Lincoln writes to Usher F. Linder, of Coles County, Illinois. Linder expressed concern about Lincoln's criticism of President James K. Polk's prosecution of the recently-ended war with Mexico. Linder suggested that some might equate criticism of the war with criticism of the soldiers, in particular, General Zachary Taylor. Lincoln disagrees, and argues, "There are in this H[ouse]. [of] R[epresentatives]. some more than forty members who support Genl. Taylor for the Presidency, every one of whom has voted that the war was 'unnecessarily and unconstitutionally commenced by the President' every one of whom has spoken to the same effect, who has spoken at all, and not one of whom supposes he thereby strips Genl. [Taylor] of any laurels." Abraham Lincoln to Usher F. Linder, 22 March 1848, CW, 1:457-58.