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

endeayor TO agree in the hearty defence Of their country
The conduct of little army had elected universal praise
fault Of the President if he had moved with caution
in the early stages of this contest He could not know Una
this attack would be made, when the general himself uu no
anticipate H. The President had stationed bus army wnee 2,
thought its presence for the defence Oh our
he had left il for the general say how great orce ne TO-
qued Up the very last moment no man mao Haucpaeu
that the Mexicans would dare to cross the nver
To say that General Taylor was left with 900 Jew troops
was not TO mpeach the President but rar 10 reflect on the
sauacitv and Foresight of the General lie the spot
and clothed with ample powers b, made MS call Tor addi-
'ona force when he deemed At orce necessary and as
soon ms made Il was promptly det Had he made earlier,
be onl no oubt have beet condemned by those who
severely censured the Administration The President had
very properly left sceonay with General Taylor to judge
for himself when he eeded a ana what amount; ani the
ace upon then weounded and that he had exercised
sound udersent in the whole affair Who could regret
that our had not been equal with that of the Mexcans
Had been the laurels General Tayors brow would
been green The glory Of the victory had been great
y enhanced by the fact that had whipped the bg army Of
Mexico with only third Of its numerical strength. The
Mexican commander knew the country he had deliberately
chosen his position, while little army moving in
unknown and difficult country, and marched upon the bay
onet and swords, and artillery o! prepared enemy, and
without any breaswork to defend them.
As to the President, he needed Mr. McD.s vindica-
ton. The justice and patriotism of the American people
would accord him that need OF praise which his due
while they ascribed undng glory the officers and who
had behaved SO CALAMITY on the battlefield
pressed his hope that the exgencies of the country and the
disposition he at all times felt would sup
ply the want OF preparation OF which he conscious He
did not know that he could for this bill in its present shapes
but if amendment should be introduced combining ap
poinmens proposed in the bill the regular line Of the army
(and Mr. C before he resumed his proposed offer
such amendment he should then be ready give his
support Such woud he satisfied respond
to the wishes Of every part of the country Why if these
additional officers necessary, (and Mr. c. would
dertake to say that they were not SOL why should they
be taken from the regular army Who they who
posed that army He need not after the universal euloges
which had been that portion of officers who
were under the command Of General Taylor undertake
who what they need he go back the annals of
the last to the history of the Florida show
that army contained every way fit and worthy
ceve these appointments Could be necessary for Congress
ut this day. after seeing what had been done the Rio
Grande and after rejecting what had been achieved on
past OCCASIONS to look for officers beyond the regular line
OF the army Need they turn away their from those
BILE, gallant daring energetic, experienced scientific men,
who had brightly illustrated nations history No. we
had enough Of such. Our difficulty would be, not in finding
hem but in making the selection Could Congress so
wanting in justice and gratitude forget all the deeds
these and look where when distinctions and honors
to be conferred If they wished to hold powerful
incentives to vigilance, to industry to enterprise to noble dar
ing they should upon this occasion reward those gal
liant men who bad now other mark of their country APP
probation than the naked homer of breveta distinction
unmeanng in emouHen rank and whose only value
consisted its being that the country had not for
gotten their services but reserved them for future reward So
far officer holding this distinction had received any further
proof the gratitude of the country Mr. c. had been
of those who united cordially in that need of thanks
which had been awarded the gallant Taylor and to all the
officers and soldiers who had under his command
had all covered themselves with glory they had all been
mated by heart and acted impulse they had
gone into the actions of the 9Th aud 9th with a settled pu
pose to conquer die. There seemed have been no
difference in the merit of the entire band they had all rushed
upon the enemy with that resouto and nvincbe determine
ton which had produced the glorious result
But who those officers who led the in the late
brilliant charges the enemy They those who some
months since had been deced in that chamber idle hangers
upon the Treasury unfit for the strife of battle, and epau
leted school which would prepare for the tolls
and harhps of actual service How many Of the
hundred and officers who had served under General
Taylor in this campaign did gentlemen who talked in this
strain suppose had been educated West Point They
numbered two hundred Yes, ourhs of the entire body
of officers who had led the these glorious actions
graduates from West Point And their conduct in the field
bore honorable testimony to the discipline TO the practice
the experience to the tactics and the practical utility which
were conferred by education at West Point Mr. G. did
not make this assertion hazard he did speak
ture. He had IT from express authority and the record
would show, he had sad that the West Point graduates
two hundred out of the total list of hundred and
sixytwo And yet they still occasionally heard invidious
reflections thrown out here against that institution. Mr. c.
had supposed that any could entertain honest doubt
before Of the value and practical usefulness OF that school, all
doubts have been dspated and he had expected
that all would have rallied round the institution
which might rely for furnishing with officers fit TO lead
troops through death aud dangers glorious victory
He had anticipated that after the battles Of the 9Th and 9th
May all opposition would have been senced, and that no
would have been heard against the necessity Of educa
ton TO form soldier, much TO prepare mechanic,
lawyer other professional man, for the right discharge
Of his duty But was, that objections still brought
forward, and the assertions still made Just though
they had not been disproved by fact.
Mr.. g. should this time enter elaborate de-
fence of that invaluable national institution and he had only
introduced the INCEPTION of in corroboraton Of the position
that there could be necessity for going beyond the line
the army for the principal officers Of the service, whether major
generals or bngaders.
II had been said that there necessity for passing this
bill the appointment Of Gen. Taylor who, though
breveed Major General stood in the line only with
the rank Of Colonel If it intended to make situation
for him. lei the bill be put that shape and let the House
have security that such was be the result in that
Mr. O. felt very that objection would be made to II on
either side But when he looked al the bill he found that
spoke Of the appointment Of major generals well as Of
four bgadie He should bc glad inquire of the chairman
OF the Military Committee, Taylor 10 be one OF these
major generals who TO be the other
Mr.. HARRISON here replied that he could not respond
TO the gentemans inquiry, for he really knew nothing OF the
matter.
Mr.. CARROLL understood the gentleman as saying that
Of the objects in view by the passage this bill make
a place for Gen. Taylor.
Mr.. HARRISON said he should be highly gratied that
such should be the result He believed il would be- but he
did know Judging, however, from what had been already
done he satisfied that there every disposition
ward him.
Mr.. CARROLL. "Judging from what had been done
What had been done The House had lately organized
regiment Of dgoons and had inserted in the bill that It's
officers should be taken from the line Of the army In the