The voice of freedom. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1839-1848, 1847-03-11
J.F. MCCLELLAN, Printer.

1
not before this time enjoyed the luxury OF
"revelling in the halls Of the Montezumas,'
but that their bodies have not been blanch-
ing upon the shores Of the Rio Grande. But
for the indomitabe energy and heroism Of
General Taylor, and those in his command,
against vastly superior Odds the flag of your
country, instead of floating in triumph to the
breeze from the heights Of Monterey, would
have been dragging, blood-staincd and dis
honored, in the dust All that has been a.
chievcd in this war, all that has saved it from
the ridiculc Of the world, and its authors from
the unmitigated contempt of mallind, has been
achieved under the immediate counsels and
command of Gen. Taylor; and yet his name
finds no commentator i'll that voluminous
message, which purports to give a detailed
history of the origin and the progress of the
war No, sir; the name of the brave old he
70, who has won every battle that has been
fought; who was ordered into, the midst CT
dangers against superior forces who has driy-
en- back the advancing foe from your borders,
and who is the real hero ofhe story, is hardly
referred to in that recent executive fiction,
whose scene is laid in Mexico and of whick
you have ordered the publication of very
large edition. Let the country mark the sig
nfcant and ominous fact, that the war-worn
soldier of many years and of many battles,
and of as many Victories who has borne the
STANFORD Of his country in triumph through
every conflict; whose life has endured the
hardShips and privations of the camp in his
country's service, who has braved alike the
dangers of battle, and Of pcstilencc that walks
in the air; who sits down to a soldiers fare,
and who rises up to soldiers toll; whose
fortune is his fame, and whose fame is his
country's, is not deemed worthy of an approv-
ing notice in that elaborate executive COM
munication, which proiessedly recites the tram
sactons of which he was the chief, and reioic-
es in the the triumphs of which lie was the
victor. He who, by the accidents of fortune,
has been elevated to power, who proudly
treads his palace halls, and sits at ease and
security in his Chair of State, may jealousy
suppress the name of one who has achieved
so much and suffered so much at his bidding,
but in vain will he endea, or to divert the pub
lie gaze from the glorieS that gather around
that name. 1t is name which will 90 down
to after times in full lustre, even though it be
not transmitted in the amber of PIesiden-
tial document.
But l repeat, Mr. Chairman, it was an ON
inous silence, significant emission. 1t was
but the premonition of q concerted partisan
assault upon the hard-earned fame Of Gener-
al Taylor-of an insdious attempt to pluck
from his brow the laurels lie may have won,
with which to deck less honored heads, and
to charge to his account whatever Of failure
there may have been towards a vigorous and
successful prosecution of tie war 1t io for
oie" from, nry purpose, however, to go into q
detailed defence Of tie acts of General Tay-
or against the assaults which have been O.
peny made upon him on this floor, especially
since it has been SO faithfully and so cffectual-
ly done by my young friend from Tennessee,
(Mr CroZier) But let me assure the pionl
GERS in these assaults, the gentleman from Ill
mos, (Alr licklin) and the gentleman from
follow in their lead, that they have struck
chord which will find no response in tie A
merican heart.
Mr. Chairman,if the war has not been pros
ecuted with vigor; if it has progressed at a
snails pace according to the language of the
gentleman from Illinois; if you have won
only " barren Victories" the fault lies else
where than upon tie commanding general,
and the American people so understand it
1t is because your Administration have
prosecuted the war more with view,
ard with more anxious desire, to con-
quer territory than to " conquer q peace
If the restoration of an honorable peace" is
to be secured only by " vigorous prosecu-
ton Of the war; as TIE President has said,
and as his friends here have thousand times
repeated, you will excuse me for asking why
you call for the three millions Of dollars III the
bill before us, with which TO enable the Pres
ident to tug peace? Cannot peace be re-
stored easier, cheaper, and more honorable,
than TO buy it, or to fight for it? The poo
pie may be at little loss to understand fully
how the return Of Santa Anna and his reti.
IL
peace, unless it might he under the quoting
influence Of tro orM1Ge milton tribe or how
it could contribute to more " vigorous pros
ecution of the war;" except BY cquiring much
more hard fighting, and much more sacrifice
of human life. They may not deem it auu-
senate or improper to question the wisdom Of
sending large part Of our active forces to
the Pacific coast, and across the trackless
wilds ofNew Mexico and California, where, for
all practical and legitimate purposes of Wig
orous prosecution Of the war, they are MS use
less as if they were posted in the deserts of
Sahara, Yes, sir; they may be impairment
enough to inquire why it was, if the Admins
tration have been doing with all their might
what they could do for the " vigorous prose-
cution of the war" that, but few days before
the five million loan was taken, in November.
last, a private letter from the Secretary Of
War was published and circulated to the
country, through the public press, sayingthat
" tie amount Of force alrddy in Sertice is deem.
ed sufficient for tie prosecution qfMe uar;'
and then, Immediately after the loan was tax
en- up, that an official rcqnisitioh was issued
from the same Secretary for ten new regi-
ments of volunteers, to serve for FIVE years, OF
during the war? Every body, doubtless,now
the object of that private COM
but desgnedly made public. Tho
trick succeeded, and the loan was taken. It
was obtained upon false pretences 1t was of
the same character of the Kane letter. 1t was
a deception, a fraud upon the public. 1t was
a crime for which, in private life, the oGend-