In 1846 President James Polk declared war on Mexico. He claimed that Mexico invaded and killed American citizens on American soil. The problem was that the land in question was just that in question, between the two countries. What Polk wanted was more land, land to the west that Mexico claimed. Recently Texas had joined the United States, angering Mexico.
Lincoln was a new congressman at the time. He spoke out against Polk and the war. For his troubles he was branded a traitor by some. Most of the country was behind Polk and the war was popular. Lincoln went on to assure the populace that he did not habor ill feelings towards the soliders fighting the war, just those that instigated the war.
To let Polk go without questioning was "to allow the President to invade a neighboring nation...whenever he may choose to say he deems it necassary."
If Lincoln was alive today I'm sure he would be branded a traitor by Bush and his ilk, in opposition to the Patriotic Act and the War In Iraq. It's always difficult to guess what someone would say years later after they are dead and no longer around to clarify their statements, but read what you will in Lincoln's statements.
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