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

tnct, uequivocal vote of thanks The gentleman and
s friends refused to vote such resolution, unless
companied by equvoca expression in regard TO Cen
eral Tayors character and conduct, and also what
may regard unfounded allegation with regard 10
the origin of the war
| Mr.. DOUGLASS. The gentleman and his associates
ON that floor wished to declare, then, that General Tay
Tor had earned his fame in unholy cause They were
unwilling to say that his had been the success OF brave
man and patriot fighting in the cause of his country
and OF liberty They ready to say that il was the
success of bucaner-of corsair--of bandit fight
ing Tor plumber in violation OF all law and in violation
sa 'S General G fpo w sse Hse
They charged BY their votes that General TAYLOR
successful in an unjust, unhoy, and piratca cause.
They said that he had succeeded with extraordinary ab
murder and Sf Kinds Of s@ %as %ha Ss
said [Cries of "good !" ego it. Dougass!"l Yes, and
that he had only done that but that he had brought
all this honor his country by prosecuting of
that inqutous character That what they puported
10 say by their resolution with the inference that the
was unjust and unholy. They-the demonstration
the gentleman chose TO call conspratos General
iaylors reputation from being associated with such
charges OF inamy; yes and honorable friend
him Mr.. A. JoHNsoNl suggested, from the charge of
violation OF the constitution of the United States
Mr. ASHMUN Gin his seat) The President
Mr. DOUGLASS He says 'the President" He be-
lIeved the gentleman lawyer. He supposed that
Mr. ASH 1I, q Gin his seat} Not much! IA Taught
Mr. DOUGLASS. Well, he supposed the gentleman
was not lawyer enough to hurt him in the opinion which
he animated. He could not shield himself under the
preeX that superior ordered the general to commit that
crime A man who had committed murder could not
shield himself by saying that he was directed TO do it
man who had plundered his neighbor could not pro-
tect himself by the plea that superior ordered him to
commit the act of plumber. Nor could man who
violated the constitution of the United States, shield him
self under the plea that his superior commanded him
perpetate that act of violation The President was, he
lr d. confessed responsible for the order to the army
u bs hs d Was o the
as banditti-as being band Of pirates. They did not
choose to hold out the spectacle to the world
ment-that three hundred thousand American citizens
were conendlng for the privilege of forming part of an
army OF punder and the commission Of all manner Of
indeed been constrained to doubt whether the gentleman
from Massachusetts and his associates that floor
really the especial friends of General Taylor The gen.
the TUE OF the resolution, by striking out the word
''thanks, and substituting disgrace" Voice. "Cen-
sure'-''censure y "Censure," thenso to make it
vote of censure on General Taylor! How did the vote
on that proposition sand' Who voted to put in
sure " He doubted whether any democrat voted in the
affirmative. "A VOICE: "No; it was CRANsToN."] The
entire democratic party them almost to mani VOICE:
Every man ]-every man OF them voted to put in
thanks, instead of ,"censure." Was not that eyi
spirit of censme-that they did not wish to degrade Gen
Iaylor' And they called these wings to give SINH
lar vote but could not get them up to it They
could not be brought up to the point. No. But the
wings thought if they could only get General Taylors
name before the American people in such capacity as
would leave the impression that they the guardians OF
his iame and the democrats seeking to and
disgrace him, and that the administration had entered into
conspiracy to sacrifice him, they could make rich har-
vest OF political capital of it! But when the thing
was brought up-sraght up to the point-it found
that the democratic party gave honest upright vote
al! the way through What was the democratic vote,
taken altogether! First, they voted thanks; second,
they voted medal third, they voted that those vcto
RES were acquired IN just holy and righteous cause
fourth, they voted that they passed opinion on that
one act OF which they knew nothing fifth, they voted
That by that act they meant to General Taylor
but thanks instead of That was what they had
voted and the reverse of these propositions just
what the gentleman from Massachusetts, and his coop
orators there had voted by the series of they had
given that day.
Mr.. JACOB THOMPSON said he had not risen for the
gentleman from Massachusetts, [Mr AsHMuN.l That
task had been already performed by his friend from Hi
nois Mr. DOUGLASS, in most mastery and satisfactory
manner. Naught remained to him but to animadvert
upon those remarks which pertained especially to
the resolutions under consideration and to his agency
and motives in bringing them forward and he intend
he would endeavor to avoid the introduction of any
or exraneous matter but strictly conne himself to the
resolutions and to the points made by the gentleman from
Massachusetts, Mr.. AsHMUN
Mr.. j. r. lNGERSOLL here interrupted, and said as
the gentleman from Mississippi has given notice of his
intention to move the previous question he desired to ask
HIM the reasons and the necessity for the publication OF
the correspondence OF general in the field with the De-
partment!
MI IffOMPoON SAID, III reply, tnat tnose reasons ana
that necessity he would endeavor TO set forth few
words But lately General Scott has been ordered to
Mexico TO take the command of the American army, to
control Its movements, and OF course, to supersede Gen.
Taylor, who has heretofore held the supreme command
This order based, he supposed, upon sufficient
sons, and he supposed those were furnished in
the correspondence in the War Department and if not
detrimental to the public service he wanted to it,
to be enabled to form his opinions and 1t
ed to him. every friend of General Taylor should be eager
and anxious to have it spread before the public There
surely be object keeping IL back and
the President recommended the passage of law author
zing hun to appoint lieutenant general to take com
mand OF our army. On that proposition debate arose,
in which he had participated Then and day after day
since, the administration had been charged with weak
nesswith inefciency. He accused of not furnish
ing the for the prosecution of the war; and Gen.
Jesup, who had done service for the State and
whom devolved the duty of providing the transportation,
and at whose door the whole responsibility OF this incl
hciency rested deserved TO be heard In the debate
which he had participated, statements had been made
roundly and broadly and perhaps both sides without
sufficient authentic data and due to those who had
made the statements that this correspondence should be
laid before the House that all might act advsedly
and vote with proper understanding. This matter
up; and it could not be suppressed An opinion to
be formed and was due to all to have everything which
will aid the formation of correct opinion. This was
mperatvey demanded by the very circumstances which
presented themselves In addition to this, the mill
ary committees of the Senate and OF the House had been
called and had the whole correspondence of all
these high funchonaries The reports which have been
circulated varied materially and not in the secrets
knew which to credit lie wished to know what right that
committee had to that correspondence when de-
MED TO the other members of Congress Each enc had the
same responsibilities the members of those committees
and they not constituted the thinking organs OF this
House Here Is a reason which he thought imperative
especially If the information may not be viewed detrl-