Alexander H. Stephens, writing seventeen years after Lincoln’s death, recalled their service together in Congress.  “I knew Mr. Lincoln well and intimately,” said Mr. Stephens.  “We both were ardent supporters of General Taylor for President in 1848.  Lincoln, Toombs, Preston, myself, and others, formed the first Congressional Taylor Club, known as ’The Young Indians,’ and organized the Taylor movement which resulted in his nomination.  Mr. Lincoln was careless as to his manners and awkward in his speech, but possessed a strong, clear, vigorous mind.  He always attracted and riveted the attention of the House when he spoke.  His manner of speech as well as of thought was original.  He had no model.  He was a man of strong convictions, and what Carlyle would have called an earnest man.  He abounded in anecdote.  He illustrated everything he was talking about by an anecdote, always exceedingly apt and pointed; and socially he always kept his company in a roar of laughter.”

Alluding to his first speech in Congress—­on some post-office question of no special interest—­Lincoln wrote to his friend Herndon that his principal object was to “get the hang of the House”; adding that he “found speaking here and elsewhere about the same thing.  I was about as badly scared as when I spoke in court, but no more so.”

Lincoln’s mental power, as well as his self-confidence, developed rapidly under the responsibilities of his new position.  During his term of service in the House he was zealous in the performance of his duties, alert to seize every opportunity to strike a blow for his party and acquit himself to the satisfaction of his constituents.  In January, 1848, he made a telling speech in support of the “Spot Resolutions,” in which his antagonism to the course of the Administration in regard to the war on Mexico was uncompromisingly announced.  These resolutions were offered for the purpose of getting from President Polk a statement of facts regarding the beginning of the war.  In this speech Lincoln warned the President not to try to “escape scrutiny by fixing the public gaze upon the exceeding brightness of military glory—­that attractive rainbow that rises in showers of blood, that serpent’s eye that charms but to destroy.”  In writing, a few days after the delivery of this speech, to Mr. Herndon, Lincoln said:  “I will stake my life that if you had been in my place you would have voted just as I did.  Would you have voted what you felt and knew to be a lie?  I know you would not.  Would you have gone out of the House—­skulked the vote?  I expect not.  If you had skulked one vote you would have 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 a direct question of the justice of the war; so no man can be silent if he would.  You are compelled to speak; and your only alternative is to tell the truth or tell a lie.  I cannot doubt which you would do.”