； but had failed。
One of the objects he had then had in view was now in a great
measure superseded by what had fallen from the gentleman from
Virginia who had just taken his seat。 He begged to assure his
friends on the other side of the House that no assault whatever
was meant upon the Postmaster…General； and he was glad that what
the gentleman had now said modified to a great extent the
impression which might have been created by the language he had
used on a previous occasion。 He wanted to state to gentlemen who
might have entertained such impressions； that the Committee on
the Post…office was composed of five Whigs and four Democrats；
and their report was understood as sustaining； not impugning； the
position taken by the Postmaster…General。 That report had met
with the approbation of all the Whigs； and of all the Democrats
also； with the exception of one； and he wanted to go even further
than this。 ＇Intimation was informally given Mr。 Lincoln that it
was not in order to mention on the floor what had taken place in
committee。＇ He then observed that if he had been out of order in
what he had said he took it all back so far as he could。 He had
no desire； he could assure gentlemen； ever to be out of order
though he never could keep long in order。
Mr。 Lincoln went on to observe that he differed in opinion； in
the present case； from his honorable friend from Richmond ＇Mr。
Botts＇。 That gentleman； had begun his remarks by saying that if
all prepossessions in this matter could be removed out of the
way； but little difficulty would be experienced in coming to an
agreement。 Now； he could assure that gentleman that he had
himself begun the examination of the subject with prepossessions
all in his favor。 He had long and often heard of him； and； from
what he had heard； was prepossessed in his favor。 Of the
Postmaster…General he had also heard； but had no prepossessions
in his favor； though certainly none of an opposite kind。 He
differed； however； with that gentleman in politics； while in this
respect he agreed with the gentleman from Virginia ＇Mr。 Botts＇；
whom he wished to oblige whenever it was in his power。 That
gentleman had referred to the report made to the House by the
Postmaster…General； and had intimated an apprehension that
gentlemen would be disposed to rely； on that report alone； and
derive their views of the case from that document alone。 Now it
so happened that a pamphlet had been slipped into his ＇Mr。
Lincoln's＇ hand before he read the report of the Postmaster…
General； so that； even in this； he had begun with prepossessions
in favor of the gentleman from Virginia。
As to the report； he had but one remark to make： he had carefully
examined it； and he did not understand that there was any dispute
as to the facts therein stated the dispute； if he understood it；
was confined altogether to the inferences to be drawn from those
facts。 It was a difference not about facts； but about
conclusions。 The facts were not disputed。 If he was right in
this； he supposed the House might assume the facts to be as they
were stated； and thence proceed to draw their own conclusions。
The gentleman had said that the Postmaster…General had got into a
personal squabble with the railroad company。 Of this Mr。 Lincoln
knew nothing； nor did he need or desire to know anything； because
it had nothing whatever to do with a just conclusion from the
premises。 But the gentleman had gone on to ask whether so great
a grievance as the present detention of the Southern mail ought
not to be remedied。 Mr。 Lincoln would assure the gentleman that
if there was a proper way of doing it； no man was more anxious
than he that it should be done。 The report made by the committee
had been intended to yield much for the sake of removing that
grievance。 That the grievance was very great there was no
dispute in any quarter。 He supposed that the statements made by
the gentleman from Virginia to show this were all entirely
correct in point of fact。 He did suppose that the interruptions
of regular intercourse； and all the other inconveniences growing
out of it； were all as that gentleman had stated them to be； and
certainly； if redress could be rendered； it was proper it should
be rendered as soon as possible。 The gentleman said that in
order to effect this no new legislative action was needed； all
that was necessary was that the Postmaster…General should be
required to do what the law； as it stood； authorized and required
him to do。
We come then； said Mr。 Lincoln； to the law。 Now the Postmaster…
General says he cannot give to this company more than two hundred
and thirty…seven dollars and fifty cents per railroad mile of
transportation； and twelve and a half per cent。 less for
transportation by steamboats。 He considers himself as restricted
by law to this amount； and he says； further； that he would not
give more if he could； because in his apprehension it would not
be fair and just。
1848
DESIRE FOR SECOND TERM IN CONGRESS
TO WILLIAM H。 HERNDON。
WASHINGTON； January 8； 1848。
DEAR WILLIAM：Your letter of December 27 was received a day or
two ago。 I am much obliged to you for the trouble you have
taken； and promise to take in my little business there。 As to
speech making； by way of getting the hang of the House I made a
little speech two or three days ago on a post…office question of
no general interest。 I find speaking here and elsewhere about
the same thing。 I was about as badly scared； and no worse as I
am when I speak in court。 I expect to make one within a week or
two； in which I hope to succee