Richmond daily Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1842-1861, 1847-06-25
Plain Talk.

The Washington correspondent OF the Baltimore Patriot
gives the following sketch OF an interview between &c,
Leslie Coombs and the Secretary OF War which Is s cha,
aetefisic OF the bold kenuekan we cannot doubt II,
entire accuracy. it Zen. Coombs succeeded in getting
ear of the President hope have an account Of the in
terview from the same pen:
"General LESLIE CooNB', in this city, had n Main
and rapid talk to-day with Mr. Secretary Massey which
the latter will be apt TO remember Gen CocNns called a,
the Department and sent IN his the Secretary He
was asked TO step iRo the presence and did So Gov M
cY bowed aud remained seated His visitor said he wa.
General LESLIE CooNBs Of Kentucky; and he had come n
have Jew WORDS Of plain with the Seret,v
OF War. "Sr" said he 81 the Antedeluvi,n that
the Government have imagined by IT. treatment of
me- Although hair is proluso and neither gray nor
dyed nave seen some service in my country. / was
out in the last well YOURSELF have come
TO tell you sir, that too many lives, lives Of valuable
young men-mSny hentuckians, worthy as your sons
o. mine, have been unnecessarily lost in this war ,h
Mexico and too much expense has been unnecessarily
incurred Sir, the troops that have gone from Ken
lucky desired 90 with them, to watch over gpa,d
and protect them, and TO be like father in my care
for their health, comfort and happiness I vyonl6
nave gone with ihem-l wished 10 20. and | would
have taken OF them weniy-nine DAYS out of thirty
aud the theh, when the bae on they would have
taken OF themselves! But sir your system of seec
tons and appointments passed the heads of men NJ
my experience and settled down upon your Tow M
STALLS JoE LANES AND GID PLLows II Is for this sir
that dIsRraceul scenes like the laering OF som, nj
the Indiana and Arkansas troops the battle OF Bpen
VISTA If the officers had been OF the right stamp the
troops composed OF good men, would never have dsraeed
themselves and their States. Sir, your whole system :
wrong Your political doctors and quacks sent out tber.
are for the most part utter nusanecs killing vast sight
more Than they cure Your whole and quarter
masters departments are totally wrong The pork and
salt beet you send for the troops are not the ar
uees they ought TO have IN that climate. Providence pro-
ydes Tor the people OF every climate that which Is the best
for them TO eat Rice and other kinds light food should
be furnished TO our troops IN Mexico and those heavy
muderous which thete And then there
your untutored horses your Dragons too viii
their little fat saddesat the first onset against the laneer
OF the enemy they Say, the fat saddle slips iIs place
The rider cannot with hrs sntie bit control his horse and
away the command beaks!-S.r all wrong, tell Won
So plainly. shall 50 tell Mr PoLK If get a chance
TO talk with him upon the subject have addressed let
ter TO him, IN which informed him he will assent
10 my proposition will furnish him with sovereign pa5a
eea for the guerilla warfare which the Me1icaus are nut
ting into execution"
The General ceased talking, and the Secretary Of
War confessed he had been furnished with ideas that he
had not before thought or
This evening Gen. CooNBB was at the White House
and has obtained the OF Mr. Polk TO give him
talk OF ten minutes at some appointed hour tomorrow"