Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1846-08-07
Correspondence Of The .Nm(oK Beaeo. !

Correspondence ~ nc .NOfj0iF beacon
OLD PoIST, August 3rj, 1916.
Gcntiemen, AT an early hour this morning the
"onIl Of Enquiry was densely crowed by visitors
ol both sexes, eager 10 hear The justification and
defence Of he old war worn veteran, Gent Gaines,
who, rumor had il, and truly too was 10 submit
10 The Court plain and unvarnished statement OF
all facts connected with The enquiries now being
Instituted by The Court convened at this station. At
The usual hour the Court wes opened, but Gen. G.
no, being in readiness, the Court INDUCED him un-
ill l2t o'clock, at which hour, in obedience 10 lis
summons, The General made his appearance ac-
companed by his aid, Lieut.. Calhoun, The son Of
Hon. J. Z. Calhoun.
The proceedings of the last day having been
read Gen. &. rendered an apology for the delay
occasioncd 10 the Coun, remarking that "his Ell
fort had been, net 10 see how many pages lie
could prepare in his justification, bu, how few"
With This apology he proceeded 10 rema!k-'ihat
il had been his purpose 10 prepare an elaborate
statement oi all the facts and issues involved in
This investigation, and 10 invoke testimony Of line
mos, distinguished character from Louisiana and
other places in his justificaiIon-but lha, he had
changed his purpose in that particular. That in
the step. he had taken in reference 10 this whole
matter, he had sought and held conferences with
many Of The NEST prominent and distinguished
men of the Southland he avowe that in an OF.
fetal intercourse OF 30 years DURATION amid his
hest efforts 10 defend the country, promptly and
ably snsa Ded as they had been, he never had met
more cordial cooperation than in Inc present in
stance. That being in The office OF the Governor
Of Louisiana Just few minutes after The recep-
ton OF Gen. TayloI'> report, that lunc,ionary
promptly communicated with the Legislature,
who Immediately appropriated S200.0G0, and or
dered $4,000 volunteers 10 be raised. That such
Governor and such 4 Legislature, inspired BY
the recoections Of the last war, were fit and
appropriate persons TO put the ball in mo-
ton That being cordially aided by him
and them in his efforts 10 rise and or
sanize The Regiment proposed by hint was
his intention 10 prepare, as already stated an
elaborate justification, and 10 introduce The Co
vernon and Legislature as wiinesscs-but re-
Numbering that he had with him the vote OF
thanks OF The Legislature, communicated hy the
Governor he adiudged such effort wholly unne-
cessary. At his instance, the Recorder here read
| the Resolutions referred to; which resolutions,
| although in 4 painted ioim, would be avowcd by
! the Governor and Legislature il they were pre-
| SENT hu, Ta' beng present, II tier aenuIEeness
were questioned b. the Conr he lad in his pos
session the original manuscript communicated
/ by the Governor and which ne would take es-
! recial pleasure i'll exhibiting IL The Court Hav-
| inc :ae' his conduct was approved by HE Lee
| gisaiure OF Louisiana, and thousands Of the most
intelligent citizens OF The South, he remarked that
he would now, III the most concise manner pos
sbe, revert To The occurrences which lranspired
after his leaving New Orleans. That having re-
ceived an order from The President Of the United
States, on The 10Th June, 10 report himself in
Washington, lie accordingly, on The next day, en-
barked lhilher, via Mobile, where he had duties
10 discharge, &c. THAI on his arrival al Mobile,
he was called on By Gov Chambers and no
lifted that Two Regiments which had been
formed, &C., were in state Of disorder. in con-
sequence Of being Commanded by officers Of
equal grade neither one coaceding The superior
lis OF The other, and being informed ~ lhc Cav
| ernor that some Steps must bc taken 10 remedy
the evil he appointed Gen. w. Smith, he Brig
| adler General, 10 lake The command o The Two
| regiments. Gen. Smith he knew well, and knew
him 10 be a talented and merilorious officer; that
he performed this duty without any delay; iha;
he had the right 10 perform il, not being under ar
resi-, his sword not having been taken away from
him. Il was true, that he had leen told that &C.
neral Brooke was 10 lake The command, but Gen
| Brooke was enc thousand miles uh. he did il,
| upon the principle of meeting 10 enemy, who
was atou, 10 attack The city; il The city we're al
Tackled. notwithstanding his oders 10 goio Wash
inglon, he mad but one couisc 10 pursue, and that
was, 10 meet the enemy, and beat him and To save
! The city. Suppose he were 10 abandon the city
10 lis iaie-aEd assign, as the reason, that he
| had orders 10 go 10 Washington would he not
be running away from duty, and incur thereby
disgrace? Could he quit Mobile under such
circumstances, especially when il was III his
| power 10 say 10 a suitable officer, lake The COM
mand correct The disorder and proceed lo. The seat
OF war, where your services are necded2 To his
aid who acted as Assistant Adjulanl General, he
would refer Tor a iull corroboration OF this whole
matter.
He remarked lha! he was pleased, As il was in
his power 10 save The Court and himself The trou-
Tic OF their hearing and his reading twenty pages
which he had written 10 show what he designed
/ 10 subSaHiale by the witnesses from New Or
leans, as ne found an'ex;raei in he printed docp-
ment which saved them aud him The necessity Of
| going over that ground that document was a
letter from Washington, dated War Department,
2eh August, lSi5-in which the statement is
made, that requisilions Tor troops upon The Co
vernors OF the several States is vested only in the
President, and restricted alone 10 hinl-c1oePt in
two or three speclh, caseS-casts all 10 whlcn
the emergency must be great, the peril immi-
| nenl 10 the country" Thai his acquisitions Tor
troops was in accordance with The principle dis
closed that Gen. Taylor and his army were in
circumstances oil extreme peril and OF imminent
danger-was fact loo palpable 10 be controveri-
ed-a TACT which can he at!esed By thousands OF
our most intelligent citizens, both in Louisiana
and Texas-ana laci believed BY the President
himself, and by the National Congress, as is
clearly deducibie from The prompt measure re-
commended BY him. and by them adopted as soon
As Gen. Taylur's eYigences were known. Hay-
ing sTeai reason 10 app!ehend iha, by delay Of
ten days even, Taylor and his arms might be cut
| off BY the Mexican e-niorcemen.s-lhc emer-
eeucy contemplated By The War Department ac-
tnaily existed, and although he did not make re-
QUESTIONS for troops, he nevertheless ccnmunica-
ted 20 the Governor the facts ~ The case and in