The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1846-06-05
GENERAL GAINES.

General Games, II We may judge from accounts
which have reached us from various quarters, will
produce much disappointment and discomfort
among the patriotic citizens, who at his insgation,
IN the ardor OF Their zeal their county have
organized and prepared to join the army under the
command Of Gen. Taylor. Checked as this con-
duct was at the earliest period, still it will involve
the country in enormous expense, and throw serious
embarrassments in the way Of carrying out the ar
rangements made BY the government here. Amer
tho reproof administered TO him, last summer, for
his assumption Of the power Of calling for State
troops after being informed, as he then was, that
General Taylor was authorized by the President to
call from the States Of Texas, Alabama, Louisiana,
Mississippi, Tennessee and Kentucky, any suxil-
larry force he might deem necessary after il was ex'
plicty stated to him that the government did not
conceive that there could be thereafter any occasion
TO send into Texas State troops, unlss on General
TaylOrs ratification; AFTER being, in very explicit
language, told that General Tsylor's command was
entirely independent of him; that orders and in
sructons for that generals conduct would emanate
from the government here, and that he General
Game o. was directed 10 abstain from al! iniert1.
ace vih hint was not to be anticipated that he
void break out into wild course of independent
actioa, alike unauthorized by instructions or by
law be- such, unfortunately, has been the case,
and mani thousand patriotic volunteers have len
their homes on his unauthorized invitation, pre-
pared to espo4se the cause OF their country in this
war against Ms<ieo. Though the governmsn. here
deeply lament th,dissppointment which these gal.
l.,t will feel A..n La th.tt hsv
be received into the psbe service the result cannot
be prevented.
A, soon as authority eos given to the President
by the act Of the 18th Of Nay to accept the services
v'-s..n;eer-, the number r,quired for immediate
service was fixed, apportiornt among the States
that could most conveniently Srnish them, and
orders issued for enrolling Orgsnrsog and muster
ing them into immediate service. he government
is committed to receive the quotas ASued to each
State; and should these States tender ir respec-
tive numbers, as there is no doubt ths\ within.
deed, many Of them have already done ts-they
must be received. These troops will make g the
full force that the exigences Of the war wNse-
quire. If moro were needed, the President wSkS
gladly accept those who have organized on Genefs'
Ganess unwarrantcd call, but this he is persuaded
will not at present be the case. His sense OF public
duty will not allow him to increase the force for
immediate service-hc cannot refuse to receive
those who have rendered their services, undsr calls
sanctioned by himself in order to take in those who
have in spirited and prdiseworthy manner organ
lied under General Gainess illegal acquisitions. He
is therefore driven to the painful necessity Of de-
clining the offer of this latter class. They have
made sacrifices; expenses have been incurred by
themselves or on their account and it is sincerely
hoped that Congress will make provision for these
expenses. Without such a provision they can
not be paid. General Gaines is an old SOL
der who has done, in former years, good
service; it is very desirable he shouN re-
pose in quietness upon his laurels. low
ever unregulated his conduct few-very hw-
are disposed to question his intentions, or to Vsny
him the merit of patriotic motives. The goNrn-
ment here has been, and still is strongly inclined to
give the most favorable Interpretation to his condct
that the circumstances will permit; but in vevPf
the difficulties of restraining his irregular action V
orders at SO great distance, the embarrassment
his course has already produced, and, If continue
in his present position, will be likely to produce
has been constrained, from high considerations .
duty, and sacred regard to the public interest,
remove him from the command Of the western di
vision, and 10 order him to repair forthwith u
Washington. Considering his extraordinary course
and the mischief it has already produced, his hes
friends will, we trust, be convinced that no milde
course could have been pursued towards him.
1t is proper to sid that as soon as information
reached Washington that General Gaines was exer
csing the power to call for troops other than hos
embraced in the requisition of General Taylor, h
was directed to countermand his proceedings. III
named the governors upon whom he had made hi
calls, to each of whom the following letter was I'D
dressed, and copy sent to himself:
"WAR DEPARTMENT,
"May 10, 1886.
"S,p: It being understood that Major Gener'
Gaines has made call on your excellency for vo
unteers to rendezvous at Fort Jesup, Louisiana,
have to inform you that this was done without tn
authority Of the President, and that the general ha
this day been instructed to revoke the same. Yo
are requested to take no measures to comply wit
that call"
Those whom he had called from Missouri, Mi
sissippi, and Alabama, at the moment Gen. Taylor
reouision was received at New Orleans, and VIII
had organized and left their respective States wer
recognised and received.
The governor of Missouri was Informed by tn
Secretary of War that the President had recognise
the call made on him by Gen. Gaines to the exten
mentioned in his letter, to wit the troops whic
may have LEFT the State Of Missouri for New d
leans, the place of rendezvous, before the notice
your order changing their destination y and to III
governors of Mississippi and Alabama the Secretar
Of War wrote that the call Of Gen. Gaines made o
those States chad been recognised by the PresideI
to the extent Of the number furnished and sent
. Texas"
4 Hearing that Gen. Gaines was still busy in orga'
izng and accepting volunteers, appointing oundr
' staff officers, employing arzans, &c, the secretsr
e wrote to him az follows "This CALL" (auding to
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