Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1846-06-13

due aprocedue that the President could not authorize He
perceived that of the objects Of the resolution in
qure into the necessity Of raising the He would proba-
Dry concur with the honorable member that the had
been called out they ought be paid Since that subject had
been incidentally called up he would direct the attention OF
Inc honorable members directly charged with the nan-
cal affairs OF the Government 10 the expense al
ready incurred by the military proceedings. He had taken
pains to make inquiry the proper sources and from
the best information he could Obtain he found that the militia
expenses OF the Government hardly less than half
/ million Of dollars per day
Mr. SEWER said he regretted very much that the resolution
had been introduced But result would follow and but
result was intended by censure of General Gaines II
had been said, in the course of the debate that if the Pes-
dent had done what General Gaines had done he would de-
to be mpeached General Gaines had been charged
with papabe violation of the law and yet Senators said that
they would not PREJUDICE his Well he, (Mr 81 &she
sal yosterda approved Of the conduct Of General aes
WHAT were the facts III relation to this matter Gen. Tay-
or was true had the power call apon the Governors Of
States for additional troops, retain his position upon
The klo Gande and yet, little calculation had he made
the strength OF the Mexican army that he came very los
ing the whole OF his oces relying upon the smaness of the
enemy's numbers; that well remember Well during
this particular PERIOD the country invaded the whole Amer
can army surrounded and cut off from its supplies General
Games proceeded to raise troops for the succor of the Ame
can army, and to them from the impending caam-
y Was that right Was he to wait till he commune
Gated with the authorities Washington some 500 or 800
miles distant
Mr. CAsS. Will the Senator permit me to remind him
that General Taylor had called for the assistance that he
wanted
Mr. SEWER. Was tnot the impression in New Orleans
that the army was in imminent danger He (Mr S.) APP
auded the conduct of General Gaines He was certainly far
more worthy OF applause than those generals who had re
manned at home, and, instead of meeting the enemy
quietly stationed within sound of his voice That old vote
ram when his country invaded had with prompt ZEAL
called these men to her defence without waiting for tedious
authority and instead Of censure deserved the lasting graft
ude of the nation He had heard good deal about General
Gaines Tor some time past and he must say that in his udg
ment he had hardly received fair Although the
superior Of General Taylor of the to the latter
had gone through his hands Instead of transmitting their
orders TO the senior the War Department had communicated
with the junior officer Was it. them remarkable that there
should be conflicts and cross purposes regard this natter
He thought not He wished know the object of the eso
luton. To remedy the law They had got no law. No
body pretended that The crisis peculiar one
like that in which Jackson acted and the country would APP
prove OF the manner in which General Gaines had met the
Crisis It would be from the public prints Of Louisiana
That public opinion had pronounced its judgment en-
phatlcaly IN favor Of General Gaines What had been the
result OF his conduct Why, the very men sent by him to
the relef OF General Taylor had manned Point Isabel and
enabled Taylor to encounter the enemy and the victories
| the fame OF which now rang throughout the land
Mr.. CASS said this entirely mistake.
Mr. SEWER said that in his State, in Kentucky,
Tennessee and indeed all the border States they had moi
had time to organize the forces called for by President
was only TO the timely sent by General Gaines that
General Taylor was indebted for the of maintaining his
position.
Mr.. MOREHEAD begged to ask the Senator a question
Was he to understand that portion Of the troops raised b.
Cen Gaines had been received by the President
Mr. SEWER replied in the affirmative and added that he
understood that they had arrived Point Isabel give
essential aid to Gen. Taylor.
Mr. CASS sadh could give some information on this point
Mr. SEWER hoped that he would give it now
Mr. CASS then handed the Senator an ex tract from the
letter OF the War Department to Gen. Gaines, informing him
that the Secretary Of War dsapproved call for several
regiments of mounted gunner, but approved his previous
QUESTIONS for volunteers reported the number which could
not he ascertaned with precision"
Mr.. MOREHEAD inquired the date Of that letter
Mr. SEWER replied the 18th of May, and then went on
to say that he very mucn dsiked to see, time like this
and without proper motives that be could discern call
for General Gainess presence here Without questioning
the disclaimers that had been made he (Mr s. must say
that IN his Judgment the only object appeared be
censure upon general for doing act which he (Mr 5
thought would be approved by every impartial man General
Games had acted promptly and that in important cr
sis, when prompttude essential He would detan
the Senate longer but they had gone into the subject he
would go into II fully, aud amend the proposition Of
the Senator from Michigan by adding il the following
solution
Resooed further, That the President be- requested TO fur
n's the Senate with any correspondence which have %
ken place between the Secretary Of War and Major General
Scott Of the United States Army upon the subject Of his tax
ing the command OF the Army OF Occupation the frontiers
of Texas
Mr. CAsS said he supposed the Senator from Arkansas did
not call in question what he had with reference to his
motives in offering thefesoluion.
Mr.. SEWER. Certainly not.
MT. CAoo proceeded The law might be violated with
the best motives but was inquiry therefore, precluded
acts like this that led TO dangerous effects The House
Of Representatives. had promptly that portion of the
which related to the acquisitions upon Governors of States
But another point remained and that the direct raising of
troops by the General himself The honorable Senator had
read portion Of the report othe War Department approving
OF the raising Of volunteers by General Gaines hut five xths
OF the force had been raised since then He would
Senator from louisiana when the that General TAYLOR
was surrounded reached New Orleans
Mr.. JOHNSON said he could not the precise day.
Mr.. MANGUM observed that the reached Washing
ton about the 23d umo, and necessarily have arrived
at New Orleans seven days earlier
Mr. CASS said General Gaines then had issued orders for
no less than regiments after the dagger all over He
repeated that he had not the remotes intention Of ccnsung
the motives OF General Gaines but this very grave
matter, be bad felt it his duty to inquire into il.
Mr. JOHNSON Of Louisiana, said he had been under the
impression that the whole force Of General Gaines had been
received into the service of the United States.
Mr. CASS Not al all.
Mr. JOHNSON The regiment commanded hy Colonel
Peyon received into the SERVICE all events
Mr. CASS II was received.
Mr. JOHNSON said he perceived stated in the New
Orleans papers, and that the Governor Of Louisiana had
rey approved Of the Of General Gaines The impress
sion that General Taylor had been surrounded and that
the Mexican army had received large cnfocemcns The
dangerous position Of the American army occasoned great
anxiety and the universal impression that General Gaines
mad acted with commendabe prompitude and discretion He
saw that at public meetng General Games had received
The applause Of the people II he transcribed his authority
ne was responsible to the Executive Government No doubt
ne acted from the most patriotic move and the raised
operations of General TAYLOR
Mr. WEBSTER. Where did the officers get their commits
sons
Mr. JOHNSON said that he not prepared say he