On December 22, 1847, President Polk requested possible resolutions on dealing with the Mexican War; Congressman Lincoln's resolutions were offered to the President. Lincoln suggested for President Polk to provide Congress with the exact (or "spot") location where American blood had been split and that was so to determine whether the U.S. should declare war or not. Lincoln's resolutions were a direct challenge to the power of the president's words, and it started a constant political power struggle between Whigs and Democrats. Lincoln, in this case, is in exactly the same position Senator Goldwater is in. Senator Goldwater also suggested a resolution to the President Johnson which did in fact stir conflict between the indecisive Republicans and Democratics.
