Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1846-05-19
MON ID, VA.
Tuesday Morning, May 10, 1916.

Tuesday Morning, May 10, 1916.
We had hoped that the news received on "a
,urday Of the defeat OF the Texas Rangers, uhue.
The intrepid Capt Walker, would have produceu
in the bosom of no man any other feeling 'han
sorrow for the fate OF the brave fellows, and anx-
Jew for the threatened safety OF Point Isabel
Bulwe were disappointed. The following article
in Yesterday Republican shows that that paper
seized The melancholy intelligence as flt subject
for coarse testing and unjust assaults upon Inc
American Government:
"Bv the Southern mail OF Saturday, We learn
ed that Capt. Walkers company OF IS men, VINO
had volunteered and were on their way TO JON
Gen. Taylor, had been cut 10 pieces The captain
and four men only surviving 10 arrive al Poiht
| isabel These are the ripe fruits of that stupid
military order which sent Genera Taylor 10 me
banks of the Rio Grande, 10 plant his cannon IN
the very suburbs OF a Mexican city, without any
reserve or rear support, with nothing 10 iai. uscA
upon, and with no safe means oil communicative
from any source OF supplies OF men ana pioyi'
| sions. As a specimen OF generaiship, II entities
The Duck River Colonel 10 a second term as com
mander-in.chier of The land and naval forces OF
| he JJniled States and as 10 Mr.. Secretary OF
war Marcy he deserves the distinction oil having
at least a new pair OF breeches in addition 10
having the old ones patched.
"ltis true il NAV be said that no one thought
| Gen. TavIor's position - hazardous, nhlii iac's
| demonstrated il 10 be so.-Bu the ready answer
! is that people al large gave no thought and MAD
no reason TO think anything about military posi-,
lions. They expected all The consideration, ana
care, and skill necessary, from those 10 ~hom
these matters are confded, and TO whom the duty
of military vigilance and presclence justly De-
longs. II was the duty OF The military secretary
10 have advised al least with the head OF the army
(Which il seemed he did not do,) as 10 The nature
and prospects OF such movement. But The al
suhciencv OF our administration is not among The
least ridiculous or most hurtinl OF lis qualities.
! The truth is, Gen Scott would have dlscontenan-
ced the movement. an! that did not suit our Duck
river Colonel OF militia He goes upon The max
inn Of the immortal Sam Patch The world
shall see that some things can be done as we'll as
0tierS
Can any object Of party justify such comments!
AT lime when our fellowcilizens are coming
forward and Offering their services 10 the Execu-
tive, what excuse can there be in party journal
attempting to run down our own Government IN
The ewes of the peope2 II such assaults have
anv influence with its own party friends, u ~
making them believe that The President anc the
Secretary OF War are such contsmpoe perso-
nases as the Republican strives 10 make them
out, will mol this party movement have the natu-
raj effect Of cooling The patriotic ardor OF those
who have volunteered their services in the cause
OF their country? All must admit the mischief
and injustice OF such proceedng-all mn''
condemn such ill-limed jesls and attempts al
ridcue, when war is raging on our frontier,
and when it is OF vital importance that party
should sleep, and that every heart should beat
with patriotic emotions for the cause. al the
present moment, TO ridicue and assail the 60
vernment who have the deslinies OF the nailon ~
lis hands, is but little better than 10 damp The ar
dor OF The people, and cripple the power OF The
nation. When our gallant soldiers shall have
achieved a glorious victory, and wnen peace
once more reisnS throughout the land, party
journals and orators may arragn the Admins
tralion, and the nation will pass Judgment But
| il is far from patriotic course 10 condemn Inc
Executive al this time, when all its energies and
moral force are required 10 bring the war 10
| speedy and satisfactory termination.
and unioundcd charges brought by The RepuOll-
can against the administration. When the facts
shall have been weighed by the people, we ieel
convinced that they will triuuphantly sustain me
Executive for what is now denounced by The wing
press as an objectionable sin, VIZ The moving
the army 10 the Rio Gfande. A few words will
be sufficient 10 blow up this Wing bubble.
For fifteen years We have submitted TO every
species of ndignity and insult on the part OF Mex-
co. The lawful claims Of our citizens have been
repudia,ed and some Of our citizens have been
actually incarcerated Mexico has wanonly VI
elated her treaty s,puatons. She has driven
one of our ministers out Of The country and re-
fused 10 receive another, though she had thereto
solemnly pledged her faith. We bore all these
insults and injuries with remarkable forbearance
and charity Conscious Of our own strength and
right on our side, we have conceded much 10 her
weakness and imbeciliiy. Bun when this last and
crowning insult was offered 10 us-when orr own
ambassador, who had been BY herself invited 10
negotiate, was Indignantly refused, moment had
arrived for decided, yet cama moderate action
Nst until the rejection OF MIR. Slidel lid The Anne
rican army take up lis position upon our own
territory, on the banks Of The Rio Grande-and
then with strict orders 10 make no attack upon
Mexican soil, bu, simply 10 project our own from
invasion. Mexico had al divers times put forth
the most violent proclamations OF her intention TO
cross the river and win back, by blood, The whole
of Texas, which had been, as she said, SO wrong
fully wresed from her. Was it not our dny,
then. 10 march up 10 the very line OF our boun-
dary, and defend our soil and The lives and pro-
perry Of the people OF Texas, our own leow-eiti-
zens7 Suppose The President had, after all the
threats and movements OF Mexico, kept The army
ouie, and had allowed the Mexican forces 10
overrun and take possession Of the Texan soil,
would mol the Wing press have poured out cease
less denuncalons Of his want ofenergy and fore
sigh, He could do nothing else but order the
army 10 the Rio Grande, there TO remain al
| peace and in quiet to make no attack upon the
soil or The citizens Of Mexico, but solely 10 guard
our own from invasion. Can any one blame
him for thus having discharged his simple duty7
But, say the Wing presses, he deserves reproba-
lion for niaIchiug SO small an army and placing
il in 80 unfortunate a position. Not only HE
Secretary Of War, but Gen. Taylor himself con-
sidered the force sufficient for the purposes intend
ed-and SO we'll satisfied was Gen. Worth, one Of
the mos, intelligent and skilu officers OF our ar
my, that the army was safe, that only few days
before the commencement of hostities, he eittor
Washington city, sanguine that all was right
Moreover, 10 make assurance doubly sure, The
President fully authorized Gen. Taylor TO make
reaui,ion upon The adjoining States for volun-
teers, provided he found that the force under his
command was insufficient to protect our own
soil. Had he at once ordered 10 the Rio Grande
a large force, say 10000 men, how loudly and
violently would he have been assailed by IN.
Wing presses for his folly and extravaganza, and
for the basest personal motives, 10 be attained BY
| 6er,o "A Cd Tale n in any vipU