The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1847-03-15

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country, and his duties as commander to be guilty of
ioS .naomg consequences so serious to himself and
injurious 10 his country
Again, this letter saws: am decidedly onnosad 70
ryne ,he war beyond Saltllo in this direction" Sup
pose he President should deem il expedent to push our
arms even 70 the city OF Mexico by way Of Saldo, if
neheai ayio wrote this letter, disappearing campaign
III tit direction, he would have disqualified himself from
eonloeuns the expedition No man, believe, is ever
hS Ia WIN me execution of military expedition 10
whiSb ne is " decidedly opposed" Do YOU suppose Gen
Taylor would have thus disqualified himself? cannot
| will not believe il
pr mere are other evidences that this letter is not
from 'e pen oil General Taylor is filled with inuen-
does and petty complaints against the Executive show
ing tlal is the work of petty political grmakn seek
ing 70 manufacture political capital out of the war and
not seeking, as would do had General TAYLOR written
IT, 10 nerve the arm OF the country, BY sencng the clam
or OF faction, and urging all forward to an united and
vigorous prosecution OF the and thereby securing
In view OF all these facts, must again repeat my total
disbelief IN the authenticity of this letter. and therefore
denoance forgery which shall continue to do until
BID. SIR, suppose this letter should not prove to be a
forgery, suppose IT proves 10 be genuine what then
Does not the appointment OF lieutenant general become
Scott ought, under the circumstances to command the
army in Mexico lfGeneral Taylor did write this letter,
he has disqualified himself for the command. In this
emergency, what will the people expect' What does
the interest OF the country require! Sir that the Exec-
tive recommendations should be passed. and that a
Lieutenant general should be appointed. That is what
SIR, 1t is said, if civilian be appointed lieuenant-g gen
era all the officers OF the army will resign. Be it
CONSTITUTES one OF the strongest arguments in favor OF
the measure The government will be relieved of that
swarm OF vampires which hang upon the bosom of the
body polite All fear is that they would not resign.
But they do then those officers who useful TO the
country the President would promotes those who
peannuated or otherwise unfit for service would be per-
mitted to remain IN retirement Their places would be
supplied with younger, more active and efficient men
the organization OF the army would be perfect and
the efficiency Of the service greatly promoted But he
should like to know what, in this land of freedom, enti-
tied any parhcu set of beneath the to the ex-
elusive right OF communicating to the masses the
humble privilege OF obeying He had supposed that Office
was open to the enterprise OF all and that merit consti
uted the sole claim to preferment Does the gded ePau
let or button establish the only claim to office; or does
establish that exact degree OF merit necessary its at
tinment? think not, Gentlemen should remember
that there is no authority in this government not derived
from the people-hose in civil life. Nor should they
forget that every officer in the nation, from the President
down to the mere police magistrate is the servant OF the
people authority directly or indirectly from
Mem and directly indirectly responsible to them Am
then, to be told that the appointment of civilian TO a
distinguished post in the army, constitutes Insufficient
reason Tor the resignation OF all the officers No sir it
affords no such reason; and if the officers of the army
act upon any such PRINCIPLE the epanet should at once
be torn from their shoulders and placed upon others
worthy OF the honor and distinction they confer. View.
ING this subject in any aspect decidedly in favor of
the appointment OF a lieutenant general
Sir, now turn to the amendment read by the clerk be-
lore commenced my remarks 1t is intended to raise
the ways and means necessary to vigorous prosecution
Of the war and for that purpose proposes duty of 80
per cent ad valorem upon the entire list of imported ar
ces not now taxed including tea and coffee. The bill
under consideration proposes appropriation of money
not now in your treasury The amendment proposes to
place there The connection between the raising and
expenditure of money is so necessary and intimate that
my amendment will not, amagne, be ruled out of
der In fact you must collect before you eXpend the
money. Let the bill, therefore, which proposes the one,
provide the other
By reference to the annual report of the Secretary of
the Treasury, ! find the following estimates OF erpendi-
tur and accrung for the fiscal year ending the
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