Staunton spectator, and general advertiser. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 183?-1849, 1848-02-09
LETTER FROM GEN. TAYLOR.

On Friday last. Message from the President
OF the United States, communicating the G,llow;,c
Documents from the War Department. was laid
before the House of Representatives. in COMPLAINS.
with resolution of the House of the 3lst nl,;uo.
WAR DEPARTMENT. WASHINGTON, Feb 3. na
10 The President Of tse United States:
SIR In compliance with your directions to ho
furnished with ''a copy of General Tayor's answer
TO the letter, dated January 81, lS47. which Vac
addressed TO Gen. Taylor by the Hon. William T.
Marcy, Secretary of War" l have the honor to
S SUI herewith copy OF the letter referred to
he letter from this Department Of the 9th of JAN
nary, 1917, was laid before Congress pursuant to
call al the last session. The answer to il. now
submitted, was not then written and did not roach
this Department until more than a month and half
after The resolution, calling for the correspondence
win pen' Taylor was answered, and Congress had
"eu' very respectfully, your obedent ser
'""'' w. L. MARCY.
HEADQUARTERS ARMY OF OccupArroH.
Aqua Nueva, March 3, !S47.
Sir: have had the honor to receive vmr CON,
nunlca'ion oil January 9th, enclosing newspaper
sup ana expressing the regret of the Departmen,
'lat the letter copied in that slip, and which was
addressed by myself to Major Gen. Gaines. should
have been published.
Although your letter does not convey the ylircc.
censurc Of the Department or of the President rs,'
when 1t is taken in conneXon with the revival f a
paragraph IN the regulations of 1925. touchinr tho
publication of private letters conccrninr onerst;on
IN inc held, am not permitted toduubt that have
nccoi'ie Inc SUBJECT OF Executive disapprobaton.
10 any expression of il. coming with The ,utbor,,,
OF the President, am bound by my DUTY and hy
my respect for his high Office, patiently TO submit
nut, lest my silence should be construed into t,c;,
admlssi N of the grounds and conclusions sci forth
III your communication, | deem il duty which /
wv . ~ ,iySeii 10 submit few remarks in reply
snali be rardoned for speaking plainly
In The first place, the published letter bears mon
It's lace me most conclusive evidence that it was in
'enueu only Tor private peruSa, and not nj all fur
puoilca'ion 1t was published without nv know
ieage' ana contrary 10 my wishes. Surely, need
mol say mat am not In the habit of writing for the
newspapers The letter was familiar one writ
ten TO an old military friend with whom have for
many Yeas interchaaged opinions on professional
SUBJECTS That he should think proper under anv
circumstances, TO publish it could not have been
forcseen by me. Wis
IL the absence Of proof that the publication was
made with my authority or knowledge. | NAV be
permitted TO say that the quotation in your letter NJ
le SIX hundred and hiIieth paragraph of the super
seeded regulations of 1926 in which the terms
miSchevous" and ''dsgracefuln are emnoved 70
characterize certain letters or reports. conyevs
u'ough nO' openly, a measure of rebuke which to
say Inc least, is rather harsh, and which many NAV
think not warranted by the premises. Aoan. +
nave carefully examined the letter in question. and
40 not admit that it is obnoxious TO the objections
urged IN youT communication. see nothinp in il
Which, under the same circumstances would not
write again 10 suppose that it will give the en-
envy valuable information, touching our mast or
prospective line of operations is to know yerv ttla
Oh Inc Mexican sources of information or of their
extraordinary sagacIy and facilities in keeping con-
santiy apprzed Of our movements.
AS 10 my particular views in regard to the gen.
eTai poiicy 10 be pursued towards Mexico, per
ceiVe by the public journals that they are shared bv
many distinguished statesmen, and also in mart NV
conspicuous officer of The navy the publication OF
whose opinions is not perhaps DISTRACTED bv anv
regulations eff his Department. It's difficult. then.
10 Imagine That the diffusion of mine can render any
pte'.ar aid 10 Inc enemy, or specially disncline
MN TO enter into negotiations for peace"
In conclusions, wOnld say that il has oiven ,no
great pam TO be brought into the position in which
! now ma myself with regard to the Department
OF war and the Government. 1t has not been of
my own SEEKING To the extent ofmy ability and
c cle means placed at my disposal, have sought
la!thnly to serve the country by carrying out the
wishes and instructions of the Executive. But il
cannot be concealed that since the capitulaton of
! Monterey the confidence of the Department and
100 much fear Of the President, has been oraduav
Withdrawn, and my consideration and usefulness
/ coIreSpondingiy diminished. The apparent deter
m!nation Of the Department to place me in an att-
iude anagonstlcal TO the Government has an ant
Illustration in the well known fable of Esop. Bnt
ask no favor, and shrink from no r.sponsbilitv
WhIie entrusted with the command in this quarter
shalI continue to devote all my energies to the
public good, looking for my reward TO the conscious
ness of pure motives and the final verdict of impar
tial history.
am, sir, very respectfully, your obedicnt ser
want, r. TAYIOR
Maj. Gen. u. S. A., commadino.
Hon. w. J.. MARCY,
Secretary OF War NVaShinrton