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CHAPTER XII |
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ECHOES OF THE MEXICAN WAR
"The Recruiting Sergeant, with his party, was out yesterday with drums beating and colors waving their invitation to glory and broken bones."— Pittsburgh Daily Commercial Journal^ May 30,1847.
I.
T
HE Mexican War, 1846 to 1848, came to its height and its close during Stephen's stay in Cincinnati. At first the local newspapers reflected the opposition view held by many, including an Illinois lawyer named Abraham Lincoln.*1 Opposition dwindled. By late March 1847, the Gazette was saying editorially: "We . . . have often declared that this war was unnecessary in its commencement," but nevertheless the editor referred 'with swelling emotion" to the 'gallant Taylor."2
* Shortly after Lincoln took his seat in the House of Representative^ in December 1847, ne introduced the so-called "spot" resolutions attacking President Polk for bringing on the war with Mexico. In a speech before the House the following July, Lincoln declared that, although the conflict had been "unnecessarily and unconstitutionally" brought on by Polk, nevertheless after "the war had begun and had become the cause of the country," the Whigs gave their support as well as the Democrats. He praised General Taylor as "the hero of the Mexican War" and later he campaigned for his election. See Albert J. Beveridge, Abraham Lincoln, Vol. I, pp. 420, 460. |
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