American Republican and Baltimore daily clipper. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1844-1846, 1846-08-06
GEN. GAINES DEFENCE,

BEFORE THE COURT OF ENQUIRY.
Eve learn from the Norfolk Beacon, that
"a. Gaines read his defence before the Court
Enquiry, at Old Point, on Monday, and that
was listened to attentively by crowded au-
ence of ladies and gentlemen. A correspon-
mt Of the Beacon furnishes the following
etch of his remarks:
Il At the usual hour the Court was opened, but
en'. G., not being in readiness, the Court in
#'llged him until IL l-2 O'Clock, at which hour,
obedience to its summons, the General made
IS appearance, accompanied by his aid, Lieut..
alhoun, the son Of the Hon. J. G. Calhoun
The proceedings of the last day having been
BAD, Gen. g. rendered an apology for the de-
.y occasioned to the Court, remarkng that
his effort had been, not to see how many pa
es he could prepare in his justification, but
ow few" With this apology, he proceeded
> remark-"that it had been his purpose to
Prepare an elaborate statement of all the facts
| md issues involved in this investigation, and to
Invoke testimony Of the most distinguished
haracter from Louisiana and other places in
His iustl6cation-but that he had changed his
Purpose in that particular. That in the steps
,e had taken in reference to this whole matter,
He had sought and held conferences with many
/ II the most prominent and distinguished men
. 4 the Southland he aVowed that in an Off
Cial intercourse Of 40 years duration, amid his
pest efforts to defend the country, promptly
Ind ably sustained as they had been, he never
had met more cordial Cooperation than in the
present instance. That being in the Office OF
|the Governor Of Louisiana, Just a few minutes
after the reception of Gent. Taylor's report,
that functionaIy promptly communicated with
The Legislature, who Immediately appropriated
|E2000 900, and ordered so 900 volunteers to be
RAISED. That such Governor and such Lee
gislature, inspired by the Iecollections of the
dast war, were fit and appropriate persons to
hput the ball in motion. That being cordially
aided by him and them in his efforts to raise
and organize the regiments proposed by him
1T was his intention to prepare as already stat
Ted, an elaborate justification, and to introduce
the Governor and Legislature as Witnesses
but remembering that he had with him the vote
'of thanks of the Legislature, communicated by
the Governor, he adjudged such effort wholly
unnecessary. At his instance, the Recorder
here read the resolutions referred to-which
RESOLUTIONS (although in printed fotm, weuld
be avowed by the Governor and Legislature il
they were present, but not being PRESENT.
tucll SeioliiouCo5 Wcio QueStloHtu NY lle court,
he had in his possession the original manuscript
communicated by the Governor, and which he
would take especial pleasure in exhibiting to
the Court. Having stated his conduct was ap.
proved by the Legislature of Louisiana, and
thousands of the most intelligent citizens of the
South, he remarked, that he would now in the
most concise manner possible, revert to the oc.
currences which transpired after leaving New
hou A..
the President of the United States, on the 10th
June, to report himself in Washing ton, he &C.
cordingl y on the next day, embarked thither via
Mobile, where he had duties to discharge, &c
That on his arrival at Mobile, he was called on
by Governor Chambers, and notified that two
regiments which had been formed, &c., were
in state Of disorder, in consequence of being
commanded by officers Of equal grade, neither
one conceding the superiority of The other, ant
being informed by the Governor that some
steps must be taken to remedy the evil-he ap
pointed Gen. W. Smith, the Brigader Gene
raj, to take the command of the two regiments
Gen. Smith he knew wel-and knew him tt
be talented and meritorious officer That hi
performed this duty without any delay. Tha
he had the right to perform it, not being unde
arrest, his sword not having been taken away
from him. 1t was true, that he had been tolt
that Gen'l. Brooke was to take the command
but Genl Brooke was one thousand miles off
= He did 1T, upon the principle of meeting an enc
my, who was about to attack the city, if the CT
ty were attacked, notwithstanding his orders Il
go TO Washington, he had but one course t
pursue, and that was to meet the enemy an
beat HIM, and to save the city. Suppose h
wereto abandon the city to its fate-and as
sign as the reason, that he had orders to 90 L
Washington-would he not be running ava
from duty, and incur thereby disgrace? CouI
he quit Mobile under such circumstances. espe
cially, when it was in his power to say to