During the debate in congress over president polk's requested congressional declaration of war against mexico, the polk administration was frequently called on by to respond to "spot resolutions", demanding to know where american blood had been shed to provoke the war.

The appropriate response is Abraham Lincoln. Abraham Lincoln picked up reputation when he lashed out against the Mexican War, calling it corrupt, proslavery, and a danger to the country's republican esteems. President James K. Polk had called for war, blaming Mexico for shedding of "American blood on American soil." Lincoln reacted by presenting a progression of resolutions requesting to know the "specific spot of soil on which the blood of our nationals was so shed." One of Lincoln's constituents marked him "the Benedict Arnold of our region," and he was denied renomination by his own particular gathering.