 During Briggs ' time as governor , abolitionist activists continued to make inroads against both the Whigs and Democrats , primarily making common cause with the Democrats against the dominant Whigs . Briggs ' stance as a Cotton Whig put him in opposition to these forces . He opposed the Mexican @-@ American War , but acceded to federal demands that the states assist in raising troops for the war , earning the wrath of activist Wendell Phillips . He did promote other types of reform , supporting Horace Mann in his activities to improve education in the state . 
 During Briggs <a href='null_genetive' title='1'><mark>'</mark></a>time as governor , abolitionist activists continued to make inroads against both the Whigs and Democrats , primarily making common cause with the Democrats against the dominant Whigs . Briggs <a href='null_genetive' title='2'><mark>'</mark></a>stance as a Cotton Whig put him in opposition to these forces . He opposed the Mexican @-@ American War , but acceded to federal demands <a href='null_relcl' title='3'><mark>that</mark></a>the states assist in raising troops for the war , earning the wrath of activist Wendell Phillips . He did promote other types of reform , supporting Horace Mann in his activities to improve education in the state . 
During Briggs  time as governor , abolitionist activists continued to make inroads against both da Whigs and Democrats , primarily making common cus with the Democrats against tdadominant Whigs . Briggs  stance as a Cotton Whig put him in opposition to dem forces . He opposed the Mexican @-@ American War , but acceded to federal demands the states assist in raising troops for the war , earning thdarath of activist Wendell Phillips . He did promote other types of reform , supporting Horace Mann in his activities to improve education in the state .