Meanwhile President Polk was saying:  “Our title to Oregon is clear and unquestionable.”  He was urging the termination of the treaty for joint occupation with Great Britain of Oregon.  War!  Yes, but Douglas did not fear it.  At the beginning of the thirties of his years, he was leading Congress in the formation of an ocean-bound republic.

These were his words:  “The great point at issue between us and Great Britain is for the freedom of the Pacific Ocean, for the trade of China and Japan, of the East Indies, and for our maritime ascendency on all these waters.”

I watched these proceedings to the end, and until the Oregon territory was settled by the fixing of the 49th parallel as the boundary between Great Britain and the United States.  Douglas had striven with all his might to extend the boundary to the 54th parallel.  He had failed in this, and was bitterly disappointed.  He had been accused of boyish dash and temerity in affronting English feeling with a larger demand.  It had come to the point where I could not discuss, particularly in Dorothy’s presence, these questions with Abigail.  She saw nothing in these labors of Douglas but vulgar materialism.  That, of course, was the farthest thing from the minds of Mother Clayton and Dorothy.

But before the Oregon compact was signed, two grave matters disturbed our peace and brought their influence into our happy household.  Congress had failed to pass the bills to protect the settlers in the Oregon territory.  And we were at war with Mexico.

I felt irresistibly drawn to the war.

CHAPTER XXXV

Dorothy was in terror.  We had been married so short a time.  Our happiness had been undisturbed.  We had found such perfect enjoyment in our home.  We had taken such delight in the life of Chicago.

But Mother Clayton encouraged me with bright and admiring eyes.  I felt that I owed this service to Douglas.  He had mapped out the boundaries of Texas.  Should I not carry the sword to defend and establish them?  The dream which was Douglas’ had also taken possession of me.

Abigail saw nothing in the Mexican War beyond an ambition of the Southern States to extend slavery.  It was a fight for cotton.  The Eastern States did not like the war, the Whigs opposed the war.  Illinois had many enemies of the war.

But these were the facts:  Mexico had announced that the annexation of Texas would be considered an act of war.  She had broken off diplomatic relations with us when we offered to annex it.  She had prepared to resist the loss of Texas with force of arms.  Our people were in Texas.  They could not be abandoned.  “How did they get there?” asked Abigail.  “By pushing and adventuring where they did not belong.”