In the great joint debate in 1858 he spoke of Lincoln's having "distinguished himself in Congress by his opposition to the Mexican War, taking the side of the common enemy against his own country." No better refutation of these oft-repeated charges could be made than that given by Lincoln himself on this occasion.

"The Judge charges me," he said, "with having, while in Congress, opposed our soldiers who were fighting in the Mexican War.

I will tell you what he can prove by referring to the record.

You remember I was an old Whig; and whenever the Democratic party tried to get me to vote that _the war had been righteously begun_ by the President, I would not do it.

But whenever they asked for any money or land-warrants, or anything to pay the soldiers, I gave _the same vote that Judge Douglas did_.