Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1847-04-16
THE ENQUIRER.
RICHMOND, VA.
Wednesday Morning, April IA, ls47.

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Wednesday Morning, April IA, ls47.
uWhosyer heard Mr.. Leake ex,oI The old General,
fTaylor before his enemies in he redr were stueh
,rnnsnarenr MIR eake-and we really thought, last
Friday night that you bashed even az you trneo your
sails 10 catch the popular breeze.
II IS by such ",rck." that the Wing attempts
to cas-, suspicion upon the sincerity OF Mr.. Leake's
commentators OF General Taylor's military
achievements But "the trick is too transparent"
and the editor should have "bushed" when, in
impuling improper motives TO political opPo-
nent, he suppressed fac;s which are on record
and which arc within the knowleee OF that edi-
tor and the world. The Wing canno' surely have
forgotten. that ON The 9Th of February Mr.. Tylen
The Democratic member from Prince William,
offered resolutions in the House OF Delegates,
rendering the thanks OF the General Assembly OF
Virginia 10 Major General Taylor, and, through
him. 10 the officers OF the regular army and The
volunteers under his command, "ior the skill,
courage, gallanlIy and patriotism displayed BY
the same in The battles of Palo Alto, Resaca de
la Palma, and the siormiDg OF Monterey, BY
our arms. and won for themselves imperishable
fame"-and also voting sword 10 Gen. Taylor
Mr.. Leake then moved an additional reson-
tion voting swords 10 Lieut. Col. Matthew NJ
Payne and Lieut. Col. John Garland gallant Vir'
gnians, for their heroic services 10 their country
Mr. Leake introduced his resolution with brief
but eloquent speech, I've quote from the Wing
| Times.l We make few extracts for the inorma-
ton of,he Wing and all others who impute nsin-
cere motives TO Mr.. Leake in commencing Gen.
Taylor, "whom j, is now very fashionable TO eulo-
sze." These resolutions were unanimously
adopted, and Mr.. Leake's thrilling remarks deli
vered, long before Gen. Tayor's "last brilliant
achievement" at Buena Vista. The charge of
the Wing must recoi upon its own head All
candid men must admit that The Wing editor has
gone far out of his way to assail most unjuslly
The motives of Mr.. Leake. We are not sorry,
however, that the "lrick" of the Wing has given
US ALI opportunity 10 reproduce some patriotic
and eloquen. passages, which show Mr.. l.. 10 be
worthy Of filling the place OF Representative Of
Virginia. In the House OF Delegates on The 9Th
of February last, on introducing his resolutions,
Mr.. Leake said:
zone Of The brave and patriotic soldiers who are
the subjects Of it, (Col. Payne,) is native o! my
county, and thiiher he goes, when duty allows il,
10 enjoy The greetings OF kindred and friends
And The generous people, whose humble organ
am, feel no ordinary qualification in The rehec-
lion, that when our willy and perfdious foes had
| filled the measure Of Mexican outrage upon our
country's rights, by spillng the blood of our own
citizens upon our own soil, that one who had gone
| from among them was amidst The gallant men Of
our little army upon our Southwestern frontier,
doing his duty, and his whole duty; and never
resting from the tolls Of Two bloody and momen-
| tous baules, until the shout OF victory, which
arose from Resaca de Ia Palma, was echoed back
| from The little tort, made glorious by The bravery
of handful Of men, against fearful Odds, and
rendered sacred by The outpouriDg Of he blood OF
lis heroic commander. The result is before the
world for its admiration. And in the two memo
rable battles, on This side OF the Rio Grande, Col
Payne was no idle spectator. High in the conf
dence OF his commanding general, he was nov
seen yonder conveying the orders which directed
these mastery movements, which will emblazon
the annals OF war; and then there, pointing gun,
that its aim might be The more unerring; and
again here, where the havoc of the enemy's ar
l,llery was the most dreadful, cheering the men,
sharing with them their perils; and, although &C.
verely wounded, never quitting the field while an
enemy was in ii; nor until victory perched upon
our banner. And as The heart panlelh for lhe
water-brook, so did he 10 be with Taylor, Worth,
Butler, Hamer, Quitman, Twigss, Henderson,
Garland. Duncan, May, Ridsely and The resi-, al
Monterey; and MS wound Only prevented. And
now, sir, the warrior, whose heart is steady and
composed amidst the cashing Of arms and the
raging OF the war-storm-b because he is obeying
his counry's calls and fighting her battl.s-wi
have heart, sir, that will be bic with unultera-
Bile emotions, when his country gives some token
of its plaudils for the performance of his duty
which he will leave as his richest legacy 10 al!
who will take pride in remembering his name
"Col Garland, TOO, sir, is a native Of Virginia
The constituents represented by my worthy
friend from mhelsi have The honor of having
sent him 10 the war; where he has won Tor him.
self name that will live in the memory of Vir-
.inia, and where he has sustained and added 10
her ancien, glory. Blu! the deeds of his valor
are so mixed up with the achievements, the ,ro-
plies, and the triu,Dphs OF Palo Alto, Resaca de
la Palma and Monterey, thai mere reference
10 them is a sufficient recital of his renown.-
| His place was 10 the hottest fine fight. And he
stands mos, prominently and goriously, amidst
scenes of danger, Of battle, and OF blood, where
| the generals all were wise, ana Inc soldiers all
| were brave.
"The feelings md sentiments of mankind have
always led them to award honor TO The brave
Let this be withheld, and your soldiers become
mere hirelings. And, in republic, where they
fight no, for trophies or their generals, but for
the rights and honor OF their country some me-
mortal Of that countrys praise is the only ade-
uuate reward for the soldier who has done his duty.
"And, sir, The page OF our country's history
which records these battles and the bravery OF
these soldiers, will be bright and dazzling, even
beside those which come before it and recite
The deeds OF the mighty men whose triumpbs
made America the asylum OF freedom.
"These mlghty and splendid achievements were
attained al the cost of many noble hearted daunt-
less soldiers. For amidst these scenes and slrug-
giles, how often and how strikingly, was The Sch
iiment illustrated, that
! "rhe paths Of glory lead but 10 the grave"
And while we honor those whose rank and high
position have brought their deeds OF bravery, oi
skill, and OF patriotism in fuu Nase Of SPLEEN
dour 10 Tie admuataon If rs NIL the men who
worked the guns, who charged down upon The
enemy-,hese men, many OF whom, nameless 10
history, lie upon tn banks oil the Rio GraDde
and upon The heights Of Monterey, where the
stream will ever murmur their glory, and The
breeze sigh their requiem. have claims upon our
gratitude as impershable as the glory they have
won. They never can be forgotten, sir"
Again, on the l2h February Mr.. Leake made
a triumphant reply 10 the dennnciaions by Mr.
Lee of Hardy Of the resolutions offered by Mr.
Mcpherson Of Page, sustaining The President in
his course towards Mexico and in favor OF Vi
gorous prosecution of the war; We make an
extract, which embraces glowing but just CON-
piment 10 the triumph Of our arms under Gen.
Taylor and to the "miliaIy skill and bravery" OF
the old Hero:
"Eager 10 denounce our Government, our oppo-
nenis think il has not urged on the war with sui
fcien. vigor. Shutting their eyes 10 the trophies
Dhteh ado,m the progress If our arms their denun-
Citations are heaped upon their Government be-
cause they conceive that they could have accom-
plished greater things.
"And how does The gentleman from Hardy al
tempt 10 destroy the force of the fact, that, not
witbslandng all this censure OF the President, for
the management Of the war. our most san