On the 13th May, 1846, Congress voted that " By the act of the Bejmblic of Mexico, war existed between that RepubUc and the United States." On the 31st January, 1848, a new House of Representatives voted, that this same war was " unconstitutionally and unnecessarily begun by the President of the United States." In the affirmative of this latter vote, we find recorded the names of fifteen. Whig Members who had belonged to the late house, and whose names are also recorded in the {affirma- tive of the former vote. The last declaration, however truthful, was no doubt considered equally good policy with the first, inasmuch as a presidential election was approaching, and it was expedient to throw odium on the rival party, and on Mr. Polk its acknowledged head.
One of the gentlemen who voted for hoth declarations thus expressed his opinion of this self-same war : " En- tertaining these views upon the origin and purposes of the war, I can consider it in no other fight than as a NATIONAL CRIME ; but, independent of this, it is an of- fence against the moral spirit of our time, a retrograde step in the movement of humanity, a violent wresting of our national energy and national resources, to unnatural and mischievous uses. I lave no desire that a single Mexican wife should be made a widow, a single Mexican child an orphan ; and I would rather that my country should sit down in Ronest shame, than purchase, at the price of rapine, and tears, and blood, the ' unjust glory ' of waving her flag over all the wide continent that stretches between the stormy Atlantic and the shores of the tranquil sea ' One murder makes a villain, thousands a hero.' " A Httle timely reflection might have warned this gen- tleman that the fifty thousand troops he voted to place under the orders of Mr. Polk to prosecute " a n{:itional crime," might peradventure cause many Mexican widows and orphans, acquire by conquest "unjust glory," and make more than one " hero."