Richmond daily Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1842-1861, 1847-02-20
NUMBER A.


them to sneamp the shores Of the Rio Gr.nds on m,
wet ground, and at unheshy Of the wear with
out tents 10 shield them from the drenchns rain. Of ,hs
season. until two thousand Of them fell victims TO IN. d.
eases Of the climate Did the President display great
soy IN suffering the army lay for months NJ Mstao-
ros Tor want OF boats to convey them MP the rvrrf Or
was Il when he ordered the army forward 20 attack the
strongly fortified city Of Monterey. defended By twice i
own numbers and failed supply u with wagons ,o con-
vey provisions for tho support OF the men, that he displayed
ms skill and ability IN conducting the The fact that
large portion Of the army wihou, any food for ,x,
during the attack upon Monterey except raw and
that not wagon reached the army until the city had
surrendered. which could not be controy.rted
Did the friends OF the Administration rely on these facts a,
e'deneng the eminent ability with which Mr.. Polk had
conducted the war;
Mr. NJ. would bring 10 the atten,ion Of the S.n,,. 49,
or TWO other matters TO be considered endnR
snow Mr. Folks justice and ability displayed in conduct
ing ms war Cot. Twiges had been promoted the
heads OF all the other officers the Army sitter h. battle,
on the Rio Grlnde and why II he had been rightly in
formed Col Tw2gs had been perhaps less conspicuous
courage and good conduct than any other in IN.
nsd IN the estimation OF the whole army and his promo
q could only be accounted for the ground his po
aical opinions.
hr. NJ would singular circumstance id to have
occurred about the time that the army were stationed ON
The Rio Grande. A Lieutenant had been sept on from
"ashne'on, having no other claims the office his
oein2 Drawing Partzan OF the Administration and at
Yer remaining three weeks in the army, discovered
mat he had managed draw within the three nav
TOT seven weeks Finding that the fraud had been detected
ne wrote To the President OF the officers Wash
ngon, and before Court Martial detailed to Try hin,
Tor the offence, order arrived from Washington direct
ing Gen. Taylor Court Martial for the traI
OF the guilty officer, ii had been convened and IL
II had TO dismiss Mr. w. said he could not speak
IN reference to this matter OF his knowledge but IL
any mend OF the Administration desired it, he would put
nm IN possession ct the means OF ascertsnng whether
story was well founded He believed II the matter
were enquired into, the story would be found be strictly
correct.
Perhaps Csad Mr.. NJ twas in the conduct of The Pre-.
siden towards Cen Taylor that he displayed great
ga'd or Justice The President had in his le'sr Gehr
l. after the capture ct Monterey expressed strongly in
sinuaied his dsapprobaon the terms OF
IL was known that the partizans Of the Administration had
become alarmed At the rapidly growing popularity OF "Od
Rough and Ready and serve press had begun almost
openly to him-the fire on his back dixie that an
pretended by Gen. Scott) had actually commenced IN
Ger these circumstances Taylor. probably acuaed by de-
sire TO place the means Of defending his reputation in The
hands OF rend, # he should fall the field Of battle
wrote 10 relative letter, evidently not Intended fur puh
cauou IN which he forth the IN relation to III,
capuaon Of Monterey That relative, finding that base
and nsidous attempt being made, BY the partzans of
the Government, TO blast the reputation of the old Gener-
al whilst absent fighting the battles his country thought
proper without the knowledge OF Cen Taylor
TO publish of his letter The President of the United
states seeing that his criminal neglect TO supply the
Army with provisions and the Of conveying their ar
nhey TO Monterey, exposed by the letter. although he
knew 1t had not been written for public determined to
make lis publication ground of serious complaint against
Us anihor Actuated BY spirit Of malgnty and mean
ness, peculiar 10 OF inferior intellect and not daring
TO assa him openly, he raked old Army regulation
Q, 1879 ioroidding the writing aud publication OF letters
oy oheers and orders 1t to be published intending there
by TO subject Gen Taylor the imputaton Of gross de-
rehcon or breach OF duty, the public estimation IL
would not suit his purpose TAYLOR openly for tina
letter he had written. Ii only necessary for men of in
teigenee to examine the regulation 1895 To perceive
at us OBJECT was 10 prevent the future Of the
armies and plans OF the Government ,ming known TO
the enemy, by means OF letters published by be
officers OF the Army, and Il could have no appa ton
10 such letter as that Of Gen. Ia lor Gent Gaines
"hch only spoke OF the past ard which would have
been OF any value the had il fallen into their
hands. But still the Of the regulation or orde of
1870 were very broad; and with the aid a serve and
corrupt press, It might TO fix in the minds Of tina
multitude, an Impression that Taylor had been guilty OF
great nPropnety and afford Of justification tor
lpersedag MN IN The command OF the Army and there
lore the President ordered il 10 be published
The IRE on his back now fairly commenced and
was soon followed up with proposition to appoint Lien
tenant General avowedly designed place the command
OF me army IN the hands OF Col Benton. One word said
M VI as TO Col. Benton; that msdss meek and humba
man VINO vas TO have received the appointment Of Lieu
tenant General had the bill passed creating the Office
lie hr BentOn told the Senate the United States thar
ne had been an officer IN the OF lsI2 higher in COM
anu 'han any OF the officers in the Army. He had,
however, seemed omitted to tell Us where he buried
us uead,' DUNG the time he in office MI VI bad
never heard Of hrs having faced the enemy or OF his hay
lng been IN any battle all Yes he must retract thar.
