Representative Lincoln's call for a "Spot" Resolution
Whereas, The President of the United States, in his message of May 11, 1846, has declared that "the Mexican Government not only refused to receive him [the envoy of the United States], or to listen to his propositions, but, after a long-continued series of menaces, has at last invaded our territory and shed the blood of our fellow-citizens on our own soil."
And again, in his message of December 8, 1846 [in his State of the Union Address], that "we had ample cause of war against Mexico long before the breaking out of hostilities; but even then we forbore to take redress into our own hands until Mexico herself became the aggressor, by invading our soil in hostile array, and shedding the blood of our citizens."
And whereas, This House is desirous to obtain a full knowledge of all the facts which go to establish whether the particular spot on which the blood of our citizens was so shed was or was not at that time our own soil; therefore,
The House of Representatives is seeking more information regarding the start of the War with Mexico and would like answer to the following:
The ultimate question that should be addressed is whether or not the current war with Mexico is just and how it relates to Manifest Destiny?
Adapted from CONGRESSIONAL GLOBE, 30th Cong., 1st Sess. 64 (1847) (emphasis in original). The text of these
resolutions is available at http://www.sewanee.edu/faculty/Willis/Civil_War/documents/LincolnSpot.html
Whereas, The President of the United States, in his message of May 11, 1846, has declared that "the Mexican Government not only refused to receive him [the envoy of the United States], or to listen to his propositions, but, after a long-continued series of menaces, has at last invaded our territory and shed the blood of our fellow-citizens on our own soil."
And again, in his message of December 8, 1846 [in his State of the Union Address], that "we had ample cause of war against Mexico long before the breaking out of hostilities; but even then we forbore to take redress into our own hands until Mexico herself became the aggressor, by invading our soil in hostile array, and shedding the blood of our citizens."
And whereas, This House is desirous to obtain a full knowledge of all the facts which go to establish whether the particular spot on which the blood of our citizens was so shed was or was not at that time our own soil; therefore,
The House of Representatives is seeking more information regarding the start of the War with Mexico and would like answer to the following:
The ultimate question that should be addressed is whether or not the current war with Mexico is just and how it relates to Manifest Destiny?
Adapted from CONGRESSIONAL GLOBE, 30th Cong., 1st Sess. 64 (1847) (emphasis in original). The text of these
resolutions is available at http://www.sewanee.edu/faculty/Willis/Civil_War/documents/LincolnSpot.html