Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1847-05-06

national honor indicated, by playing of, through
his military commanders, such fantastic pranks as
have been performed there ?--enaciinq the solemn
farce Of organizing new and complete governments
Regulating trade and commerce BY manifesto
appointing themselves aud their associates govern
ors and judges and projects aud alcadcs with fixed
salaries, and for term OF years-admnsterin 10
the Struggling aud afrighed popuace oaths Of allie
glance to the United States, aud calling upon them
to foreswear alleganceto Mexico as though il we're
all done alter approved president, and as though
there were some sanction in the Constitution or the
laws OF nations for such capers! These operations
bring shame, and not glory, to the American name
SO far from subduiug or weakening Mexico, they
have served only TO cxasperae and TO strengthen
her. So TAR from tending TO bring the war to a
speedy close, they will serve only 10 prolong it,
Your military occupation Of the wild aud remote
provinces Of Mexico, Instead Of Gripping, in the
smallest degree, he; power, only weakens your own
force by the necessary division and transfer Of them
TO different services and at far distant and unim-
portant points.
While your President talks about prosecuting
the war with vigor," the only mode Of securing
an honorable peace" he has sent off large di.
vision Of the army 10 squat upon the vacant lands
OF Mexico, and left General Taylor at the only poin!
where the enemy was TO be met, at the only point
OF danger aud difficulty, without adequate force.
and with still less adequate supplies Of provisions
and the munitions Of war, and, till some ten DAYS
later than the battle Of Monterey, destitute Of the
necessary means Of transportation. But, ueverthe.
less, by his own great prudence aud valor. and the
bravery OF his TROOPS, General Taylor has done all
that human skill and proves could do with the
means at his command, The wonder is not that
he has accomplished so little, but that he has been
able, under the circumstances, 10 accomplish so
much. The wonder is. no, that he has not yet
conquered Mexico, but thai he and his gallant little
army have sustained themselves so well that they
have mol becn utterly routed and cut TO pieces
The wonder rs, not that they have not before this
time enjoyed the luxury Of " revelinr ia the halls
Of the Monlezumas," but that their bodies have not
been bleaching upon the borders OF the Rio Grande
But for the ndomitabe energy aud heroism Of Gen
cral Taylor, aud those ia his command, against
vastly superior Odds the flag of your country, in
stead OF floating IN triumph TO the breeze from the
heights of Monterey, would have been dragging,
blood-stained and dishonored ingloriously in the
dust All that has been achieved ia this war, all
that has saved it from the ridcule of the world and
lis authors from The unmltigaled contempt of man
kind, has been achieved under the immediate eoun.
sells aud command Of General TAYLOR and vet his
name finds no commentator in that voIuminous
message, which purpors TO give detailed history
OF the origin aud the progress Ofthe war No sir
the name Of the brave old hero, who has won every
battle that has been lough, who was ordered into
the midst Of dangers against superior forces who
has driven back the advancing foe from your Dor
ders and who is the real hero of the story is hard.
y referred to in that reccn, executive fiction whose
scene is laid in Mexico, aud Of which sou have or
dered the publication Of very large edition. Let
the country mark the significant aud ominous fact
that the war-worn soldier Of many years aud Of
many battles, and OF as many victories who has
borne the standard of his country TO triumph thro
every conflict; whose life has endured the priya-
lions and the hardshps oIthe camp in his country's
service ; who has braved nike the dangers of bat
lie aud the dangers OF pesience that walks in the
ar who sits down 10 a soldiers fare, and who rises
up TO soldiers toll whose fortune is his fame
aud whose fame is his couniry's, is not deemed
worthy OF an approving notice IN that elaborate ex-
ecutlye communication which prolessedly recles
the transactions of which he was the chief aud re.
Joices IN The trIumphs of which he was the victor
lie who, by the accident Of fortune, has been ele-
waited to power, who proudly ireads in palace halls
and sits at ease aud security in his Chair of Stale
may jealousy suppress the name Of one who has a.
cheved so much aud suffered so much at his bid.
Ding but in vain will he endeavor to divert the pub.
l'c gaze from the glories that gather round that
name. II is name which will 90 down TO after
times ia full lusre though il be not transmit
ted IN the amber of Presidential document
But | repeat, Mr.. Chairman, it was ominous 81
ience, a significant omission. Ii was but the pre-.
monition Of concerted partisan assault upon the
hard earned fame Of General Taylor-of an insdi.
GUS attempt 10 pluck from his brow The laurels he
may have won, with which TO deck less honored
heads, and TO charge to his account whatever of
failure there may have been towards vigorous and
successful prosecution of the war. /, is foreign
from my purpose, however, 10 go into a detailed de-
fence OF the acts of General Taylor against the
assaults which have been openly made upon him on
this floor, especially since il has been so faithfully
and eifectualy done by my young friend from Ten.
nessee, (Mr. Crozler.) But let me assure the nj
oneers in these assaults the gentleman from Illinois.
(Nlr Ficklin) and the gentleman from Mississippi.
(Nlr. Thompson,) and all who may follow in their
lead that they have struck a chord which will find
no response 10 the American heart,
EXTENSION OF TERRITORY
II those who, for the first time now, unhappily
weld the desIinles OF this Republic, are ardenily
and honestly DESTROYS Of restoring TO il a speedy
and an honorable peace" they will prefer terms
such as shall be Just and liberal 10 Mexico-such
as, according to the language Of the able and elo.
qnent gentleman from Georgia, (Mr. Toonbs the
other day, "become great aud powerful and
magnanlmous naton"-such as become the charac-
ter OF people who profess to act upon the high
principle OF demanding nothing wrong" We
have LILLE reason to fear that our national honor
VIII suffer by any acts of justice and generosity TO-
wards Mexico. We have more occasion to fear i,
may be furnished by acts of wrong and oppression
Let her have some assurance that You war for JUS
lice aud peace, aud not Tor dominion aud p,under
and II will do more than dozen well fought bat
Ties TO hasten that contamination so devouiy 10 be
wished, an honorable pence" AdoDt the prono