ne AGd heard OF his being engaged one battle bat not
ssh'ns' the enemies OF his country. He Mr.. had
happened many be 6ed or locality OF
ne oatue IN the city OF Nashville and had the particular
Of the tight desiei him. by citizen of the mace ro
tossing 10 know all about them IL seemed that when Col
nays "a mend OF Gen. Jaekson,) entered the tavern IN
which the tight took place. the Old General had received
saoi hEed al him by Jesse Benton and lay elerng in hrs
oood on the hoor, whilst this Lieutenant General had
pointed pistol him and pulling the trigger when
me od man. pointing hun remarke ed Hays ook at tho
id coward-he has forgotten to cock his p,tol|' Wbe
'her tn account OF the ARRAY or not Mr. NJ
could not undertake pronounce he told it a. it was
told 10 him"
MI NJ thought the experiment Of appointing men to ths
command Of an army the ground that they had held
otlce at remote period had been sufficiently tried in tho
"N OF lol<, when the command OF al army in Canada
was conferred on Gen Hull And he did not think IL er
aciy iar that who had abandoned the army 10 pur
sue other objects OF ambition should be placed over the
neaus OF nose VINO had stuck the fig country
1h'oush thick sud thin from 1912 the present moment
olca Potey on the part OF The government very
ven calculated prompt the officers Of the army 10 ac.
CT noble daring Nor did furnish strong evidence Of
Jisuee wisdom and ability" Of the President who
/ commended ~.
Nj VI. expressed desire to be- informed
we'ner the parIlns Of the President cant 10 claim any
especial credit for him. for the sagaeity wisdom and ab
displayed by him when he permitted Santa Anna and
Tue able officers who with him. 10 pass through our
nee on heH way 10 the city Of Mexico IL notori-
Gus that that time Mexico was distracted nv the e,
tests OF conending factions. She had no Acknowledged
mead IN whose ability conduct he war eli the neon had
confidence. She had but m,n IN the world IN whose
ABILITY and courage all parties could cou6de and him they
hlu expelled on aeeoani Of his alleged tyranny but NOS
from any want Of confidence in his capacity And that
man vas santa Anna. And that WIS the man whom our
sise PRESIDENT gave orders to our feet permit
vera Cruz, together with all his Ulcers lie Odd enter-
tie was Immediately placed the the Government
ana from that hour, the ssentons which had prsvasy
existed among the MeHlcsns have almost ceased. New
energy and confidence have been infused into the Govern
men sud s Armies snd Government has been com
PEELED 10 change all It's plans and 10 s probable will SOON
rave 70 a6sncon the idea Ut "conquerng the country
DID MI foA dspny his eminent ability thus giving 10
The enemy head aud thus uniting their whole power and
'uengih against US Will any friend Of the Adminsus-
ration have the courage to and say that be approves
o. ihal act No not one and yet are csed on sad
VIZ. VI TO declare IN general TERMS that the President
mas conducted the war with "eminent ability 2"
Mr VI desired 20 know whether the policy Dc PLAYED By
MI Pok IN directing tho commanders Of our armies 70
cause OIL me supplies Tor their support procured Mexico
70 De paid Tor, instead OF evying contributions the
NY and quaUenng upon them. customary oil tha
wars o. Europe. was considered evidence Of hs wisdom
and ebiiyi Mr. VI believed that Bonaparto vas fspusd
70 nave pssessed some little military skill and some
y IN conducting war; and IL had been his nvarsblo
Paeuee and that Of every other srea General except Mr.