The Civil War Presidents: Abraham Lincoln (Part 1: Congressman Lincoln)
Abraham Lincoln only held federal elected office once before becoming President. He was a member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Illinois's 7th district from March 4, 1847 to March 4, 1849. During that two year span, Lincoln was the only Whig from Illinois, and during that time he voted along his party line. While in Congress, Lincoln demonstrated his opposition to slavery. In collaboration with abolitionist Congressman Joshua R. Giddings, Lincoln wrote a bill to abolish slavery in the District of Columbia with compensation for the owners, enforcement to capture fugitive slaves, and a popular vote on the matter. But the bill failed to attract sufficient support within Lincoln's own party, and he abandoned the bill.
Lincoln spoke out against the Mexican–American War. He colorfully described the war as being a part of President James K. Polk's desire for "military glory, that attractive rainbow, that rises in showers of blood". Lincoln also supported the Wilmot Proviso, which, if it had been adopted, would have banned slavery in any U.S. territory won from Mexico. He became famous for his "Spot Resolutions" in which Lincoln challenged the notion that the war had begun with a Mexican attack on American soldiers on American soil, when the location of the first combat occurred on territory disputed by Mexico and the U.S. Polk had insisted that Mexican soldiers had "invaded our territory and shed the blood of our fellow citizens on our own soil" and in response, Lincoln demanded that Polk show Congress the exact spot on which blood had been shed and prove that the spot was on American soil. In Lincoln's view, the war was being fought for the purpose of acquiring more territory in which slavery could be practiced.
Congress never passes or even debated the resolution and the national papers ignored it. The only place it seemed to matter was within Lincoln's own district, where he lost political support. One Illinois newspaper gave him the nickname "spotty Lincoln".
Lincoln had been a strong supporter of Whig icon Henry Clay, but in 1848 he realized that Clay was unlikely to win the presidency. Lincoln supported General Zachary Taylor for the Whig nomination in the 1848 presidential election. Taylor won and Lincoln hoped to be appointed Commissioner of the General Land Office, a lucrative patronage job. But Taylor appointed one of Lincoln's Illinois rivals, Justin Butterfield, to that position. The administration offered him the position of secretary or governor of the Oregon Territory instead. This was a distant territory which was a Democratic stronghold. Lincoln assessed, probably correctly, that acceptance of the post would have mean the end of his legal and political career in Illinois, so he declined and returned to his law practice. He had previously pledged to sit only one term in Congress, and did not seek re-election in 1848. Because his stance on the Mexican War had cost him some of his popularity, it is unlikely that he would have won re-election.
Lincoln would next be heard from on the issue of slavery when the Compromise of 1850 was being debated.
Lincoln spoke out against the Mexican–American War. He colorfully described the war as being a part of President James K. Polk's desire for "military glory, that attractive rainbow, that rises in showers of blood". Lincoln also supported the Wilmot Proviso, which, if it had been adopted, would have banned slavery in any U.S. territory won from Mexico. He became famous for his "Spot Resolutions" in which Lincoln challenged the notion that the war had begun with a Mexican attack on American soldiers on American soil, when the location of the first combat occurred on territory disputed by Mexico and the U.S. Polk had insisted that Mexican soldiers had "invaded our territory and shed the blood of our fellow citizens on our own soil" and in response, Lincoln demanded that Polk show Congress the exact spot on which blood had been shed and prove that the spot was on American soil. In Lincoln's view, the war was being fought for the purpose of acquiring more territory in which slavery could be practiced.
Congress never passes or even debated the resolution and the national papers ignored it. The only place it seemed to matter was within Lincoln's own district, where he lost political support. One Illinois newspaper gave him the nickname "spotty Lincoln".
Lincoln had been a strong supporter of Whig icon Henry Clay, but in 1848 he realized that Clay was unlikely to win the presidency. Lincoln supported General Zachary Taylor for the Whig nomination in the 1848 presidential election. Taylor won and Lincoln hoped to be appointed Commissioner of the General Land Office, a lucrative patronage job. But Taylor appointed one of Lincoln's Illinois rivals, Justin Butterfield, to that position. The administration offered him the position of secretary or governor of the Oregon Territory instead. This was a distant territory which was a Democratic stronghold. Lincoln assessed, probably correctly, that acceptance of the post would have mean the end of his legal and political career in Illinois, so he declined and returned to his law practice. He had previously pledged to sit only one term in Congress, and did not seek re-election in 1848. Because his stance on the Mexican War had cost him some of his popularity, it is unlikely that he would have won re-election.
Lincoln would next be heard from on the issue of slavery when the Compromise of 1850 was being debated.