The State guard. [volume] (Wetumpka, Ala.) 1847-18??, 1847-07-13

them which induced him to make that
capitalization while, on the. other hand
the President might have had purposes
which were unknown 10 General Taylor
which would justify him IN disappearing
oil the capitulatIon; so that the views
of both might have been perfectly cor
rect. Who OF Them were qualified to
pass Judgment upon the conduct Of Gen
Taylor7 II was more than probable
that court composed of such men as
Wellington and Napoleon might. by
looking over all the attending circnm-
stances, have shown how the American
army could have acted a little more
glorioasly. But should they-legsla.
tors and not military men-should they
presume 10 pass such Judgment The
gentleman thought the capItulation un-
precelenied. The little historical know
ledge which he could boas. of induced
him I, think differently. Do the gen.
tleman recolect single instance IN his
tory where eight or nine thousand men
strongly entrenched in city, were com.
PEELED by five thousand to consent te
the most humiliating ierms2 Did Santa
Anna regard it as Illuminating on the
part Of the Americans BY no means.
Quile the reverse, for, if their news
from Mexico could be relied upon, while
they we're dispuling ebout the passage
of resolution of censure TO General
Taylor, Santa Anna had his own officers
,1ar f,r rIi,., III xua,.Id
indeed concur with The honorable gentle
man, in saying that there was no paral'
lei instance to be found in history! Even
if those brave men might have done a
little better, they had done enough
they had displayed quite enough OF valor
TO enitle Them to bis confidence and IN.
qualified thanks. He had no party feel
inss on the subject. The country had
none. There was but one sentiment
prevailing throughout the whole coun'
try, with regard 10 the conduct OF Gen
Taylor and his brave ssocales-thaI
of unrestricted appreciation of the noble
ano gallani conduct--the judgment and
the humanity exhibited by them on that
memorable, OCCASION.
Mr. Bagby said, the gentleman had
misinterpreted his remarks. He did not
say, that there mad never been an in.
stance like that OF Monterey. He sta
ted, that in the course OF his reading. he
had not found an instance in modern
times in which defeated army had
been permitted 10 retire under similar
circumstances. He would not have
referred TO his subject, but the discus
sion which had arisen--and been ca.r-
ed on, mainly by his friend from Ky
made an issue before the country. The
country was not asleep, and the country
must meet that issue: and in doing il,
they must decide: either that the capitu,
lation was right, or that it was wrong
Without pretending to any extensive
military knowledge, he would. venture
the opinion that if the time should come
for decision of The question, at least
two thirds o. their officers in Mexico
would BIZ found TO disapprove OF that
capiiulation. As TO The humanity which
the gentleman had SO. nlnch insisted on.
he had not learned that the Object of
armies was TO protecl the women and
children OF The foe, but TO yindicaie their
own naionai honor, and to see that too
many widows and orphans were not
made al home. The effect of The cause
ADVOCATED by the honorable gentleman
world be to bring The very calamity upon
this country which they designed TO in
flict upon Mexico.
Mr. j M Clayton. Suppose General
Taylor had captured all Monterey, whal
would the gentleman have done with the
Mexicans?
Mr. Bagby replied that il was the Gus
tom 10 France IN such cases TO parole
them. He supposed General Taylor
would have done The same. Certainly
The gentleman would not advocate the
doctrine that they We're not 10 capture
armies lest they should find themselves
unable to take care o. them afterwards.
lie felt bound, then, 10 dissent from the
views which mad been brought before
.ibem--not for the purpose Of inAicting
wound upon brave general, but for
the sake Of Justice on both sides of the
question. Ii this discussion had not
connected the proprieiy of that capiu>
lalion with the passage Of This resolu.
lion, be would not have made these re-
marks. He had seen letter from Gen.
Taylor admitting that there was con
flict between the administration and him.
self with regard TO the terms of that ca
pi,ulasion. Were Trey then TO suppress
debate in the Senate. lest tine fame OF
that distinguished general should be tar
nishsd7 Were they for his sake 10 sup
press the views OF the President2 He
had no idea of olive branches in one
hand, and steel in the other. II war
must come, he world have victory Or
dealh. Ii was in consequence Of the
equalization Of Monierey-the encour-
agement which Mexico received from il
that Mexico now resolved TO prose-
cute the war with all vigo'.
Mr.. ]. Nj Clayton would not soy tina,
the honorable gentleman from Alabama
had spoken ca eat1edrG; but il Was
| some what remarkably that the gentle.
man would press upon snem what he
had called an issue. He did not know
| that an issue OF that kind would b
| orouoht before The country. Bowevel