which some
seventeen were killed and wounded, the Americans were surrounded,
and compelled to surrender. When intelligence of this affair
reached the United States, the war-spirit rose high among the
people. "Our country has been invaded," and "American blood spilled
on American soil," were the cries heard on every side. In the very
height of this first excitement, without waiting to know whether
the Mexican Government would avow or disavow the hostile act,
President Polk, on the 11th of May, sent a most aggressive message
to Congress, "invoking its prompt action to recognize the existence
of war, and to place at the disposition of the Executive the means
of prosecuting the contest with vigor, and thus hastening the
restoration of peace." As soon as the message was read in the
House, a bill was introduced authorizing the President to call out
a force of fifty thousand men, and giving him all the requisite
power to organize, arm, and equip them. The preamble declared that
"war existed by the act of Mexico," and this gave rise to an animated
and somewhat angry discussion. The Whigs felt that they were placed
in an embarrassing attitude. They must either vote for what they
did not believe, or, by voting against the bill, incur the odium
which always attaches to the party that fails by a hair's-breadth
to come to the defense of the country when war is imminent.

Prominent Whigs believed, that, as an historical and geographical
fact, the river Nueces was the western boundary of Texas, and that
the President, by assuming the responsibility of sending an army
of occupation into the country west of that river, pending negotiations
with Mexico, had taken a hostile and indefensible step. But all
agreed that it was too late to consider any thing except the honor
of the country, now that actual hostilities had begun. The position
of the Whigs was as clearly defined by their speakers as was
practicable in the brief space allowed for discussion of the war
bill. Against the protest of many, it was forced to a vote, after
a two hours' debate. The administration expected the declaration
to be unanimous; but there were fourteen members of the House who
accepted the responsibility of defying the war feeling of the
country by voting "no"--an act which required no small degree of
moral courage and personal independence. John Quincy Adams headed
the list. The other gentlemen were all Northern Whigs, or pronounced
Free-Soilers