Port Tobacco times, and Charles County advertiser. (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1845-1898, 1848-02-10

GEN. TAYLOR AND HIS GAINES LETTER.
The following is the letter Of Gen. Fey
lor to the War Department, communicated
on Friday last, by tire President, to the
House of Representatives, in compliance
with resolution Of that body. The letter
of the Secretary was sent 10 Congress last
session, bit this reply, which certainly pos
sesses Buena Vista characteristics, was net
received until after the adjournment:
HEADQUARTERS ARMr OF OecurArroN.
Augua Nueya, March 3, 1871.
SIR: have had the honor to receive your
communication Of January 9Th, enclos-
ing newspaper slip, and expressing the re-
greet OF the department that the letter copied
in that slip, and which was addressed by
[myselfto Major General Gaines, should have
been published.
Although your letter does no. convey the
direct censure Of the department. or Of the
President, yet, when j, is taken in connex-
ion with the revival Of a paragraph in the
regulations Of 1925, touching the publica-
ton Of private letters concerning operations
in the field, am not permitted to doubt
that have become the subject of Executive
disaPproba,ion. To any expression Of il
coming with the authority Of the President,
I am bound by my duty, and by my respect
for his high office, paien,l y to submit; b, t
lest my silence should be cons trued into
lact admission Of me grounds and conclu-
sions set forth in your communication, l
deem it duty which owe TO 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 mos, conclusive evidence
that it was intended only for private perusal,
and not at all for publication. ]. was
published without my knowledge, and con-
trary to my wishes. Surely, need no, say
that am not in the habit of writing FOR the
newspapers. The letter was familiar one,
written to an old familiar friend with whom
! have for many years inlerchanged opin-
ions on professional subjects. That he
should think proper to publish it under any
circumstances could not have been foreseen,
by me.
In the absence Of proof that the publIca-
ton was made with my authority or know
ledge, may be permitted to say that the
quotation in your letter Of the six hundred
and fitch paragraph of the superadded regu
la,ions of 1925, in which the terms ''msche-
vous" and 'disgraceful'' are emf loyed to
characterize certain letters or reports, con-
veys, though not openly, a measure Of re-
buke, which, to say the least is rather harsh;
and many may think not warranted by the
premises. Again: have carefully exam
ined the letter in question, and do no, ad-
nit that it is obnoxious to the objections
urged in our communication. ] see notl.i e
in it which, under the. same circumstances,
! would not write again. To suppose that
it will give the enemy valuable information
touching our past or prospective line Of OPP
erations, is to know very little Of the Mex
lean sources of information, or Of their ex-
traordinary sagacity and facilities in keep
ing constantly apprized Of our movements.
As to my particular views in regard to the
general policy to be pursued towards Mex
lco, perceive by the public journals that
they are shared by many distinguished states
men, and also, in part, by conspicuous Of
fcer Of the navy, the publication of whose
opinions is not perhaps obs.,ucted by any
regulations oil his department. It is difficult,
then, to imagine that the diffusion of mine
can render any peculiar aid to the enemy.
or specially disincline him ato enter into
negotiations for peace"
In conclusion, ! would say that it has
given me great pain to be brought into the
position in which now find myself with
regard to The Department Of War and the
Government. 1t has not been OF my own
seeking. To The extent of my ability, and
the means placed at my disposal, have
sought faithfully TO serve the country, by
carrying out the wishes and instructions of
the Executive. But i. cannot be concealed
that, since The caplula.on of Monterey, the
confidence of the department, and too much
fear, of the Presiden,) has been gradually
Withdrawn, and my consideration and use
fulness correspondingly diminished. The
apparen, determination of the department to
place me in an attitude an.agonstical to the
government has an apt illustration in the
well-known fable of Esop. Blu! ] ask no
favor, and ! shrink from no responsibility.
While intrus,ed 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 the final verdict Of impartial history.
am, sir, very respectfully,
Your obedienl servant,
Z. TAYLOR,
Maj Gen. u S. A. Commanding.
Hon. w. l.. MARCY, Secretary Of War.