Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1847-02-06


Mr. SEWER said that the Senator from Kentucky did hin
no more than justice when be said that he would be the las
man TO cast censure upon Gen. Taylor He bad known
that officer personally, and the honorable Senator had
Marked there drawer or better officer the army
He had hoped to escape this debate but would be proper
him make short reply to what had been said The Sena
tor from Kentucky had said that all the military Mon
erey In favor OF this capaton and be had mentioned
the Of some of those officers among whom Genera
Henderson. Now he had eint recollection Of having
in the public papers letter from Gen. H. this sub
ect in which that officer stated that the capuIa,ion was
made by order of Gen Taylor and that he Gen Henderson,
and he believed also Gen Worth opposed TO H. And
besides this oil the facts had been reported the Government
here and this capulationths armisticehad undergone
review and had been dsapproyed Of This notorious
the whole country Such had been the decision in regard
this capituaon and this amisice when the subject laid
before The proper authorities IN this place. They dsap
proved Of and he had been under the impression that this dis
approval embodied this resolution until he heard
the last time but not he did not know that he should
any great objection to the provso being stricken out
How had it been in respect another military when
It was attempted to pass little bill returning to him thou
sand dollars which had been taken from him They found
every Wing Senator endeavorng nach to that bill pro-
viso equally Objectionable the present This showed
that Senators could changeh circumstances He moi
disposed to word in relation TO the armsce His only
object was to leave open question Was it asking too
much when passing this Of thanks that they should be-
permitted to leave this point open question: especially
pament and whether righfully not dsapproved of
Mr. JOHNSON, Of Maryland. Does the Senator say that
the capiulaon was disapproved or
Mr.. SEWER said he so understood.
Mr.. EVANS. There is evidence of it.
Mr. SEWER said he had Documents on the subject In
his possession but he had been informed that dap
proved of.
Mr.. JOHN M. CLAYTON said that the Senator from
Arkansas seemed be econced striking out the pro-
vso But he regretted very much that the honorable Sena
tor in the course Of his remarks had thought proper upon
occasion like this, when they about pass vote Of
thanks to the commander Of army talk Of this side and
o there ha
different sides among them in regard this matter He trusted
and believed that gentlemen the opposite side of the cham
Der were just ready return thanks to the gallant soldiers
oil our army as they upon this side. The honorable
Senator he thought mistaken entirely when he said that
the Department had dsappoved of the capiuaou They
dsappoved of the armsce and directed General Taylor
terminate it, and he did pursuance Of the order Of the
Department But he believed that it made at last differ
ence of only about four days. for only about four days
NAMED Of the armce that had been agreed upon the time
the notice Of its termination given in obedience TO the
Executive order. No injury, them done by the armis
ice and to the capitalization, he had heard before
that the Department had disapproved of it.
Mr. SEWER said he had the impression on his mind and
that impression confirmed by General Taylo letter. that
the captulaon was embraced in the disappova well
the arinistice.
Mr. ]. M. CLAYTON said he did not 50 understand Gem
era Iayors letter. He understood from it that direction had
been given by the Government the armstce but
he did not understand that the captulaon had been disap
proved Of
He would be very sorry that such proviso
ed to this resolution in the other House should be retained
account OF its moral effect not only upon the country but up
the army. What would be the inference from retaining
such provso What was there wrong in the captulation
After three days hard fghtng when much blood had been
she'd the general Of the opposite army asked for interview
with the commanding general Of our army and in that inter
View in order to the needless eiuson of blood
agreed that the city should be surrendered and that the off
;e OF the opposite should be permitted to march
with their side Whawoud gentlemen have had Gen
Taylor 10 do under such reduced his forces
Here with perhaps not more than 5000 fit for service
Would they had him attack army of twice their num-
ho strongly entrenched and attempt drive them from their
ortlhciions and make prisoners of them And for what
What could he have done with them after they had been made
risoners General Taylor badly supplied with provi
ions he could not have fed them for days. he could not
have retained them prisoners of They could have
liberated themselves any time With these facts staring
them IN The lace, he repeated the question, what would
emen have had General TAYLOR u do Would they have
had him storm the forcaons regardless Of the lives his
own soldiers And for what purpoe For the purpose Of
yanng additional glory and honor for having slain many
hundred Mexcans in battle Were they have regard
or the loss which army must sustain in storing Their
Sorifcaons when the enemy bad every advantage against
as Would gentlemen have had tha, Gen Taylor should
have siomed and sacked the town Were they acquainted
With the consequences attending upon the sackng If city,
ind OF letting loose sodery hardened by warfare, hard Of
heart, with bloody hands To murder and TO page the nhab-
snts Ger Taylor told them that he had regard for the
safety Of the and children, who would inevitably have
'een sacrificed hooking back upon these things he honored
zen. Tay much for the Of cauaiion as for
american general had shown himself thus humane
If they adopted such provso, what would be its moral e
upon the army The soldiers would understand from il
that humanity not ered by Congress be virtue
and when the next bottle fought-nhen the next town
was taken-they would suppose that they expected
red with the slaughter of the innocent lives within that
town that they TO sack, and page and desroy-to
revel in carnage and in blood He willing TO teach
them any such lesson. He would have hand in il and
he repeated that he honored the gallant general as much for
his humanity as for his bravery.
General Taylor stood probably in such position be-
fore the country that such side blow could affect his
putaon He had idea that if the provso retained in
the resolution that he would that stand the less
firm in the affections OF the American People He had
tanned that position by his bravery merely in this battle
but throughout the whole campaign and especially in those
glorious engagements Rsaca de la Palma and at Pao Alto
He believed that side blow like this could do him injury
Il would be likely the popular feeling in his
favor. He the military hero he the proud sol
er whose breast fame had placed the inscription This
man worthy of his country's highest honor"
Mr.. BUTLER said he could not be mistaken in thinking
that resolution Of thanks of this kind should be mingled
with any foreign matter and with this view he entirely con-
Cured in the motion that the poyiso should be stricken out
vote OF thanks should have qualifications reservations
attached to it. He agreed with the Senator from Mississippi
when he said that he had idea of holding out with ono
hand mark of appreciation, grateful to the soldiers heart
nd with the other mark Of dsapfTobaon towards blum
ieng general. He did not know that this reservation went
20 far as this but If there ALL he would
compelled to vote against the resolution But he would
utthcr when they had in their power some measure by
heir acts TO control the future history Of the county, justice
seemed to require that they should do nothing that would per-
vert the opinion Of postey and above all that they should
farm s,Jwr