The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1847-01-30
1.-THE Executive and the Army


We have expressed deep regret at the publication
of Gen Taylors letter through the more or less direct
agency of Major General Gaines. And we repeat that
Justice TO Gen. Taylor, will not suppose that this
letter intended for publication. In these i'm
pessions supported by the great of the pub
lie sentiment, far it has hitherto reached Some
Of the opposition presses themselves, who have spoken
upon the subject, have confirmed our opinions
by their declarations, as will appear by the following
tracts
The New York Courier and Enquirer" promptly de-
caed on the first appearance of Gen Taylors letter,
follows:
"The publication oft private letter from General Taylor
IN relation TO the course of the administration towards him.
is alike unjust that gallant officer and injurious the
service That Cen Taylor himself will disappove this
be doubtedand, although when once given the pub
c did not feel at liberty from the interest attached TO
such letter. to exclude it from our columns, the
less regret that it should ever have got into circulation
'Thc motive assigned, OF desiring TO vindcatc Gen Tay
o against the assaults Of the administration party
OF presumption, and in military sense, OF insub
presumption inasmuch as the defence of Gen
Taylor defence he need, might safely be conded to the
discrimination as wen as gratitude OF the people OF the
United States-and INSTRUMENTATION in military sense, in
osmuch presents the commander Of an army in at
tude of complaint no, defiance, OF his lawful SUPERIOR
the President OF the United States"
This same paper has not hesitated since the publica
ton of article upon the subject to pour its walls
of wrath upon our head for one expression in it, and in
terms which no gentleman would employ, and no gentle
man would condescend to answer. We exempt Mr.
James Watson Webb from all participation in this last
tce in the New York Courier, because he now in this
city, and because scarcely believe that he would
among other things charge the administration with
systematic efforts to nvege Gen Taylor into march
to the Rio Grande without orders"
The "Albany Journal" (another decided opposition
PRINT republishes the above article from the "New York
Courier with the following remarks
This accords with the apgrehensons expressed in
could be more unfortunate for the veteran himself for the
anny or the country The publication of that letter affords
anE hm Nor ean i be- donbe2 2 a ar ts pnb H
cation If nothing had been done previously, the admins
uuQh WIZ commence hosuities And tins letter, most I'M
wisely published gives them advantage which they do
not ;. I Ms rye.
u Is SAID the letter was written but in handing it over to
the Express he has done the general rreparable injury
It IS difficult to divine the otius of the Express in thus
embarrassing and weakening the position of Gen. Taylor
They certainly could not have been ignorant of the in r
Gus effect OF such publication 1t is not however, the
first time that paper has afforded aid and comfort to the
ocooco at the expense of those for whom it PROCESSES
friendship"
We pass all the suggestions which the 'Journal"
pleased to make upon the hostile and purposes
OF the administration and OF the ''locoocos TO these
testimonies, subjon the following article from the
Boston Atlas one OF the most decided and rabd presses
OF the federal party
Gen TAyLoR's LErrER.-We publish this morning on
our first page letter which puports have been written
oy Zen Taylor 10 friend and relative in the city of
New York, the subject of the Mexico On the
hfst reading, we were almost inclined doubt the anthem
ucly OF the letter II hardly be believed that
era Iaylor-who has been singuarly careful and saga
cous IN his correspondence well as his conduct of the
war-would far forget his duty the government i'm
Whose service he still engaged, de part from his line
OF correspondence with that government, and deveop TO an
individual citizen his reasons for the he has hitherto
pursued, and his views in relation the mode of conduct
ing the for the future. Such letter, if it was author
ed to be made public, is certainly direct appeal from
he government whose officer he IS TO the public Such
course, tappears would be highly nsubordnate and
unsoldierke;ud 1t would be utter variance with the
prudence aud discretion which Gen Taylor has uniformly
displayed. We convinced that either Gen Taylor did
not write the letter, that his confidence has been
grossly abused by indiscreet friend TO whom he la
written under the seal of expected privacy"
These federal presses, see are denouncng the publ
cation Of General Taylors letter, being nsuboriinate
and unsodierlike'as ga direct appeal from the govern
ment whose officer he is, to the pubc"-as amounting
to Characterization in military sense" Thus we have
taken ground in relation TO the indscreet publication
OF the letter, which these presses do not confirm In
truth, they use much stronger language than we en-
poyed And now the question comes up whether If
was not high time to prevent similar publications, com
planning if not defyng his lawful SUPERIOR the President
OF the United States" as the federal papers state or
rather, as our article stated it, calculated to place
Santa Anna in possession OF information, which cannot
fail 10 prove most injurious to us, and advantageous to