Wednesday, Feb. 17, 2010

A twist in time: "Spotty" Changed His Tune

In 1846, as Manifest Destiny swept the land, the United States and Mexico locked horns over Texas. President Polk asked Congress for a Declaration of War, and the people's representatives responded overwhelming in the affirmative--but not unanimously. One skinny, single term Congressman from the Mid-West would not join the crowd, and he would not hold his tongue.

The trouble began in early 1846. The United States had just annexed Texas; an act that Mexico had warned would lead to war. Both nations moved their troops toward the border, but the problem was that each side had its own idea as to just where that border was located. Mexico said it was the Nueces River, while the United States claimed the land west of that, all the way to the Rio Grande.

On April 25, 1846, Mexican troops moved east across the Rio Grande and engaged American troops in the disputed area. Sixteen U.S. soldiers were either killed or wounded. An outraged President Polk told Congress that "American blood had been spilled on American soil," and he demanded a Declaration of War. Congress assented, but not before that gangling, rough-featured Whig Congressman rose to inquire as to the precise location of the "spot" on which American blood had been spilled.

The Congressman introduced resolution after resolution that requested information on exactly where the first shots were fired. Obviously he was not ready to include the disputed territory between the Rio Grande and the Nueces Rivers as "American soil." The man pushed his "spot" resolutions with such persistence that he quickly acquired the nickname, "Spotty."

Unfortunately for Mexico, the rest of the United States did not go along with "Spotty." U.S. troops rolled over the Mexican army, and by 1848, set the stage for the acquisition of the Mexican Cession, which included not only the disputed territory between the Rio Grande and Nueces Rivers, but California, Arizona, New Mexico, Nevada, and parts of Colorado as well.

And what about "Spotty?" Well, he did his best to prevent the war with Mexico, but in the end the people went against him. They voted him out of office at the next election, and with that Abraham Lincoln bid Washington D. C. goodbye.

You see, "Spotty" that young congressman was none other than our 16th President. In a conflicting twist in time, the man who vigorously opposed the war with Mexico had no trouble leading the country in another war when he thought the survival of his country was at stake.