The State guard. [volume] (Wetumpka, Ala.) 1847-18??, 1847-07-13

raj effect OF such proceeding upon
themselves and upon the country. What
was the object of that equalization Ii
was to prevent further effusion OF
blood. What would gentlemen have
had Gen Taylor do under the the cir
cumstanccs he wds placed in2 With
an army so reduced by slaughter, that
it numbered mol more than five thou
sand serviceable men, would he have
had them attack an army of mae thou
sand strongly entreGched in that city 2
Suppose they tine American army] had
captured then, what would they have
done with them7 tsentlemen knew tina,
Gen TAYLOR was badly supplied At that
time. He could not have fed them for
ten days. He could not have retained
them as prisoners of war. And they
had the Information of General Taylor
himself, that those Mexican soldiers
could have felrea;ed from Monterey in
ore night if the capitulation had not
been made, and they had seen fit TO do
so. With these facts staring them in
the face, what would the gentleman have
had Gen Taylor do2 Regardless OF the
lives of the Mexican women and chll>
dren, or of his own troops, would they
have had him continue to storm and
sack the city2 For what purpose should
he do it? Why, for the additional glo-
ry and honor, he supposed, of having
slam SO mary hundreds of MexicaEs IN
single batile--and for nothing but the
empty name of glory2 We're they to
have no regard, in considering this subs
ject to the loss which they would Them
selves have sustained He honored
Gen Taylor for his generalship and hu>
manity on that occasion--for the latter
eminently. Would gentlemen have it,
that General Taylor should have sack
ed and siormed that crty2 Were they
unacquainied with the inevitable conse.
quences OF sark and storm2 Would
they have set at liberty those soldiers
hard Of heart and ripe for the blacklist
deeds--to range in that city unrestricted
regardless Of women and children, who
must ha We suffered wofnlly at the hands
of their soldiers in the fury of that
storm? No! He honored Gen Taylor
as much for his discretion on that occa-
sion, as for his generalship. He was
glad that he showed himself humane in
tnut baitle--that he did not seek for
gIorv by Irampling upon weak and help
less humanity. But looking forward to
another battle, what would be the infu-
ence of their vote upon the soldiers
WHO might be called upon 10 engage in
tia vote refusing to approve of the
rapilulaiion Of Monterey They were
to be left TO infer that humanity was not
a virtue in he view of Congressman
they were TO come red handed from
every battle that they were TO sack and
storm regardless of lives. He was ntt
willing to teach any such doctrine. He
would have no hand r il; and he re-
peaied he honored Gen Taylor the more
for tie humanity he exhibited in That
memorable battle, File (Gen Taylor
stood ia suci, position now before the
country that no such side blows as tina!
could affect his reputation. He stood
firmly entrenched in the confidence and
affections OF the American people-.an
esteem earned by his bravery, displayed
not only in that battle, but especially in
the glorious battles OF Resaca de la Pal.
ma and Palo Alto. A vote like that, so
fat from doing him injury, might rouse
the sympaihles of the American people
in favor OF him. He was now their fa-
vorile military cheflain. Il was not in
their power--und he hoped lhey we're
not disposed 10 if they cou.G-to take
one sp,ig from the taurels wreathed up
on his brow.
Mr. Ruler hoped the proviso would
be stricken out. A vote of thanks TO be
worth anylhing must be unqualified
free-di,ect. lie was sorry thai his
honorable friend from Arkansas insist
ed upon the proviso. He agreed with
his friend from Mississippi. He would
not hold out in one hand thanks. in The
other .censure. The proviso might be
looked upon as important now, but his
tory would set the matter right. He
was not prepared 10 constitute himself
as one Of those who We're to pass an
opinion upon the conduit OF General
Taylor. This was not the proper time.
He had hoped that not breath OF party
feeling would have touched this subject.
Mr. Basby wished to say, once for all,
that from all he had seen ard heard, he
disapproved out aud out OF the terms
of that capitalization, not only because he
thought II improper conduct on the part
OF the United States, but for reasons
quite different from those which had
been referred TO BY the honorable gen-
tleman from Delaware. II the battle OF
Monterey were to.have been the last
one, he might have given way to the
feelings Of humanity; but there was no
prospect that that was TO be the last bat.
tie. On the contrary, they were enga..
ged in war which bid far to occasion
much further shedding Of blood; for a
battle, under such circumstances, the
terms Of tina, capitulation were unprc
cedenied The resolution was OF little
consequence 10 the reputation Of Gen
Taylor Il was not important to him
as reward. The best reward which a
military commander could have, was the
con seriousness Of having discharged
| his duty. And besides. while they were