It is a fact that when the Mexicans captured Captain Thornton
and his command, they found and captured them within another Mexican
field.
Now I wish to bring these facts to your notice, and to ascertain what is
the result of your reflections upon them. If you deny that they are
facts, I think I can furnish proofs which shall convince you that you are
mistaken. If you admit that they are facts, then I shall be obliged for a
reference to any law of language, law of States, law of nations, law of
morals, law of religions, any law, human or divine, in which an authority
can be found for saying those facts constitute "no aggression."
Possibly you consider those acts too small for notice. Would you venture
to so consider them had they been committed by any nation on earth
against the humblest of our people? I know you would not. Then I ask, is
the precept "Whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so
to them" obsolete? of no force? of no application?
Yours truly,
A. LINCOLN.
ON ZACHARY TAYLOR NOMINATION
TO ARCHIBALD WILLIAMS.
WASHINGTON, June 12, 1848.
DEAR WILLIAMS:--On my return from Philadelphia, where I had been
attending the nomination of "Old Rough," (Zachary Taylor) I found your
letter in a mass of others which had accumulated in my absence.
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