Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1848-02-11
Letter from General Taylor to the
Secretary Of War.

The President has communicated to C0nrr, g,
in reply to a demand by the House, the sniiiuiu-
cd letter from General Taylor. in reply to tat
of the Secretary OF War. relative to the ruhli-
cation Of the formers celebrated private letter
TO General Gaines The General vindica,rs
hiplsef with ability, and much self respect: lGs
letter will be read by all with interest, and, by
his friends. with much satisfaction. Its reading
IN the House on Friday is reported to have caus-
ed considerable excitement. It certainly can
do the administration no good. The Secretary,
in communicating the document says i was not
received at the Department Ill after the close
Of the last Congress.
Head quarters Army Of Occupation,
AQUA NUEvA, March 3d. ls47.
have had the honor to receive your coIninu-
nicaton Of January q, enclosing a newspaper
dip, and expressing the regret Of the Depart
ment, that the letter copied in that slip. and
which was addressed by myself to Major Gener-
al Games, should have been published. Al
though your letter does not convey the direct
censurc Of the Department and the President ;
yet, when il was taken in connection With the
revival Of the paragraph in the regulations Of
1875, touching the publication OF private letters
concerning operations in the field. am not per-
mitted to doubt that | have become a subjecl Of
Executive disapprobafiOn- Te any expression
Of il, coming with the authority Of the President
high Office, patiently TO submit but lest my -
lenee should be construed into a tacit admission
of the grounds and conclusions set forth in your
communication. deem it duty which | owe TO
myself, 20 submit a few remarks in reply.
shall be parioned for speaking plainly. In
the first place, the published letter bears upon
its face the most conclusive evidence that it was
Intended only for private perusal, and not At all
for publication. 1t was published without my
knowledge, and contrary to nv wishes. Surely,
| need not say, that am not in the habit Vi
writing for the newspapers. The letter was a
familiar one, written to an old military friend.
with whom have been for many years inter
changing opinions on professional subjects
That he should think proper, under any circum-
stances. to publish it, could not have been fore
seen by me In the absence OF proof that the
publication was made without nv authority or
knowledge, may be permitted TO say, the quo
taiion IN your letter of the 650th paragraph Of
the superseded regulations of 1925 in which
the terms ''nisehievous and disgraceful- are en-
ployed TO characterize certain letters or reports
conveys. though not openly measure Of r.
buke, which, to say the least, Is rather harsh.
and which many think not warranted BY the
premises.
Again, | have carefully examined the letter
in question, and | do no. admit that il Is Obnox-
ious to the objections urged in your communica-
ton. / see nothing in il, which, under the same
circumstances, would not write again. To sup
pose that It viii give the enemy valuable infar-
nation touching our posts or respective lines of
operations, is to know very little Of the Mexican
sources Of information. or of their extraordinary
sagacity and facilities in keeping constantly APP
prlsed OF our movements As to my particular
views in regard TO the general policy 70 be pur-
sued towards Mexico, perceive from the pub
he journals that they are shared by many dis
ungulshed statesmen; also, in part, by conspic-
uous officers of the navy, the publication OF
whose OPINIONS Is not, perhaps, obstructed by
any regulations of the department. 1t is diff
cult then. to imagine how the diffusion Of mine
can render any peculiar aid to the enemy. or
specially disineLne him TO enter into negotiations
for peace
In conclusion, would saw it has given me
great pain to be brought into the position in
which l now find myself in regard to the de-
partment Of war and the government IL has
not been Of my own seeking. To the extent Of
my abilities, and the means placed at my dispo-
sal, have sought faithfully 20 serve the country
by carrying out the rules and instructions of the
Executive; but 1t cannot be concealed, that
since the capitulation Of Monterey, the conf
dence Of the department, and too much fear,
of the President has been gradually Withdraw
ing, and my consideration and usefulness cores
pOndingly diminished.
The apparent determination Of the Depart
ment to place me IN an attitude antagonlstleal to
the government, has apt Illustration in the
well known fable Of Esop. | ask no favor. and
/ shrink from no responsibility, while entrusted
with the command in this quarter / shall con-
time to devote all my energies to the public
good, looking for my reward to the conscien-
tiousness of pure motives, and TO the final YER
dict Of impartial history.
am, SIR.
Your very obt servant,
Il TAYLOR,
Major General L. S. A Commanding.
For Hon. W. l. Marcy, Secretary Of War,