The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1846-05-08
DISCRETION FROM THE ARMY.

We gave IN our paper Of yesterday, under this
head, in the proceedings Of the House Of Represent
atves, Mr.. Adams's resolutions and the debate that
followed but had not time to make inquiry or COM
ment
We learn that nothing official has yet been re-
ceived from the army in Texas on the subject OF
shooting deserters in the act Of escaping by swim
ming, to the Mexican army, beyond what was COM
municated by the President (under a calD to the
House, in his message Of the 9th instant. But we
learn through other channels, entitled to full credit
the following additional particulars:
Within very few days after the arrival Of Gen.
Taylor the left bank of the Rio Grande, opposite
to the headquarters of the Mexican army, at Mata-
moras-while hostilities were daily threatened from
that side-desertion from our army, to an alarming
extent, that river, occurred. The deserters
from our coors were mostly foreigners. Some thir-
ty, it is supposed succeeded in reaching the oppo.
site bank while others Give or six bad swimmers)
were drowned in the same attempt. Our army lay
close to the river. In this stage of the evil it is
unofhciay stated Tin private leters) that instruc-
tons were given to the nearest pickeu, guards,
and sennsls to pursue deserters far they could
kthoiC "cic ho pouts,J anu oitci WdifiiTS tHcH ny
word and shots thrown ahead, to fire directly upon
the swimmers if they did not promptly turn back.
The same information renders it probable that two
or three Of the deserters reached by musket-
balls, wounded, and perhaps, in consequence,
drowned.
1t Is evident that the two armies, in face Of each
other and separated by a river only some two hun
dred yards in width, and immediate hostilites
threatened, obliged To observe all the vigilance
necessary in a state Of war. No American officer,
und revenea flag of truce, had been allowed to en-
ter the Mexican camp or town of Matamoras
Even communication between the American COM
mander and consul at Matamoras denied
Desertion from either side to the other was, there
FORE under the circumstances, rightfuly considered
as dcsertion to the enemy; and it is always princ
pally through deserters that hostile armies obtain in
formation to the strength, positions, and purposes
of each other.
We have always understood that deserters to,o-
ards the enemy are treated in pursuit, we'll after
capture (by courts with greater rigor than desert
ers ioWards home. The criminaity in one case may
be twenty times greater than in the other. Disci-
pline, nay, the existence of armies, depends this
distinction.
There is nothing, we learn, in the articles of war
which regulates the pursuit capture of deserters
but all will admit that it is of the hghes, necessity
that deserters 10 the enemy should be stopped, and,
if possible, secured, that they may be made exam
pies of by courts martial. SO, we believe, there is
statute law prescribing the means to be used by
constabes sheris, or jaors, to stop or to secure
murderer, or other feon, in his fight from justice.
No doubt, the prisoner may be pursued by the civil
officer and, to secure his person, he may be wound
ed struck down, il clearly necessary to stop the
flight. 1t is supposed that military authority may
go far in the pursuit of descrters-the objects be-
ing 6rst to their persons for regular trial and
punishment by courts; and, secondly, to prevent es
cape and information to the enemy.
The reader Of the proceedings in the House yes
terday will perceive the utter dissimarity between
the case cited by Mr. Giddings, from the records of
the army in 1899, and that now brought up by
the resolutions of Mr.. Adams. We learn that the
War Department has called upon General Taylor
for full report on the cases referred to in Mr.. Ad-
ams's resolutions.
The following message was sent to the House of
Representatives on Wednesday, by the President
of the United States, on this subject, accompanied
by the two letters from the War Department, which
are appended:
To the House Of Representatives:
transmit herewith report Of the Secretary Of
War in answer to the resolution Of the House of
Representatives Of the 4th instant, calling for infor
nation, "whether any soldier or soldiers Of the
army Of the United States have been shot for de-
sertion, or in the act Of desertion; and il So by
whose order, and under what authorityF'
#..l JAMES X. POLK.
WARRINGTON, May6 1916.
WAR DEPARTMENT,
Washington, May s, 1886.