Staunton spectator, and general advertiser. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 183?-1849, 1847-04-15

grace a Wing General, who had stood somewhat
prominent as a candidate for the Presidency, and
might, if he should gain additional laures, become
u dangerous rival2 Did not the circumstances war
rant the opinion which Gen. Scott expressed, Ono
doubt imprudenty } that in advancing he would be
leaving behind him enemies to be dreaded
than those in his front. That expression gave the
President fair excuse for dispensing with the Ge-
neras services to the South, and he had some rea-
son to suppose that the ridicule thrown upon the
hasty plate of soup had proved the deadly bano OF
Scotts pretensions to the Presidency Next ehave
Gen. Taylor. This officer placed, in carrying out
the orders Of the President in circumstances of ex
treme peril, SO much SO that many had given him
lost, with decision, skill and courage never
surpassed, eXtricated himself, and, in doing so, a
chieved the brilliant victories of Pao Alto and Re
SAGA de la Palma AT that time the name of that
veteran officer had never been mentioned in connex
Ion with the Presidency, nor had any one ever
thought of him as candidate for that high Office
and the President hesitated not award to him the
NEED Of praise due to his gallant and distinguished
services, and even TO give him the well deserved
promotion from Brisadier General by brevet to
MAJOR General. But now, most unfortunately for
The General, some persons, in warm admiration of
the splendid abilities he had displayed, put him i'm
nomination for the Presidency. From that moment
we hear OF no more concentrations OF him by Mr.
Folk. In the Presidents message to Congress his
name Is not even mentioned in connexion with the
his fame down to the latest posterty as one of the
abest commanders of his day. Nay, we even
know that he was censured by the Executive for
granting terms Of capulation to the enemy, appro-
we'd of and sanctioned by all his General and Field
officers. Next the President sets his dogs in Con-
gress upon the gallant old General. He is even
blamed for not having after the battle of Resaca dc
la Palma, with less than two thousand men, ex-
hausted by two days hard fighting, swan Che had
no other means of crossing i) the great Rio Grande
River, and caught four five thousand flying
NleNcans. Next the President asks authority FROM
Congress to appoint Lieutenant General with the
view of superseding the brave "Old Rough and
Ready" intending, was well understood, to pro
mote to that high office that very modest and re-
firing gentleman, Col. Benton, who, doubtless,
possesses great military talents, but unfortunately
they happen to be merely pIoblematical. Failing
In this, GENERAL Scott now no longer dreaded as
the poisoned soup having MS is suppos-
ed, killed stone dead his pretensions to the Presi
dency, is sent on to take the chief command and to
this General Taylor does not object.
Gen. Scott is highly distinguished officer, and
General Taylor's senior in rank But he does OBJ
ect to the situation in which he has been placed by
the President He has demonstrated against it.
and demonstrated its extreme improperly, as to
make 1t manifest, not only to experienced military
men, but to every sensible plowman in this broad
land. What Is this stuation2 Gen. Taylor is
pushed forward within striking distance of more
thousand of that humber under the immediate COM
nand of Santa Anna at San Luis Potosi, and some
ten or twelve thousand under other commanders in
the neighborhood,) with only about five thousand
men, and those volunteers with the exception of
about seven hundred arterists and cavalry, and
his line OF communications four hundred miles
long, supported, in its whole extent by some three
thousand voluneers-and this too. i'm n country SO
hostile that soldier cannot GO one hundred and
fifty yards out Of camp, or Of the line of march;
without extreme peril of assassination. Now this
conduct of the President is only to be accounted for
In one of two ways. Either he is too stupid to per
celve the minent hazard to which he has exposed
Gen. Taylor and his gallant little army, or he med
ltaeS their destruction-f the latter, it shows an
enormty of wickedness almost too horrible to colt
template. But the high courage and consumntate
abilities of General Taylor and the indomitabe bra
very of his troops, the hope that they will
yet eXtricate themselves from the difficulties by
which they are surrounded. extreme they are in
spite OF folly or wickedness in high places.