On the record
It was the spirit of enmity to the Union itself, and the emphatic demonstration of this feeling was the invasion of Mexico for the purpose of converting the republic by force into an empire.
Source
gutenberg.orgEditor's note · Context
Blaine identifies the invasion of Mexico as a demonstration of Europe's enmity towards the Union during the Civil War.
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In my judgment our sole authority for the acts which we have done during the last four years was the authority communicated to Congress by the Constitution to suppress insurrection.
Emboldened by the support of the National Administration, the Southern leaders believed that they could carry their designs through, and, instead of being restrained by the protest or the advice of Republicans, they chose with apparent…
Such an opportunity would have been a menace to the public credit, and would have proved a constant source of corruption.
Their success as civil magistrates, as legislators, as executives was not less marked and meritorious than their illustrious service in war.
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