Lynchburg Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1829-185?, 1846-06-15
GEN GAINES AND TIE PRESIDENT


We mentioned in our last HAT Gen. Gaines mad been
removed by The President as commander Of the Western
Division of The Army of the united States, and ordered
to repair immediately to Washington to answer for his
acts. In another column viii be found the Message Of
the President. We publisi, also, another piece which
shows that jackson under sinilar circumstances pursued
alike course. The great error in Mr.. Polk was giving
orders To Gen. Taylor, a subalrer9 of G n. Gaines, a
right far above and independent of the old veteran, IN
the military division which we had put under the cons
troll of Gen. Gaines. l. shows that the President had
M, confidence in him and # that was the case, he
should have removed hun, and not treated him with
such marked discourtesy as to give u junior officer pow
rs above him. BY this it will be seen Gen. Gaines
has great reason To complain of this treatment.
No doubt This attack upon Gen. Gaines is made to d.
vert attack from the ~culpsble neglect Of the President
and the War Department. We give some items below
goin! to show the neglect of the War Department
Gen. Cass, We see, says in substance that General
Gaines has " asied something like 81 100000 Ga mil
IUn) Perhaps sl,-bnt a great deal oi mnuey was nos
crssary t, be wasted liz a hurried attempt 10 rescue our
llle army, whnm the administration had prrclpitated
upm The Ro Grande, without Preparations for reinforce
inpnis. without supplies, m1riafs, or proper weapons of
rar,-wlthuut steamboats,, magazines. or anything of
that sort. G-n. Gaines was necessarily c ~r,pelled. by
the omissions OF the administration, 10 act in a hurry,
and wilhou' reference To expense. Il was the duly of
the g%nveinment 10 provide every Thing beforehand, whea
Gen. Taylor was ordered 10 The Rio Crande. but this
duty Mr.. Polk aud Mr.. Marcy omitted TO do. Well
d,es the New Orleans Ifopic say
'Du we not all know that the General Government
never Appropriated one pIcayune. by way of provision,
To render ,quisilions available? Where was The money
the subjects of those acquisitions to equip them, to the
theatre of war; The Narinnal Government never pro-
rdsd a cent Tor these most neces AIRY purposes. Like
an lmpoverlstltd knave, thfy drew the draft without
ihlnking OF providing funds to meet II. Did they ex-
poet ii would he accepted, after the ignomInious negli,
gpnce will, which they refused To pay the volunteers of
last SUMMER Fortunately. how ever, 1t WAS accepted
Noble Louisiana came lorxarJ at once, and generously
made amends Tor the lnprnvidence of the authorities at
Washington. Like The Pelican rpon her coat vi arms,
The ~ mbul Of her self sacrifice. she drew from her own
hs,m the blood which was to sustain the life nf others.
Il was the Two hundred and fifty Thousand dollars voted
a once fro n her own Treasury That relieved the exigen-
cy oi the crisis, and rendered available, 50 far as Ioul-
3slana was concerned. the o,herw isr puWerIess rrqnlsItiur
provided by The Executive of the Uulon.'
The New Orleans correspondent of the Courier thu.
writes Of the bad management of The Guvernment.-
"Would you believe II, that up to the mail of ,o>day
mclnsi We, the Z ,arternas.er General Of this place /.
SILL without funds, aud The treasury with 6 or $500,
uO laying To lis credit IN the deIosIIs banks OF this cll,l
The Stale has ALREADY advanced $3.50 600. The banks
on their own espmslbIllly, and without any securu,
have advanced largely. Large amounts are due by The
S"'NIhdh'eI, all o'tI ~ CITY, lUT supplies oil every
KIND tha, have been purchased, not only Tor the yoInn
rtrs. but also for the regular army. for which he is una
We 10 pay, and without all lhcse aids and means nothing
Gould have been dune 10 reinforce Gen. ra,lar. or ever
10 srnd HIM supplies; and yet, though they bad know
" "ash'hp'oh tor sone eight or ten days oi the crisis
"a' MAD occurred, and the eNcr IONS that were making
"'p' 'ilS criminal neglect is exhibited as to placing
ma"s al The disposal ot the proper officers, which they
"os. nave known could he 50 vitality necessary. Is i
r'''o'e That The President will be able TO retain NJ.
marcy al The head Of he War Department, after thu
%f, want OF knowledge. energy and ability that he ha
1""ay'n' nom The very commencement oil the military
hen,ln ~
Inc New Orleans Bee is very severe upon The Secre
l'" Warrior wha, I, calls his "gralni!ous and wan,ol
"u"' offered III General Gaines, in enclosing to hin
oiank envelope HE letters to Governors of Certain
o'"'' conn,ernandine some Of his acquisitions. Tn
Bee says
."s hna' achievement is a fitting cope stone to til
suie oi his repuiatIon-a brilliant feat in admirabl
p"g with his splendid and useful career. Truly
,,,ha'r. hagnanimou5 and high, handed in this las
hr%' Ihe lnsuipncp Of office never conceived or pro
vnm9 a inner opportunity fur putting a gross lndlgnli,
!" "ave and chlvalrous soldier"
"s 'earn from lfe Baltimore Pairiol that Gen. Game
l." ""0cn' his defenders and supporters in what h.
~ ''ae' IN the seua's On Friday, Senators Of bot