The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1847-02-01

ton of the order 80
, Mr. EWING II the gentleman wishes to understand
me- say mat with regard to this order, which has not
been regarded rs an ORDER but has been obsolete
for many years, General TAYLOR and number of the off
GERS OF the army may have violated the rule; but the
lsi ue If thought proper to make this publication By
he President OF the United States is when letter is
written probably not intended be published at all
and in ignorance perhaps, at least in forgetfuness of
any such order being IN existence was, then, direct
attack on General Taylor on account of that act what
ever It might be- and OF which | leave the public to
Judge.
Mr. DOUGLASS. The gentleman said it was an at
tack on that act, whatever ii might be- The gentleman
had before admitted that letter ncautously published
mlghl be violation of that order The gentleman from
characterized as an act of indiscreon
which ne regretted That the character that gentle
Mr.. As!!iMUN. Indiscretion on whose part
i Mt IAN s''tASS. On the part of any who con-
l'fbutad e rs publication; But he (Mr d.
had published plans OF the campaign of the future
operations in Mexico. He not inquiring whether
General Scott or General Taylor, any other man was
responsible; he only saying that a publication had
been NADIA publication announcing the intentions of
General Taylor to go further into Mexico in certain
dlreetlon--a publication announcing to the world that
whilst he would not in that direction, if they
all II must be in another one, and that other one
pointed out, so that the enemy could guard be-
ore they got there publication of that nature,
hostile to their interests, mischevous favorable to
the enemy had been published by somebody
| by some act OF misunderstanding aid to the
enemy, to the injury of their own country He (Mr d.
was not going TO ask who did that 1t was enough
that 1t had been donedone in violation of the order of
that government and the nature of that required that
the administration should apply remedy and put stop
to it in the future. They provided accordingly against
such misfortune in the future, without reference who
had done it in the past He did not understand that they
had taken any steps to ferret out the guilty mprudent
man.. But they had provided against such in future
and that was manufactured into charge against General
Taylor! But why this sensyeness in regard to the
was so very protuse IN making these charges against
them told them three times in the of his speech
its of General Taylor. What was the meaning of
that? How There would be a possible contn-
geney, the gentleman said and again. he said, there
might be political contingency Lastly, he said,
if that the people would render verdict at all events
Howi Was this to be turned into a political campaign }
Was there political design in all this? Why was the
resolution OF thanks thrust into the House yesterday
unless for political purposes!
Mr.. ASHMUN lin his seat] The resolution, to-day,
was brought in for political purposes,
! Mr.. DOUGLASS 1t was immaterial, whether it was
Mr.. AsHNIUN lin his seat refer to the resolution
of the gentleman from Mississippi
! Mr.. DOUGLASS was talking about the resolution of
which the gentleman from Massachusetts complained
being vote OF censIre on General Taylor Where was
the censure Why, the democratic side of the House had
voted thanks to Taylor agan-voted medal to Taylor.
they had voted something else and because of that the
gentleman from Massachusetts voted against the whole
What was the obnoxious part Why, it was thanks for
prosecuting just war commenced by their enemy. and
forced upon them The gentleman said that because the
resolution contained declaration that their cause
righteous therefore he should not vote for it but he
the Gust cause That i, The gentleman from Massa
chusetts wanted to vote thanks TO Taylor for fighting
well in unjust cause but would not that he had
fought well in Just cause He would give him medal
for fighting bravely in an unholy and unjust in
violation of the laws of nations and the constitution of
the United States Yes he would vote thanks for that
and medal too but when they said that in just
cause and the defence of their rights he would not vote
for it Cries of 'go it Douglass 'gve it TO him there]
No He would not vote that it done in just cause,
and in tervent, glorious patriotic zeal to advance
Would not Sn 9 be yes In he
You mean the of slavery, don't youi Laughter
and some confusion Yes the cause of slavery" must
these gentlemen were driven point--whenever their
Inconsistency and ergversaton were shown up-then
slavery must be drawn in for the purpose of diverng at
gentleman from Massachusetts that day, when he found
that he could not maintain his charge against the admin
y the hs to sosa aSs
pit in Havana and charged the President with being friend
| ly to Santa Anna
! Mr. ASHNUN did no, say so
| Mr.. DOUGLASS. Well, the gentleman tried to pro-
Mr. ASHNIUN / said no such thing The gentle
expressly that did not think that Mr. Polk had any
patriotic his breast when he his secret agent
TO Santa Anna But, repeat, the only charge to which
he was justly liable was, that he placed too much faith in
not say that Mr. p Polk was friendly to Santa Anna
Mr. DOUGLASS, admit the explanation
Mr. ASHMUN Correction not explanation.
Mr.. DOUGLASS Well, admit the correction The
gentleman, them did not charge the President with any
such design. VI course II was unnecessary for him (Mr
ID TO defend him against the charge of entertaining such
design He only charged the President with conspi
racy against General Taylor, and on that he made
speech about Santa Anna, Now if the only point of his
speech charge against the President in regard to
Santa Anna what fact did he to prove it He (Mr
D. had shown series OF acts OF Kindness of friendships
of honor of good will unparalleled in number and rapidy
OF succession when compared with any similar acts
the part Of any President towards any general in the army
Where them the evidence TO sustain such charged
The gentleman characterized that vote insult.
Where was the evidence Because they had voted in
that resolution provso that they did not intend that to
be construed into act of approval of the capulaon of
Monterey. Where the insult The articles and
facts of that capltuation had never been made fully
to the capitulaion The details were not yet known
He (Nr d. dehed the gentleman to show any details,
any reasons for it, except in private letter Did the
gentleman wish them to give vote ofsapproval in that
matter on the authority of private letter. published only
IN part with stars indicating what had been omitted
Again: all knew that there had been serious discussion
all over the land in regard to that captuaton at Monte
rey There was, however, general resolution not to
complainant TO censure-no to find fault-but general
suspension OF opinion till it ascertained what
grounds the capulaton had been deemed necessary
There great orbearance in thus refraning from
expression of opinion till all the facts known The
President of the United States in communication of the
War Department, presumed that circumstances had us-
ed the act III the President presumed that circumstances
had justified the act did that display want OF confidence
in Gen. Taylor Whamor confidence could they desirei
The democratic party had been willing to entertain the
same presumption and yet there had been general in
quiry into what that state of tact had been. Yet they
were asked to ego blind" and before of the
facts to approve of the act So far they knew, they
approved What they did not know they refraned from