The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1848-06-17
MAJOR GEN. TAYLOR'S LETTERS
POLITTCAE SUBJECTS
CONTAINING THE PLATFORM
OF THE
NEW POLITICAL PARTY.
TO THE HON. HENRY CLAY.
HEADQUARTERS, ARMY OF OccUpA

HrApquARrERs ARMY OF OccupArloN,,
Aqua NuEvA, Mexico, March l, 1S47. Z
My DEAR SIR--You will no doubt have received. be-
fore this reach you the deeply distressing nteli
gence of the death OF your in the battle of Buens
Vista 1t is with no wish of ntruding upon the
tuary of parental sorrow and with hope of admin
isterng any consolation to your wounded heart that
have taken the liberty Of addressing you these few
lines; but have felt it duty which owe to the
mory of the distinguished dead, to pay willing tribute
to his many excellent qualities and while my feelings
still fresh express the desolation which his
timely loss and that Of other kindred spirits has
stoned.
had but a casual acquaintan nee with your son until
he became member of my military family and can
truly say that no ever won more rapidly upon my
regard or established more lasting claim to my
spect and esteem. Manly and honorable in every i'm
pulse with feeling but for the honor of the service
and of the country, he every assurance that in
the hour OF need could lean with confidence upon his
support. Nor was disappointed Under the guidance
of himself and the lamented Mckee, galantly did the
Of Kentucky in the thckest of the strife uphold
the honor of the State and the country.
grateful people will do justice to the memory of
those who fell on that eventful day But may be per-
mitted express the which feel in the
loss of valued friends To your felt bound by the
strongest ties Of private regard, and when miss his
miliar face, and those of Mckee and Hardin say
with truth, that feel no exutaton in our success.
With the expression of my deepest and most heart
felt sympathies for your rreparabe loss remain
Hon. Henry Clay, New Orleans, La.
HON. VIM. l.. MARCY.
HEADQUARTERS OF THE ARMY OF OccUPArIoN,}
Aqua NUEvA, March 3D. 1S47.
have had the honor to receive your mic alton
Of January 9th enclosing newspaper slip and ex-
pressing the regret of the department that the letter
copied in that slip and which addressed by my
self TO Major General Gaines should have been pub
lished Although your letter does not convey the d-
rect censure OF the Department and the President :
yet when it was taken connection with the revival
Of the paragraph in the regulations of 1925 touching
the publication of private letters concerning opera
tons in the field, am not permitted to doubt that
have become an object of Executive disapprobation
To any expression Of it, coming from the authority Of
the President, am bound by my duty and by my res
" tn hmi huf1e fp,v
silence should be construed into tacit admission of
the grounds and conclusions set forth in your
nicaton, deem it duty which, owe to myself to sub
nit a 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 intended only for pr
vate perusal. and not at all for publication 1t was
published without my knowledge, and contrary to my
wishes. Surely need not say that am not in the
habit of writing for the newspapers The letter
mHar written to old military friend, with whom
have been for many years interchangng opinions on
professional subjects. That he should think proper
under any circumstances to publish it, could not have
been foreseen by me.
In the absence of proof that the publication was
made without my authority or knowledge, may be per-
mitted to say the quotaon in your letter of the 65Oh
paragraph Of the superseded regulations of 1925, in
which the terms "mischievous and dsgraceful' are
employed to characterize certain letters or reports
which to say the least is rather harsh, and which
may think not warranted by the premises.
Again have examined the letter in question, and
do not admit that it is obnoxious to the objections
urged in your communication see nothing in it,
which under the same circumstances, would not write
again To suppose that i. will give the enemy valua
bic information touching our posts respective line Of
operations is to know little Of the Mexican
of information, or of their raordnary sagacty and
facilities in keeping constantly appraised of our move
ments As TO my particular views in regard to the ge
neral policy to be pursued towards Mexico perceive
from the public journals that they shared by
distinguished statesmen also in part by conspicuous
officers of the navy the publication of whose opinions
is not perhaps obsruced BY any regulations of the
department 1t is difficult then to imagine how the
diffusion of mine render any peculiar aid to the
enemy specially dsincline him to enter into nego-
In conclusion would say, that it has given me great
pain to be brought into the position which find
myself in regard the department of and the 60
vernmcnt 1t has not been Of my seeking. TO
the extent of my abilities and the placed my
disposal have sought faithfully to the country,
by carrying out the rules and instructions of the
tve but it cannot be concealed that since the capt.
tulation Of Monterey the confidence of the depart
ment and too much fear Of the President, has been
gradually withdrawing, and my consideration and
usefulness corresponds ngly diminished. The apparent
determination OF the department to place in an at
tude antagonistcal to the government has apt H.
lustraton in the well known fable Of lEsop.
ask favor and shrink from responsibility.
while entrusted with the command in this quarter
shall continue to devote all my energies to the public
good looking for my reward to the consciousness of
pure motives and to the final verdict of impartial his
tory. am. sir. your very obt servant
Major General u S. A. Commanding n1
For Hon. w. L. MARCY Secretary of War, Washing
TO NATIVE AMERICAN.
HEADQUARTERS. ARMY OF OccUPATroN,)
Camp Monterey. Mexico, :
April 2Sth 1S47.
SIR--N our letter under date of the 10th of March
has been duly received. To the inquiry to whether
am disposed to accept the nomination of President of
the United States if rendered to from the Native
American Convention. would most respectfully reply.
and with full appreciation Of the kind feeling which
dictated the mention of my name in connection with
the dignity and honor of high Office that, If
aspirant for the Presidential Office (Which is not the
case could not while the country is involved in war
and while my duty calls me to take part in the opera
tons against the enemy, acknowledge any ambition
beyond that of bestowing all best exertons towards
obtaining adjustment of our difficulties with Next
have the honor to remain. dear sir,
Your most obedient serv't,
L. TAYLOR, Major Gen. U. S A.
HON. LEVI LINCOLN.
Headquarters, ARMY OF OccUPArIoN,)
Camp Monterey, Mexico,
May s, 1S47
SHY our letter of the 4th ult. in relation to the
aud effects of your much lamented son, Cap
tain George Lincoln has safely reached me. | beg