The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1847-06-08
a Fair and Decent oppo.,tlon."

and Decent Opposition"
o,r readers will remember that we took notice, some
DAYS ago. of an editorial article in the National lnteh-
oencern which, upon anonymous authority, (aesed to
he in the confidence of the admnistraton) undertook to
aate if not to charge that to carry out certain Clan
detine arrangements pah Santa Anna President Polk
d,sired the destruction Of General Taylor and his gallant
or7av and ucas hence 'dappointed" wh the result al
B,ena VISTA!
We copy from the "Boston Post" the following para
graphs from the pen OF able and well-inomed writer,
in which, upon authentic documentary testimony The
a,rocous and absurd calumny is duly exposed and
held up to public scom.
From the Boston Post
peceal above all things, and desperately wicked, must
- he heart that could conceive foul a libel. Palsied
hould be the tongue that would give IT utteance 1t mn
nes to the President Of the United States and to every
member of his cabinet crime OF not less enomlty Than
that of deliberate against their own country, WIN
the snreadded Nervousness OF being paricipes eriins in
The wholesale wilu, and pre-conceed BrroHERy OF thou
sands of brave spirits who had gone into distant regions TO
G The battles and defend the flag of their conn-
nv, Presdent Polk and his cabinet advisers could, by
any stretch the imagination, be guilty OF such horrible
epayy the gibbe or the block would be too light pun
nent But it, the other hand it should appear that
the very reverse is true, and ha from first TO last the heart
ofe President and the hearts of his advisers have pal
,oted with painful anxiety lest their brave countymen
should subject their precious lives to pers 100 imminent
what eu should be the fate of their accusers The hiss
inc lava of universal contempt should be their portion
Honorable men OF all parties should REGARD ue'" WIN ~
lug and abhonence
needs not IA very distant travel into antiquity to extin
push this calunny totally and orever--nay, more, to
stamp it on forehead of the very deepest
and blacklist dye. Not or two references 10 oci
and documentary proof are required establish &le fact
that General Taylor not himself more socitous OF his
fate than the President and his cabinets and ihat IN
the council chambers this city, beat hearts responsive to
those exposed the pers of in the distant valley OF
the Rio Grande.
In despatch from the Secretary of War to General Tay
lor dated May 10, 1886, in which he acknowledges, in
terms OF glowing euogy the glorious conduct Of our army AT
Monterrey he thus refers TO the future operations OF Gen
Taylor:
"The city Monterey is regarded an important acqu
While held by competent force, the authorities OF
Mexico may be considered as dspossessed of the depart
menl OF New Leon 1t is therefore proposed that you
should make the necessary arrangements Tor retaining pos
eo" Of il during i"g,s tie war For s e s%g
proper for procuring supplies Tor the forces which
may be there slatoned only Tor holding it securely bn
for carrying military operations in the northern prov
inces Of Mexico
at is an object ofmuch interest the government to be
pu, in possession your views your future operations
IN, @a a." are oSasy
nndrr srsng circu,asanees advance beyond Monterrey
or the positions 10 its security The department
has not the requisite information 10 enable it 10 an
swer This question, but ieape to your determination
and your discretion 10 act IN accordance NTH rers
upon that point
What could beuay deeper anxiety for the welfare of
TAYLOR and his Than the foregoing golden No
mperions order is gveno dctatoria Decree advance
reckless of peril but all is left the generals wisdom
and discretion He the spot, and knew best He
posses data there which impossible possess her
and hence he should be the best Judge Of his opera
lions.
But this is not ALL In another despatch, dated October
q 1916 the Secretary of War employs the following Ian
,;ch loo ,vatul IN he min
'In your communication Of the LIST OF August you state
that whether large force can be subsisted beyond Mon
depend much upon the disposition Of the Inhabitants
us We led to believe from all the information
Ju, viii be active in obsirucng march tie nter
and that nil not be SAFE 20 proceed beyonf Monterey
The risk Of eGiendiag your line beyond that point such
positions may occupy Tor It's defence and security
ing further the interior nnoss you have adequate
force and could command ample reach San Luis
you are not in condition do ms, fine disposition Of the
r,ean people such has been indicated Indeed, ser
you Inc beyond the place you haze reached necessary
dependencies Should you concur in this view, as it is
then turn your attention 10 securing position at Mon
keeping epe" your line Of communicable" oiM The RIO
The Secretary then qualities this advice, by saying that
is not intended restrain General Taylor from making
excursions beyond Monterey and the department of New
Leon he should occasion do On the contrary
the enemy should be impressed with the belief that he in
tended forward, to the end that they might not
Withdraw their forces, and employ them other points
And again Secretary adds "A this, however is left
your own Judgment"
might rest here, impregnable ground; but cannot
resist the temptation of serving the additional proof con-
tanned in the pondence relating the expedition via
Vera Cruz Here again, before, the administration dis
played very endsres possible anxiety for General Tay
or He was counscled and consulted before finally
determined The Secretary of War; under date of Octo
H. 1886 refers this expeditions and desires know it,
in General Tayors opinion, detachment of 900 regular
troops cond be spared for that purpose, without essentially
Interfering with has operations. But Governor Marcy
pressy adds. 'It desired intended to weaen the
force with you Monterey 10 embarrass you by divert
ing troops from the Rio Gande which you may deem
accessory renfocements to the execution ol your oto'i
plated operations In another despatch, dated Oc-
ober D. 1876 he eitertes. ''Whilst the government is
that nothing should occur prevent the exped-
ton 10 Vera Cruz, regarding it Of great importance; yet it,
by Withdrawing from yorr immediate command the force
necessary for this purpose the ruth be placed
danger this erpedtion must for the present. be either
FERRED ABASDoNEDw And, TO it all, he adds
You mM by means, ceaken yourself TO expose the
under yo command ohs probable hazard Of disaser
IN reply to these suggestions-for they such only
General Taylor consented 10 the diversion of 1000 of his
troops under General SCOTT All that Gen. Taylor
subsequently, dd-incudng the glorious battle Of BIZ
saa Pistahe did upon his responsibility; not, it is
true, violation of any positive orders from the War De-
pament but certainly in the face of the doubts expressed
by the Secretary, and which then seemed this distance
eminenty Just and reasonable. And now to up the
argument wns not warranted in obaractezing the
saron of the nteligencer a and wicked cal
umny! much question whether the annals of journalism
even in this country where the press wholly Free afford
like exhibition of uajpny soup he