[Footnote 207:  His capacity for leadership was already recognized.  His colleagues conceded that he was “a man of large faculties.”  See Hilliard, Politics and Pen Pictures, p. 129.]

[Footnote 208:  Globe, 29 Cong., 1 Sess., p. 25.]

[Footnote 209:  Globe, 29 Cong., 1 Sess., p. 39.]

[Footnote 210:  Ibid., p. 65.]

[Footnote 211:  Ibid., p. 259.]

[Footnote 212:  Ibid., p. 86.]

[Footnote 213:  Globe, 29 Cong., 1 Sess., p. 260.]

[Footnote 214:  Ibid., pp. 258-259.]

[Footnote 215:  Illinois State Register, Jan. 15, 1846.]

[Footnote 216:  Globe, 29 Cong., 1 Sess., p. 347; Wheeler, History of Congress, pp. 114-115.]

[Footnote 217:  Globe, 29 Cong., 1 Sess. p. 497.]

[Footnote 218:  Ibid., pp. 85, 189, 395, 690-691.]

[Footnote 219:  Polk, MS. Diary, Entry for June 17, 1846.]

[Footnote 220:  Globe, 29 Cong., 1 Sess., p. 1203.]

[Footnote 221:  He voted for a similar amendment in 1844; see Globe, 28 Cong., 2 Sess., p. 236.]

[Footnote 222:  Globe, 28 Cong., 2 Sess., p. 284.]

CHAPTER VI

WAR AND POLITICS

A long and involved diplomatic history preceded President Polk’s simple announcement that “Mexico has passed the boundary of the United States, has invaded our territory and shed American blood upon American soil.”  Rightly to evaluate these words, the reader should bear in mind that the mission of John Slidell to Mexico had failed; that the hope of a peaceable adjustment of the Texas boundary and of American claims against Mexico had vanished; and that General Taylor had been ordered to the Rio Grande in disregard of Mexican claims to that region.  One should also know that, from the beginning of his administration, Polk had hoped to secure from our bankrupt neighbor the cession of California as an indemnity.[223] A motive for forbearance in dealing with the distraught Mexican government was thus wholly absent from the mind of President Polk.

Such of these facts as were known at the time, supplied the Whig opposition in Congress with an abundance of ammunition against the administration.  Language was used which came dangerously near being unparliamentary.  So the President was willing to sacrifice Oregon to prosecute this “illegal, unrighteous and damnable war” for Texas, sneered Delano.  “Where did the gentleman from Illinois stand now?  Was he still in favor of 61?” This sally brought Douglas to his feet and elicited one of his cleverest extempore speeches.  He believed that such words as the gentleman had uttered could come only from one who desired defeat for our arms.  “All who, after war is declared, condemn the justice of our cause, are traitors in their hearts.  And would to God that they would commit some overt act for which