Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1841-1853, 1847-02-11
General TayIor's Letter.

seen them, ana We see goou many, eeheio"- y
prove of the letter recently published and imputed
have doubt correctly, to General Taylor
They do this for several reasons Taylor, they think
may possibly be the Wing candidate for the Presl-
dency; therefore they must approve of his conduc'
whatever it may be: he assals the Administration
and of this grat6es them; he exposes, so far
he is able, the plan Of the campaign TO the Enemy
and it thus assists them in giving aid and comfort"
to their dear friends the Mexicans In this raitorous
disposition they far exceed their political coaduors
at the We have had occasion to note this fact
in other instances. Though in principle the eastern
federalists perhaps ultra than those OF
the West, they nevertheless have personal honor and
sef-respect enough to restrain them sometimes within
the bounds Of decency and show of patriotism at
least. While therefore, as We have said, our Wing
papers in extacies of delight at Tayors letter,
and bestow upon il unqualified praise the Boston At
las, the leading whig paper in New England, con-
dennis it in pointed This condemnation is the
more remarkable, as the principal editor OF the Atlas,
in his capacity of member of the Massachusetts Gene
raj Assembly had but few days before introduced
resolution highly complimentary to TaylOts general
ship.
From the Boston Ailas, (Vhig.J
Grs TArLoR's LErrER-we publish, this morning,
on our first page letter which purports TO have been
written by Gen. Taylor, TO near friend and relative N
the city Of New York, on the subject OF The war 10
Mexico. On the first reading almost inclined
doubt the authenticity Of the letter. IL was hardly TO
be believed that Gen. Tayor-who has been slnguarly
careful and sagacous in his correspondence, as well as
his conduct of the war-woud far forget his duty to
the government in whose services he Is still engaged, as
to depart from his line of correspondence with that gov
eminent and deyeope individual citizen his
sons for the has hitherto pursued and his views
in relation the mode Of conducting the war Tor the
future. Such a letter. If it authorized TO be made
public certainly direct appeal from the government,
whose officer he is TO the public. Such course, aP-
pears would be highly nsubordnae and unsolder-
it would be at utter variance with the prudence
aud discretion which Gen. Taylor has uniformly dis
played. We convinced that either Gen. Taylor did
the letter. that his confidence has been gross
y abused by some indscreet friend, TO whom ne has
written under the seal of expected privacy.
The Atlas is by means alone among eastern
wing papers in its estimate of Taylors letter.
The independent press too occupies similar ground,
as the following extract from the Philadelphia Ledger
will show
GIN TAy1oR's LErrER-The New York Herald
suggests that Gen. Tayors letter somebody other,
recently published, and puporng to be written at Mon
erey Nov. 9th, last forgery. We incline 10 the
opinion. But if be genuine, it could have
been intended for publications. and therefore the publisher
has sadly violated private confidence unless we admit
that Gen Taylor greatly departed from his usual dis
creton He have known that its publication IN our
newspapers would send IL to Mexico, over which 1t
g would be spread by the Mexican journals What
then must De the discretion OF WIN,
in an enemys country, publishes the paucy of his
aud the delays and mistakes OF his own govern
men? This is not like the whole course Of Cen lay
lOr TO the capture OF Monterey IN September last aud
: therefore receive genuine, without evil
dence authentic than its publication In news
u paper.
But this is the only fault in the letter. He says
n that he granted favorable Gen. Ampuda, be-
cause he knew that negotiations for peace pending
that according Gen. Ampudias account, the whole
Mexican people adverse TO the and that there
he
is blood Admitting that he apprised of these negola
ons he coulc know their result, even had then
D. been reached Did thus authorize him, as military
IF commander, yield important advantage? Certainly
lie bound to restrain vanqush the enemy to
the utmost OF his power for his advantages could no
niure his country negotiations then pending,
ID much less had they already terminated in peace anC
Us had such negotiations failed every advantage that he had
gained would be important in prosecuting the war TheT
ne as Gen. Ampudia a enemy. and a whose We
De racy ndubiable, Gen Taylor should not have
received him a to anything important Thu
N effusion of blood question which he had no RICH
TO settle conecures about peace or on Cen Ampu
,e das word. If he confident Of gaining anOIhe
battle he bound TO fight IT, and prohibited from sur
ut rendering advantage blood Shedding BLOOD
ne incidental war; and army sent into Mexc
r. to fight and therefore Gen. Taylor bound to fgh
rh when confident Of Sighting advantageousy. good sol
adj der would have reasoned thus, and IN our estimation
o. General Taylor is too good soldier to have reasone
" otherwise.
His reasons, founded upon the strength of the enemy
the loss necessary TO capture him. and the slight import
ance oil The terms granted ana the want OF means 10
d. prosecuting his advantages, military reasons base
upon facts within his cognizance, and therefore salts
mr. factory
The tone in which tins letter alludes the Execuv
10 is sufficiently respectful for military commander
and therefore, believe could not have been used b
ne Gen. Taylor. The letter speaks Of the authorities
Ia Washington" and Mr. Polk" and of s'conquerIng
peace in the language of sr. Polk, and Gen. Scott.
rv All this sounds like the viuperative style Of pal
tisan newspaper, stump orator. than the grave,
u.s. siderae, digni6ed and courteous of GenerI
officer, abiding 10 his superior officer and to the chic
da of his country This letter is prObabl
the invention Of some partisan, for the purpose OF maxim
me some partisan capital for factous purpose. w
It'll should greatly regret that had been written by Gener
ed Taylor and if were must at least believe that hi
~ confidence violated by its publication We call upo
honest men, OF all political ceeds, TO Gen. TaylC
les the President makers; for if they be allowed
speak for him, they will eectualy destroy his usefune
iu and blast his reputation.
81 Our Wing contemporaries may plume themselvt
over Taylors letter as much as they please; but the
-, will find that among patriotic and sensible people
= all parties it will be ranked in the category of th'
famous epistle of Scott which immortazed Ii
81 " hasty plate of SOUP
ate 0.rThe Wabash Express of the Sd inst. attempt
7l to give sort of history of the rise and progress
ex- the "Butler bills" of last year and this togetht
yed with exposition of their provisions by Senator
10 The history is to our own knowledge uery incOrre
oil in nearly all its statements of facts; but do NJ
lp- think it expedent present, if it shall be,
I'D, give a true version of it. Erroneous statement
however, will do no good, at any rate, it is n,
right that they should pass without contradiction.
\ - to the exposition of the Acts by ga Senator, "-thi
also considered erroreous A corrpsnondenS crit