The Somerset herald and farmers' and mechanics' register. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 183?-1852, 1847-02-16

convey a sentiment OF dlsapprovals He
did not speak OF the motives Of gentle
men. He spoke OF the resolution and of
the Interpretation which would be put up
or it by the world. 1t would bear upon
lis face evidence that they did not approve
of the armistice. And pray what did
they know about that armistice which
would enable them to determine whether
1t should be d subject of approval or 9th
erwise! Some gentlemen whom he had
heard converse upon this subject, not in
Congress but out Of it, seemed to enter
tain the expectation that Gen. Taylor,
with his slender forces, exhausted by a
three days battle, should have rushed
upon thousands Of their intrenched adj
versaries, and have forced them to an I'M
conditional surrender. Would any Of
those who cavilled here have done SO!
Gen. Taylor had but about 5000 disposal
bic troops at the end of the battle, and il
was expected that those brave fellows, ex-
hausted with three days fighting, would
have rushed, bayonet in hand, upon the
enemy, 5000 in number, strongly forti-
fed as they were, and have made them
prisoners. 1t was an easy matter to talk
of these things at their firesides, but he
would venture TO say that the opinions of
those who were upon tue spot-the opin-
ions of such men as Worth, Davis, and
Henderson, as well as Of Gen. Taylor
himself-were worth more than any
judgment that might be formed by those
who were not connected with the battle,
and had no participation in it? In regard
TO the armistice, what could have been
done more than had been done if the ar
mistice had not been agreed upon! After
such a victory and such a battle, the army
could have done nothing for two months
at least, whilst the armistice would have
the effect of paralyzing the enemy, if it
were faithfully observed during the time
of lis continuance. The very fact Of as
senting TO an armistice, on the part of
Gen. Taylor, proved him to be a man of
sound Judgment as well as Of humane
feeling. The drmistice afforded him time
for obtaining supplies, and restoring the
vigor Of his own little army, while it af-
forded TO the women and children of the
beleagered city time to escape the horrors
which would attend the sacking of a own
by a triumphant soldiery. There was
nothing to find fault about. What would
their army have done if no armistice had
been agreed upon! They required time.
Military men were the best Judges of this
matter: they who stand upon the point Of
honor, who were trained in that senti-
ment, who lived and died for honor, and
who appreciated above all things honor
that was conferred upon them by their
country. What would they think of this
obliterated compliment? This uncertain
mark of appreciation! How would such a
hesitating compliment be received by the
army after winning such a battle as that?
How would it be thought Of when it was
perceived that Senators here were endca-
voring to qualify the matter so as TO 90
against Gen. Taylor or in his favor accur-
ding as the tide of war or the tide of poll
tics might turn! When they perceived
them taking a sort of neutral betwixt and
between position, ready to take shelter
under the armistice and to vote approval
and disapproval at the same time? How
was the army likely to receive this thing.
which they intended, not only as a re-
ward for past good conduct, but as an in
centive to further achievement and further
victories! Would it be so! The next time
they fought; the next time they accom-
plished a brilliant achievement, what
thanks would they have to expect. If an
expression of appreciation was 10 be Of
any worth or Of any value at all, it must
come entirely free and unrestrained 1t
must come to them as freely as the rain
falls from heaven. II they attempted TO
qualify the matter, they would destroy
the compliment. 1t would turn that
which they intended as a compliment to
very dust and ashes. He hoped the pro-
position of the Senator from Mississippi
to amend the resolution would be adopted.
Mr.. SEWER said that the Senator
from Kentucky did him no more than
Justice when he said that he would be the
last Ildil W Cast al CCliSnlC Jun oNI
lor. lie had known that officer perso-
nally, and, as the honorable Senator had
| remarked, there was not q drawer or bet
ter officer in the army. He had hoped
to escape this debate, but it would be
proper for him to make a short reply to
what had been said. The Senator from
Kentucky had said that all the military
men at Monterey were iii favor Of this
capitulatioD, and he had mentioned the
names Of some of those officers, among
whom was General Henderson. Now
he had some feint recollection of having
seen in the public papers a letter from
Gen. III. ON this subject, in which thai
officer stated hat the capitulation was
made by order of Gen. Taylor, and thai
he (Gen. Henderson, and, he believed