Weekly national intelligencer., 1848-02-05
LETTER FROM GEN. TAYLOR.


HOUSE, or REPRESENTATIVE FEBRUARr A, Is4s
The SPEAKER laid before the House Message from the
President of the United States communicating the following
Documents from the War Department compliance with
resolution of the House Of the 3lst ultimo:
Wan DspAmrmEsr, WAsHrssroS, Fen. 8, ls4s..
To The President of the United STATES.
Sin. In compliance with your directions be furnished
with copy OF General Taylers TO the letter. dated
January 81 ls47, which addressed Gen. Taylor by
the Hon. William L. Marcy, Secretary Of War; have the
honor to submit herewith copy Of the referred TO-
The letter from this Department OF the 9th Of January s4
was laid before Congress pursuant call at the last session.
The answer 10 IT, now submitted then written and
and did not reach this Department until more than month
and half after the resolution calling o the correspondence
with Gen, Tayor answered. and Congress had adjourn
cd. Very respectfully your obedient servant,
w. L. MARCY.
HEApauAnTERs ARMY OF occupArIoS.
Aqua Nuera, March 8, ls47.
Sin have had the honor to receive your communication
of January 27h enclosing newspaper Slip expressing
the regret Of the Department that the letter copied in that Slip
and which addressed by myself to Major Gen. Gaines
should have been published.
Although your letter does convey the direct censue Of
the Department Of the President yet, when it is taken in
connexon with the revival of paragraph the regulations
Of 1885, touching the publication private letters concerning
operations in the field am not permitted doubt that have
become the subject of Executive dapprobaon To any
preston of it, coming with the authority Of the President
bound by my duty and by my respect his high Office
patiently TO submit; but lest my silence should be
set forth in your communication, deem ii duty which
myself to submit few remarks in reply. shall be
pardoned for speaking plainly.
In the first place. the published letter bears upon its face the
conclusive evidence that it intended only for private
perussl and all for publication II published with
out my knowledge, and contrary to my wishes. Surely,
need not say that not in the habit Of wrng for the
papers The letter familiar one, written old mill
tary friend, with whom have for many years nterchanged
opinions professional subjects That he should think
any circumstances, to publish could not have been
foreseen by
In the absence Of proof that the publication made with
my authority knowledge, may be permitted TO say that
the quotation in your letter Of the six hundred and eth
paragraph of the superseded regulations Of 1926 in which
the mischievous and dsgracefu employed
characterize certain letters reports conveys though
openly Of rebuke which, say the least is rather
harsh and which many may think not warranted by the
premises Again: have carefully examined the letter in
question, and do not admit that is obnoxious to the obcc
tons urged in your communications see nothing in which,
under the circumstances, would not write again. To
suppose that it will give the enemy valuable information,
touching past prospective line of operations is to know
very little Of the Mexican Of information, Of their
extraordinary sagacity and facilities in keeping constantly ap
priced of our movements.
As my particular views in regard the general policy
be pursued towards Mexico, perceive by the public journals
that they shared by many distinguished statesmen and
also in part by conspicuous officer of the navy the pubca
ton of whose opinions not perhaps obsuced by egu
atons Of his Department II is difficult, then, to imagine
that the diffusion Of mine render any peculiar aid to the
enemy, specially disincne him to enter into negotiations
for peace"
In conclusion, would say that it has given great
pain to be brought into the position in which now find
myself with regard the Department Of War and the
Government 1t has not been Of my seeking To
the extent Of my ability, and the placed at my dis
posal have sought faithfully to the country by carry
ing out the wishes and instructions of the Executive
But it be concealed that since the capulation of
Monterey the confidence of the Department and much
fear of the President has been gradually withdrawn, and my
consideration and usefulness coespondngy diminished The
of The In
attitude antagonistca the Government has apt ustra
ton in the well known fable of Esop But ask favor,
and shrink from responsibility While entrusted with
the command in this quarter shall continue devote all my
energies to the public good looking for my reward the
consciousness Of pure motives and the final verdict of Impair
tia history.
am, sir, very respectfully your obedient servant
!. H. TAYLOR,
Maj. Gen. U. s. A., commanding.
Hon. w. L. Manor,
Secretary of War, Washington.