4. We were sent to provoke a fight, but it was essential that Mexico should commence it [Mexico] has passed the boundary of the United States, has invaded our territory, and shed American blood upon the American soil

6. ARGUMENTS FOR EXPANSION ARGUMENTS AGAINST EXPANSION

7. “Unjust laws exist; shall we be content to obey them, or shall we endeavor to amend them, and obey them until we have succeeded, or shall we transgress them at once? Men generally, under such a government as this, think that they ought to wait until they have persuaded the majority to alter them. They think that, if they should resist, the remedy would be worse than the evil. But it is the fault of the government itself that the remedy is worse than the evil. It makes it worse. Why is it not more apt to anticipate and provide for reform? Why does it not cherish its wise minority? Why does it cry and resist before it is hurt? Why does it not encourage its citizens to be on the alert to point out its faults, and do better than it would have them?”

8. One of the most unjust [wars] ever waged by a stronger nation against a weaker nation.

9. Nor have we ever incorporated into the Union any but the Caucasian race. Ours is a government of the white man.

10. Rep. David Wilmot (D-PA) “[The Wilmot Proviso as if by magic, brought to a head the great question that is about to divide the American people”

11. The question whether or not there shall be slavery in the new territories…is a question between the grand body of white workingmen, the millions of mechanics, farmers, and operatives of our country, with their interests on the one side – and the interests of the few thousand rich, “polished,” and aristocratic owners of slaves at the South, on the other side. Experience has proved…that a stalwart mass of respectable workingmen, cannot exist, much less flourish, in a thorough slave State. Let any one think for a moment what a different appearance New York, Pennsylvania, or Ohio, would present – how much less sturdy independence and family happiness there would be – were slaves the workmen there, instead of each man as a general thing being his own workman… Slavery in a good thing enough…to the rich – the one out of thousands; but it is destructive to the dignity and independence of all who work, and to labor itself…All practice and theory…are strongly arrayed in favor of limiting slavery to where it already exists.