Herald of the times, and Rhode Islander. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1846-1849, 1847-02-11
From the N. Y. Commercial Advertiser.

| GENERAL TAYLOR AND THE ADmINisrRA
rIoN.-The Union takes b0lder ground IN
reference to the "vote Of censure" passed by
the Administration majority in the House OF
Representatives. II makes the unqua lined
dec laration, now, that the censure was justly
bestowed 10 reference 10 the conditions OF
surrender allowed the Mexican army At
Monterey. and the armistice. II says that
both were "most clearly questionable pro-
cedures !" that the "country learned them
without pleasure :" that the administration
was not satisfied about theln, upon the evi.
dcnce laid before II !" and finally, that "Gen'
eral Taylor himself has, in his recently pub
lished letter. failed fully 10 justify them, to
The general satisfaction Of the public mind
We take issue with the Union. al once, on
all these points except the third and main
tain that the terms of cupitulaiion and the
armistice were not questionable procedures,
that the better opinion and feeling OF the
country were gratiied by them, and that, II
General Taylor's letter has not fully justified
them, il has been only because no justihca
ton was required. AS 10 the "satlsfaction" l"
Of the Government we make no question
with the Union. conceding that il Is probably
better informed on that point than we can be.
H The reasons for the terms OF capitulatioD
\ granted by General Taylor were numerous.
Tie was told by Ampudia, and had perfect
II right to believe, that movements suspicious
to a speedy pence were in progress al the
capital ot Mexico. In this VIC know, or at
least have reason to believe, now, that Am
pudia uttered a deliberate falsehood but
General Taylor could not know this
had no reason to believe or suspect II. To
avow disbelief or act upon disbelief, would
have been to throw q needless and then un
/ ustiiable insult upon q high officer under
the Mexican Government. The story was
probable ; it accorded with the opinions and
/ the acts Of our own Government, which had
favored the return Of Santa Anna to Mexico,
avowedly because it expected him TO exert a
powerful influence in behalf of peace. II
General Taylor erred in believing Ampudia,
no erred only in emulation OF the President,
who believed Santa Anna.
Il Another reason was the humane desire to
spare the shedding Of more blood the blood
| OF his own troops as we'll as that OF non
combatants in the city Of Monterey. u the
terms demanded by the Mexicans had been
refused, and the assault had been renewed,
thousands of women and children must have
been slaughtered. We utterly deny that the
| people of the United States would ever have
accepted the capture of Monterey by storm,
and the destruction Of it's defenders,a as atone.
ment for such buichery.
H lf the absolute surrender OF the garri son
had beon insisted on and acceded to, Gener-
al Taylor had neither force to guard them
nor means to subsst them. What could
have been done with them? To shut him.
self up with them in Monterey-a force
greatly superior to his own-would have
| been madness. To march them, with such
a guard a. he could spare, from Monterey to
the United States, or to ony point where
they could be embarked for the u. States,
would have been yet greater madness. Be
foro they reached Camargo every man OF
them would have been off-sheltered and
armed by the Mexican population along the
route, and forming an army, large hostile
force, between Csmargo and Monterey, ready
to cut off detachments, to seize convoys. TO
annoy reinforcenents.
II The reasons for the nrmistice were equally
cogent. 10 say nothing Of the pacific ex-
pectations awakened by AmpudIa, General
Taylor was in urgent need OF time he
wanted reinforce ments and supplies his
men wanted rest means Of transportation
must be waited for With or without an
arnistice no could make no forward move.
ment for several weeks. Tho arrnistice had
the advantage Of seeming to yield, TO the so.
licitation of the vsnquished enemy, what was
indeed q matter Of indispensable require.
ment.
These we maintain in contradiction TO the
Union. arc the views entertained and ex.
pressed by the country. Members Of Con.
grcss, for party purposes. may profess to
deny their justice. but when those members
come to reckon with their constituents they
will find TINT iudgment is apainst them