Martinsburg gazette. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1833-1855, 1848-02-17

The following is the letter of General
TAYLOR to the Secretary of War, commu-
nicated to the House of Representatives,
in compliance with resolution OF that
body. 1t win be recollected that Mr..
Marcy, Secretary of War, had written to
Gen. Taylor in strong deprecatory lam
guage, soon after the appearance OF the
letter from Gen. L. to Gen. Gaines, the
reply to which has never before been
published, and would not now, we sup
pose, had not Congress made the demand.
II is bold and manly letter, and bears
"Buena Vista characteristic" on its face
HEADQUARTERS ARMY OF OCCUPATION,
.3gue .Nuera, March 3, IS47.
SIR IL have had the honor to receive your
communication OF January 18th, enclosing a
newspaper slip, and expressing the regret oi
the Department, that the letter copied IN that
slip, and which was addressed by myself To
Major Gen. Gaines, should have been pub
| lished.
Although your letter does not convey the
direct censure Of the Department or OF the
President, YET, when II is taken IN connexion
with the revival OF paragraph IN the regula-
tious OF 1923, touching the publication OF pri-
yate letters concerning operations IN the held
1 am not permitted TO doubt thatl have become
the subject Of Executive dlsapprobauon. 10
any expression OF II, coming with the author
ity OF the President, am bound by my duty
and BY my respect Tor his high office. patent
| ly 10 submit; but, lest my silence should be
construed into tacit admission OF the grounds
and conclusions set forth in your communica-
ton, deem il duty which owe to myself
to submit few remarks in reply, shall be
pardoned Tor speaking plainly.
In the iirst place, the published letter bears
upol its face the most conclusive evidence
tina, II was intended only Tor private perusal,
and not at all Tor publication. II was publish
ed without my knowledge, and contrary 10 my
wishes. Surely, ] need not say that am mol
in the habit OF writing for the newspapers
The letter was familiar one, written to an
old military friend, with whom | have tor
many years interchanged opinions on probes
sional subjects. That he should think proper
under any circumstances, 10 publish il, could
not have been foIeseen by me.
| In the absence of proof that the publication
was made with my authority or knowledge,
may be permitted TO say that the quotation IN
your letter OF the six hundred and tiiueth par
agraph OF the superseded regulations OF 1875,
| in which the terms "mischivous" aud 'dls-
graceful" are employed 10 characterize certain
letters or reports, conveys, though not openly,
| measure OF rebuke which, 10 say the least,
is rather harsh, and which many may think
| not warranted by the premises. Again
have carefully examined the letter IN question,
and do not admit that it is obnoxious 10 the
objection urged in your communication.
see nothing IN II which, under the same circum-
stances, would not write again. 10 suppose
| that it will give the enemy valuable lniorma-
ton, touching our past or prospective line Of
operations, is to know very little OF the Mex
can sources of information, or Of their extraor
binary sagaci,y and facilities in keeping con
stantly appTized OF our movements.
| As to my particular views in regard TO thu
general policy TO be pursued towards Mexico
! perceive by the public journals that they are
shared BY many distinguished statesmen, and al
50 in part by aconspcuous officer oflhe navy,
the publication ofwhose opinions is notperhaps
obslructed by any regulations OF his Depart
ment. II is difficult, then, TO imagine that the
diffusion Of mine can render any peculiar aid
| 10 the enemy, or specially disincline him SIC
enter into negotiation for peace"
In conclusion, would say that il has given
me great pain 10 be brought into the position
in which now find self with regard to the
Department Of War and the Government. i
has not been of my seeking. To the extent Of
my ability, and the means placed at my dis
posal, have sought faithfully to serve the
country by carrying out the wishes and in
structons of the Executive. But it cannot be
concealed thai since the capitulalon Of Mon
,erey the confidence Of the Department, and
too much fear of the President, has been grad
ually Withdrawn, and my consideration and
usefulness correspondingly diminished. The
apparen, determination Of the Department to
place me in an attitude antagonlslical TO the
Government has an apt illustration in the
we'll known fable Of Esop. But ask no ia
vor, and shrink from no responsibility
While entrusted with the command IN this
quarter I shall continue to devote all my
energies TO the public good, looking for my
reward 10 the consciousness OF pure motives
and the final verdict Of impartial history
Z. TAYLOR,
Maj. Gen. U. S. A., commanding.
| Hon. VIM. l.. MARCY,
Secretary Of War, Washington.