If you wish a full understanding of the war, I repeat what I believe I
said to you in a letter once before, that the whole, or nearly so, is to
be found in the speech of Dixon of Connecticut. This I sent you in
pamphlet as well as in the Globe. Examine and study every sentence of
that speech thoroughly, and you will understand the whole subject. You
ask how Congress came to declare that war had existed by the act of
Mexico. Is it possible you don't understand that yet? You have at least
twenty speeches in your possession that fully explain it. I will,
however, try it once more. The news reached Washington of the
commencement of hostilities on the Rio Grande, and of the great peril of
General Taylor's army. Everybody, Whigs and Democrats, was for sending
them aid, in men and money. It was necessary to pass a bill for this. The
Locos had a majority in both houses, and they brought in a bill with a
preamble saying: Whereas, War exists by the act of Mexico, therefore we
send General Taylor money. The Whigs moved to strike out the preamble, so
that they could vote to send the men and money, without saying anything
about how the war commenced; but being in the minority, they were voted
down, and the preamble was retained.
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