The Somerset herald and farmers' and mechanics' register. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 183?-1852, 1846-06-23
hasty plate ofsoup, demands promptre-


You have taken four days to re-
fleet, and to convict me, upon my letter
to you Of the 2lst instant, of official. per-
haps, personal disrespect to the constitu-
tional commander-in-chief Of the army
and navy of the United States.
Ifyou have succeeded in imparting that
impression to the President, then, by the
conclusion OF your letter, written in his
behalf, l am placed under very high OBJ
legations to his magnanimity-may | not
add, to HIS KINDNEss.-in not placing me
instantly in arrest, and before general
court martial. Imay then hope that the
President saw no such intended disrespect;
and can assure you both that feel too
great Difference TO the cons titutlon and
the laws of my country to offer or to de-
sign an indignity TO our chief magis-
trate.
The strongest passages in my condemn
ed letter are, | think hypothetical. In
it, | spoke of mpatience" perhaps
high quarters" of "perhaps utter condem-
nation, in the quarters alluded to. 'ofthe''in-
finite importance of securing yselfagainst
danger in wM or precondemnnfion) in
my rear and Of that ''most pirllous of
all positions" to any commander-"a fire
upon This rear from Washington, and
the fire in front from the Mexicans. y
And also spoke Of the necessity of ''the
active, candid. and steady support ol(such
commanders government" in the hope
of conciiating it.
Now, if there be any offence to the
President in these passages-the intention
of committing which utterly disclaim-
it must, in candor, be found in the mean
ing of the passages "high quarters" and
the .'quarters alluded to- which qualify
all the others quoted by you.
1t will be perceived that spoke not of
the HIGHEST QUARTER, but, in the plural,
"high auarters;' and | beg as an act of
Justice, no less TO myself than the Presi-
dent, to say | meant "impatience," and e.
ven "precondemnation, on your rt,and
the known, open, and violent condemna-
ton of me on the part of several leading
and supposed confdants of the President
in the two houses Of Congress, high quar-
| ters;) because, on an intimatIon-not an
order-I did not fly TO the Rio Grande,
without waiting for the invading army,
vet TO be rased-nay abandoning it to
get to that river as / could, and without
the least regard to the honorable pride and
distinction of the gallant general already
/ =, ,c,,,,,,o,,I nm tbot rivor. ,rho yva know
had done well, was doing well, and who,
| was qnite sure, and his little army, would
/ if the occasion offered, cover themselves
with glory. My prediction, in this res
pect, has been fully accomplished.
But that did fear, and meant to ex-
press the fear in my hasty letter of the
2lst. that those persons here enumerated
would;sooner or later, ,impart their precon-
demnation Of me to the President, | vii
not DENY. My letter was written, in part
to guard both the President and mysel
| against such result, which would have
been fatal, not only to me. but perhaps
for campaign to the service of the coun
try. Hence the details | entered into tC
the President and the Secretary OF Wal
neither supposed to be professionally
experienced in the technical preliminarie:
of a paign-what had been, anf
what would continue for some days-mS
incessant occupations. There is no spe
cial pleading in this explanation. Its writ
ten and offered in good faith; in proof o
which | beg TO refer to my letter to you o
this date, sent here three hours before th'
reception of that TO which am now re
plying.
You speak of my interview with tht
President on the subject Of the intended
formidable invasion Of Mexico. wisl
| had the time to do justice 10 my recol
lection of the Presidents excellent sense
military comprehension, patience, an
courtesies, in these interviews. hav
since often spoken of the admirable quail
tiles he displayed on those occasions
with honor, as far as it was in my powe
to do him honor.
And to you, sir, allow me TO say hav
not accused YOU, and do not mean to ac
cuse you, Of set purpose to dlscredit m
as the commander at first designed for tn
new army that is to invade Mexico.
bear in mind with pleasure the many pei
sonal courtesies that have, for long year
received at your hands. But have to
,, many DAYS believed that you have allowe
yourself to he influenced against me by tn
cIamor of some Of the friends to whom
have alluded. To that source, and froI
no ill-will of your own, have feared tn;
YOU had not made, anu were not likely
make, the just and easy explanations
my behalf, which might be made. Io
; are also aware of other causes of uneas
ness have against the Department.
the want OF that confidence and suppo
necessary to my official position-whetf
er here or on the Rio Grande. hay
: heretofore explained myeelf on thes