The daily national Whig. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1847-1849, 1847-11-09
THE HERO OF BuENA VISTA.

THE HERO OF BUENA VISTA.
ny LuIr. C. p. KisGsBuRy1
The great victory of Buena Vista was due alone
10 MAJOR General Taylor. II was his mastery fore
sight that prevented a withdraw of our forces to
Monterrey and his comprehensive sagaciiy and un-
erring Judgment that fixed the time and the posi-
ton. That he was the only American General who
would have given battle TO the enemy under the
circumstances, there is presume little doubt; and
that he was the only living General who could have
Won IT. there is Just as little. The most of those
who served under him on thai OCCASION know and
feel the truth Of this declaration Those who saw
him, In the darkest hour of that sanguinnry day,
when the thousands Of the enemy almost eqialled
The hundreds opposed to them, when many a stout
heart rembled for the result, and al the ffighnul
evidences of Mexican barbariiy which would have
followed defeat, Gen. Taylor unmoyed, and gave
his orders with calnness approaching sublimity.
The storm of battle ragged with terrible intensity;
the Mexican lines had attained a fearful proximity
10 ours defeat overwhelming and complete seemed
Inevitable; three Regiments OF the gallant sons Of
Kentucky and Illinois, weakened and shattered, by
seven hours Of almost uninterrupted conflict, had
been forced from the plateau, and there seemed no
human power capable of arresting the march of the
heavy columns Of the Mexican; but General Taylor
still held his position not less tower Of strength
TO the American than OF terror 10 the enemy round
which the waves of battle beat In vain. His eagle
eye saw the extremity Of the crisis and hisahghty
will determined to arrest il.
"Hgh and nscrutnble the old man Stood
Calm in his voice and calm within his eye'' q
though at that moment, the fate of the battle, the
result of the entire campaign the life ofevery Amerl-
can from Buena Vista to the Rio Grande depended
upon himself How his heroic spirit bore il all no
bly, up has already passed into history. Among
those who were most conspicuous in that last terri
ble conllict, North Carolina was well and worihiy
represented The names of Bragg and Bryan are.
familiar to you all, and with them were associated
Sherman, o. Brien, Thomas, Reynolds, Kilburn md
French, than whom the rolls Of no army can present
a brighter urray Of youthful and chivalrc daring.
With no support but the moral power Of the pre-
sence OF their commander the enemy were made to
aller under the fire of the artillery, while the often
distinguished Mississippans and the daring sons Of
Indiana, arrived from distant point of the field in
time to participate in the glorious repulse which
terminated the engagement
The victory won the generosity, benevoence and
sympathy OF General Taylor, arc not less conspicu-
GUS then his military genius in the hour of battle
The virtues Of tho man then, serve to adorn the
qualities of the Commander. With him not only
the arms OF the Republic, but the rights of humanity
are always victorious.
Henry CLAWS FoRrHcoMING SPEECH ON THE
WAa.-Tho following tclcgraphic despatch has reach
cd us from Cincinnati
" On Saturday, November 18th, Henry Clay will
speak in Lexington, Kentucky, on the Mexican War
It's authors, and Objects"
This announcement will be received by tho pub
lie with as much pleasure as we feel in making t.
The great question which has grown out Of the
Mexican war has already exasporated sectional feel
ings and threatens the danger of sectional parties 1t
is at such time and on the verge OF state of things
critical to all the best interests OF the republic and the
safety Of the Union, that the American people de-
sire The advice Of their wisest and most patriotic
statesmen and we felt that, in calling upon Henry
Clay for his counses, in the growing emergency, we
were giving utterance. to- popular wish which to
him would have the force Of an irresistible appeal
His speech ''on the Mexican war, its authors and
objects" will be expected with intense INTEREST," and
have taken such steps will enable us to lay the
earliest and fullest report of II before our readers T.
Phil. North american.
viii the North American send us proof
slip of this speech, in letter envelope, the
moment it can be had I
GEN. TAYLOR AND THE MILiTIA.--A circumstance
is mentioned in Conrud's Life Of Taylor, says the
Richmond Republican which we do not remember to
have met with before, but which is quito character
istic Of the man who seems to embody more fully In
himself the idea Of citizen soldier than any other
officer Of the army. In 1926, Gen. Taylor then lieu
tenant colonel, was appointed member of board OF
officers OF the army and militia convened by Secre
tary Barbour, to consider and propose system for
the organization aud Improvement Of the militia of
| the United States. The discussions were long and
earnest but report was finally agreed upon embrace
ing several important provisions Col Taylor distin-
nttiah cd
in srenuously maintaining he militia strictly as ci-
soldiey in opposition TO the views of some older
officers Of the board who would have invested ii
with more Of the character of regular army. This
is but one out of many instances which shows in the
character of Taylor, the intimate blending of the re-
publican citizen with the gallant soldier.
-~s ~
| SOMETHING NEw.-It Is asserted that letter has
been received in New York. from distinguished citi.
zen of London, predicting that very considerable
emigration of particular kind is shortly to com
mence. Many Of the most distinguished capitalists,
men of wealth, and even Of the nobility Of Great
!. Britain and the Continent have in consequence OF
the bankruptcy and rottcnness which peryades the
old world, and which is destroying all business conf
dencc and safe chances for the Investment of funds
determined TO Withdraw their capital and wealth. sell
out their estates, interests therein and enigrate
once to the United States. They have been driven
to this determination not only by the reasons above
| given, but by tho superior Inducements offered to
capital in this country, where enterprise is Young
and vigorous, unsurloitcd by competition, il will be
for centuries hence. Another still is the pro-
liability that the English people will soon repudiae
their national debt and every sensible man who
holds British consols will dispose of them al tile best
possible rate, and place his finds in the market srest
to reward him.
| TEt rFsaH - - s.