Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1847-02-06
IN SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES.
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARr 3, I847,
THANKS TO GEN. TAYLoR.

Il THANKS TO GEN. TAYLOR
The joint resolution Of the Senate giving the thanks Of Cor
geSs to Gen Taylor and the army for their gaany Nor
Mr. ArHERroN moved that ii be referred TO the Com
mittee on Military Affairs a
i Mr. CRffTENDEN hoped that would not be pun
sued lie thought better to lay this resolution on The ab
for the present. and take the resolution from the House
which suggestion having been adopted--
The House resolution taken up and having read
Mr. SPElGHT moved to amend the resolution by strikn
out the proyiso He would state, he sad in very few words
his reason fol- making this notion He one Of thos
who were at any time forward in returning thanks any ma
Tor doing his duty but when he did SO, he wn
present thanks with hand and censue with the ohe,
II that part OF the resolution should be retained he would
obliged 70 vote against the resolution itself He was pot
present prepared TO determination he military man
had he the facts before him enable him to determine
whether Gen. Taylor did his duty regard that affair
but if thanks were to be voted to him. they should
voted in the usual and accompanied by any thin
that would imply reflection upon his conduct
Mr. ATCHlSON said, If il were in order, he would NOV
TO lay this resolution the table, be taken up when tn
resolution offered by the Senator from Tennessee came III
again. SO that they might both be referred the Commute
on Military Affairs.
This motion was upon a division. nepatiyed-ayes 81
noes %.
On Mr. SPEIGHT's motion the yeas and nays were or
dered.
Mr. SEWER held that there was no censure expressed
the povso calculated merely prevent conclusion
that might be dawnf that povso attached pre-
vent the conclusion that Congress- adopting the resolution
appreciated the armisice that made Monterey was
not censuing Gen. Taylor all II merely leaving the
question free that those who disposed thanks
could do without expressing any opinion regard ca
pituation He considered that those who regarded the
mistice advsed and wrong, ought be drawn
express their appreciation Of that which they could sanction
Mr. JARNAGIN remarked that there was not solitary
word in the resolution about an armis,ice.
Mr. SEWER. There is about capitulaon.
The resolution was again read by the Secretary.
Mr. JAkNAGlN repeated that in the body Of the resou-
ton there not word about armstice capulation
de perceived however, that it embraced in amend
ment which had been inserted by way of provso and that
provlso clearly implied upon Gen. Taylor which he
could not consent TO sanction.
Mr. SEWER said he had desire to Gen. Tay-
or He knew him to be gallant officer, who had fought
bravey for his country All that he desired avoid Civ
ing vote approving Of the captuaton to which he Gent
had consented
proyso implied censue and if retained in the
luton he could not vote for the resolution itself.
Mr.. J. M CLAYTON desired that the Senator from Ar
kansas as he had said that he dappoved Of the armsce
and that he considered objectionable would tell them the
reasons for his disapproval.
Mr. SEWER said it not his purpose to be drawn into
discussion upon this matter with the from Delaware
He military man, but he had right to an opinion ne
veheless and he had merely expressed that opinion without
any intention, upon occasion like this of entering into any
discussion at all upon the subject
Mr.. ARCHER said he wished supcradd 10 the inquiry
put by the Senator from Delaware other inquiry. He de
sired to know why the Senator for connecting the subject
OF the population with the resolution of thanks :
Mr.. SEWER said he would tell the Senator in word
il he would allow him that he found, upon the last reading
Of the resolution, that contained in it, and there
tore he had ceased to say any thing about it.
Mr. CRITTENDEN said that it seemed to him, from the
character OF this resolution that there kind of feeling
existing against Gen Taylor arising doubt from that
party spirit which every thing and with
which all persons less mbued of this
SORT, he thought ought to be treated irrespective Of party
Gen. Taylor the leader Of the forces of the country had
thing TODD with lie above all party Hesought for
party appreciation He street.-The appreciation OF his country
He aPprehended that, if known how little Gen Taylor
busted himself about politics, parties political operations
how exclusively devoted he the service Of the county
the knowledge OF that fact would i ID him from every unkd
eoSieio tho part of any member that body
Gen. Taylor far from being political PARTISAN much less
Was he cuaed Ivy that sort of spirit which seemed give
complexion to this resolution The whole country had
carved the intelligence Of The surprising achievements of
e army under the gallant leading of Gen. Taylor with
tisfa on, mingled with surprise the singular which
mad attended those operations. Conducted they were
under circumstances OF extreme diff :ulty and
he believed they not supassrd by any thing of
that bad occurred in the history Of the world And now
when the councils of the country called upon express
the public gratitude, called forth by those great achievements
why should they way 10 that Of spirit which woud
prompt them to look for that would din
the glory of the achievements aud qualify their expression
Of appreciation in such make doubtful in the
construction and the opinion of the world whether they &
not intend to dim the usre of his enown, and to drug thu
such the feeling of his honorable friend oppose-he
certain that he acting with perfect cando he
would humby submit to him that he had taken much Of
party view, and therefore 1t usual
stop to inquire after great victory had been won whether
the action could have been better fought if managed in
other way Ii enough that victory had been gained
matter what the order Of battle might be- whether gained by
the superior exerons Of the centre, the left wing
Of the right wing Gen. Taylor had done all that was ex
pected Of him. He had evinced all the skill Of an accom-
plshed general and all the coerage and vaor Of perfect
der Then why examine the matter with critical eye
eneavor To find something which would diminish the glory
Of his achieyementso nd little circumstance, and
to grasp at il in order convey sentiment OF disappova
He tspesk OF the motives gentlemen He spoke
luton and of the Interpretation which would put upon by
the world would bear upon its face evidence that they
did not approve of the armsce And pray what did they
know about that aristice which would enable them deter
mine whether should be subject OF approval otherwise
Some gentlemen whom he had heard upon this subject
not IN Congress but out of it, seemed entertain the
taton that Gen Taylor with his slender forces exhausted by
three days battle should have rushed upon thousands OF
their nlrenched adversaes and have forced them to an
unconditional surrender Of those who caved here
have done 50 Gen. Taylor had but about 200 dsposabe
troops at the end OF the battle aud expected that those
brave fellows, exhausted with three days fighting would
have rushed, bayonct in hand, upon tue enemy, 600 in
number strongly fortified they were and have made them
prisoners Il was easy talk Of these things at
their Grese but he would say opinions
Of those who upon the spothe opinions such men
as Worth, Davis, aud Henderson, well of Gen. Taylor
hmself-wero worth than any judgment that might be
formed by those who not connected with the bat and
had no participation in il In regard ITO the armisiice what
could have been done than had been done if the as
tce bad not been agreed upon After such victory and