Richmond daily Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1842-1861, 1846-06-13
Gen. Gaines.

We have read portion of the Correspondence
between Gen. Gaines and the War Department,
which dates back as far as June ls45. About
that time il will be remembered there was some
thing of a war panic in New Orleans and Gen.
Games, without authority so to do, at once made
a requisition upon the Governor OF Louisiana for
n large number of volunteers, portion OF which
were received into service, and marched 10 Cor
pus Christi, where they remained three months in
camp. This requisition, though unauthorized.
was nevertheless, to the extent that IT was com.
piled with, sanctioned by the Government; and
IL was doubtless persuasion, founded upon this
fact that "A similar course would be again sane
Toned, which induced Gen. Gaines few weeks
since. TO repeat the experiment OF making requ-
sitions upsn the Governors of Louisiana and the
adjoining States for large bodies OF troops, without
having been instructed so TO do, and going even
n step farther, of raising several regiments of vo-
lunteers on his own hook, and of usurping the
high prerogative of appointing the field and staff
officers to command them. Ii is impossible,
however, that such an assumption of authority on
his part, can be approved, although the patriotic
impulse by which it dictated may be appre-
cia,ed by all. Yet who does not see that the Ad-
bic for result which it could not but have fore.
seen, and against a repetition of which it ought to
have guarded II condemns Gen. Gaines now,
for repeating act, which, when previously
done, under far less critical circumstances, il had
ratified Was il not natural that he should ex-
pect 20 meet with the appreciation rather than the
censure o. the Government for his prompt and
energetic efforts to relieve Gen. Taylor, who was
known to he in front Of an enemy greatly supe-
rior in number, and threatening his extermina-
tion, when he had escaped censure heretofore, for
pursuing precisely the same course, under cir
cumstances far less exciting, and not demanding
movement so decisive and vigorous Not only
had the Government the most ample reason in.
terrible from the previous course of Gen. Gaines,
to anticipate a repetition of the prurent zeal he
had displayed on former occasion, but his let.
tiers to the Department, teeming with what the
Enquirer SO aptly styles his "scXegenaran eccen-
tricities," ought of themselves to have admonish-
ed thG Secretary Of War Of the propriety. at this
eventll period, OF placing the "Westcrn Military
Division" in which Texas is geographically EN-.
braced, under tire command OF an officer in whose
Judgment and discretion, as well as in whose va.
lor and PATRIOTISM he had the most unlimited con.
fdence. While, therefore, we cannot do other
wise than admit that Gen. Gaines has transcend
eel his authority by making acquisitions upon GER
tain Governors for quotas of militia, and by the
exercise of power with which even the President
could not invest him, of directing the organiza.
ton of volunteer regiments, and appointing the
officers to command them-whle we admit this.
we think it is not less apparent that the Admins
70 iubl 10 hot
must have done, it did not prevent these irregular
and expensive movements. We do not blame il
for ordering Gen. Gaines TO Washington now
but we do condemn it for permitting Gen. Gaines
long to occupy post, his incompetency to per-
form the duties of which, is tacItly confessed by
the letters of the Secretary of War depriving him
Of all control over the actions Of junior officer
operating within the limits of his Military Divi-
sion-indeed, placing Gen. Games, to some ex.
tent, uGder the control of Gen. Taylor, his Junior
in rank, by directing him to conform, in his off.
cial action, to the suggestions and acquisitions
that might be addressed TO him by that junior
Would this have been done, if the Administra-
lion had not been itself satisfied that to Gen.
Gaines discretion could not be safely confided
This delicate and responsible trust Why, then,
of the Western Military Division, while the Ad.
Innstration was so fully aPPrlsed of his previous
4'seHegenaran eccentrcities," and had every rea.
son to aPPrchend their repetition That is the
point to which the enquiry of the people will be
directed when the time for the decision of this
and other important points connected with the
Mexican war shall arrive.
For Zen. Gaines's gallant services during the
of 1919, il is impossible not to feel the warm.
est gratitude ADD even now, while Disappearing
aud regreing his recent course it is difficult to
reprcss feeling Of admiration at the zeal and en-.
ergy displayed by the veteran soldier whenever
the honor the character the rights Of his coun.
try are involved. His blood seems to course
through his veins with all the fire and rapidity If
youth, when he hears the blast Of the trumpet,
Or when he scents anger in the distant breeze -
and though now in his 69lh year, he demands Of
the War Department, as due 10 his rank the right
10 conduct our victorious army to the metropolis
Of Me1icoi
But his letters contain intrinsic evidence
that, however strong may be his pbysica
frame, and however able 10 bear the latgucs o.
au active campaign-points 10 which he refer
with marked complRcency--he is IN other re-
spocts not altogether qualified for that high and
responsible post. We regret, indeed, that por.
ton Of these letters, bearing very remotely on the
subject Of his recent conduct, have ever seen tn,
light, though we presume the Administration
deemed thcW publication necessary 10 is defence
A. portion Of the history Of the events Of III,
day, We wish TO publish the entire Conespon
dsneo though in truth, there is such a large pOr
lion u Il irrelevant and 80 much more that is un
interesting, that we feel reluctant to devote TO il
che requisite space. We shall probably hereafter
select from the Documents for publication sucl
portions Of them as may he necessary to a correct
knowledge q the transactions to which they re
late aud IN order to show the proPriety Of the pc
sitiop we have assumed, ia regard TO the mutua
ILL r A. A a r -