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Cobb, Howell : The War with Mexico. Speech of Mr. Howell Cobb, of Georgia, in the House of Representatives, Wednesday, February 2, 1848, On the Causes and the Conduct of the War with Mexico

Printed at the Congressional Globe Office, Washington, D.C.

Original publisher's beige paper wrappers. Text printed in black ink. No date, circa 1848. 5 3/4" x 9." Eight pages, complete. Pages are very clean and intact overall except for light age toning, moderate foxing, and some chipping and splitting along spine. A Very Good copy. A speech originally delivered before the United States House of Representatives on February 2, 1848 by Howell Cobb (1815-1868), an American politician. He was a Democrat. Cobb served as a U.S. Representative from Georgia from 1845-1851 and 1855-1857, the 40th Governor of Georgia from 1851-1853, and Speaker of the House from 1849-1851. Cobb was also one of the founders of the Confederacy. He was President of the Confederate States Provisional Congress from 1861-1862. In this speech, Cobb makes several arguments defending U.S. involvement in the Mexican-American War and President James K. Polk's role in the war. A majority of the Whigs, who controlled the House at the time, had stated the Mexican-American War "was unnecessarily and unconstitutionally started by the President of the United States," after Polk had ordered troops to the Rio Grande. Cobb argues that the Whigs are hypocritical in that they purportedly supported the annexation of Texas and acknowledged that such a maneuver by the U.S. would start a war with Mexico but are now decrying the war as unconstitutional. Much of Cobb's argument rests upon the assertion that Polk did not formally start the Mexican-American War and that tensions had existed long before Polk ordered troops from Corpus Christi to the Rio Grande. Cobb argues that Polk was justified in his actions due to Texas having already been annexed; (at least some) Whigs supporting the annexation in the past; Mexico rejecting John Slidell whom Polk had sent to negotiate and establish the Rio Grande as the southern border; Mexico overthrowing its own president, Jose Herrera, because he had approved of the U.S.'s annexation of Texas; and Polk following General Zachary Taylor's order to send troops to the Rio Grande should Slidell not be received by Mexico. Also included are counterarguments by a few of the Whigs, among which is their assertion that the annexation of Texas and the onset of the Mexican-American War are two different subjects.. Book. Book Condition: Very Good. Binding: Soft cover

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