Staunton spectator, and general advertiser. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 183?-1849, 1848-06-28
GEN. P. f. SMITHS TESTIMONY.

Among the officers Of the army in Mexico who
have distinguished themselves for their exemplary
bravery and soldierly skill, Gen. Persifer f. Smith
OF La. occupies prominent position In the Flori-
da war he served with great eclat under Gen. Tay-
Tor, ana subsequently, at the hard fought fight and
capture oi Monterey he gained fresh laurels under
the iead OF the same victorious commander The
last and browning act of his career the bold and
brilliant hgh: OF Contreras in the vicinity of the
Mexican capital. Gen. Smith belongs TO the De-
mocratc party, and in his politics is as decided as
The hrmes but he does not let his political opinions
prevent him from seeing and doing justice to the
merits OF others. In a letter To friend he thus
speaks of Gan. Taylor. Testimony from such a
source should convince even the most ultra friends
OF other candidates that the National Convention
did wisely in selecting Gen. Taylor as the standard
bearer the Wing party:
CITY OF MEXICO, April 8, lS4S.
Any one who has visited this country
must have horror Of bad government, for here is
seen Inc spot on earth most favored by nature strip
ped or all It's advantages and converted into a hell
oy the vices and cOrruptlons of its rulers
nave great faith in our own people, however
they show their high sense of honesty and noble
ness whenever the occasion offers.
General Iaylor's military exploits are not the
causes OF his popularity they only the occasions
ior the display of his sound Judgment. energy of
character, lofty and pure sense of justice, aud in
corruplible honesty. lie has as much reputation
Tor what he has written as for what he has done,
because even where the composition is no, his own,
the sentiments, motives and feelings are and eve
~ 'hihg he says, as every thing he does is marked
Dy Inc purity and holiness Of his own character.
have never heard OF any one, however corrupt
OF base himself that, after five minutes converse
,ion with Gen. Taylor, has dared to propose or even
mint al, anything dishonest or mean. And no in
tercourse IN the ordinary events of common life can
give The true idea of the holiness of his character
remember you asking me at the time he was put
In command at Corpus Christi, whether he was G.
quail to the circumstances. told you of his sound
judgment and lneXhaustible energy as had learn
cd Them IN Florida, but did not then estimate
properly the other and higher points of his charac-
Ter. In the campaign on the Rio Grande, saw
him tried under all circumstances, aud he always
came out pure gold
Ills profession that he will be the candidate of
no party will, if he be elected be carried out in his
Piactlce,-not that his opinions matters of policy
may HOT be those OF one or other party on most
oil these he is Jphig and he is not the man TO act
adverse 10 his own opinions but no party manage
ment or power can ever lead him to do a mean or
what he thinks wrong thing
AS soon as Gen. Taylo was furnished by events
with the opportunity TO display his character, You
| wv $500 ~ was co''u'"tu properly at once, ana
come back to the truth of the proposition | started
WITH that believe the people will always proper
ly measure great men.
do not say they will always reward them pro-
Perly for they cannot always give direct expires
sion TO their feelings, and the least worthy may
have the uoie without having the wish
! There has great error been committed in rela
ton to Gen. Scott: no military operations in his
tory have displayed more military qualities OF been
I I'm firm, l,rc ,,1 al
nave they been In any case the result of chance
every thing has been done in conformity with a
plan, and the event in all cases has been almost
/ predicted That successful General should be
degraded in the very of success for complaints
made not Of him but By him, is exceedingly strange
and most unfortunate. Every one in the army feels
1t as disgrace.