The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1848-02-12
I
To the President Of the United States.
IIHADQr ArTrRs ARMY OF OCCrrATloy.

IIHADQr ArTrEs ARMY OF OcCrrATloN.
Aqua Nueva, March 3. 1877.
SIN: | have the honor 10 receive your
communication Of January eth, cncos-
ing a newspaper slip and expressing the
regret of the department that the letter
copied in that slip, and which was ad-
dressed by myself to Major Gen. Games,
should have been published,
Although your letter does not convey
the direct censure Of III" department or
OF the President, yet, when it is taken
in connection with the revival of para
graph in the regulations of 1925, touch
ing the publication fprivate letters con-
corning operations in the field, | am not
permitted to doubt that | have become
the subject Of Executive diSapprobation.
To any expression of it coming with the
authority of the President, ] am bound
by my duty, and by my respect for his
high office, patiently TO submit; but lest
my silence should be construed into
tacit admission Of the grounds and con-
cinsons set forth in your communication
l deem It duty which owe to myself
to submit few remarks in reply. ]
shall be pardoncd FOR speaking plainly.
In the first place, the published letter
bears upon its face the most conclusive
evidence that it was intended orlv for
private perusaI, and not at all for publ
cation. 1t was published without my
knowledge, and contrary to my wishes.
Surely need not say that [ am not in
the habit of writing for newspapers. The
letter was a familiar one, written TO an
old military friend with whom | have
Tor many years interchangcd opinions on
professional subjects. That he should
think proper to publish it, under any cir
could not have been ioreseen
by me.
in the absence of proofthat the publ
cation was made with my authority or
knowledge, I may be permitted to say
that the quotation in your letter of the
six hundred and fiitieth paragraph ofthe
regulations of 1925, in which |
the terms smischievous' and "disgrace-
lul'' are employed to characterize GER
tain 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
oy the premises. Again; | have careful
y examined the letter in question, and |
10 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.
suppose that it will give the enemy
'aiuablc information touching our past
n prospective line Of operations, is to
;now very little of the Mexican sources
If information, or of their extraordinary
agacity and facilities in keeping con-
family apprized Of our movements. As
o my particular views in regard to the
,eneral policy to be pursued towards
Mexico, perceive by the public journals
hat they are shared by many distinguish
d statesmen, and also, IN part, by con-
picuous officer Of the navy, the publca-
ion of whose opinions is not perhaps
Instructed by any regulations Of his de- {
'artment. 1t is difficult, then, to mag
lie that the diffusion Of mine can render
ny peculiar aid TO the enemy, or spe- :
ialv disincline him ''to enter into ne (
,otiations for peace"
In conclusion | would say that it has
,iven me great pain to be brought into
he position IN which ] now find myself
With regard to the Department Of War
nd the government. 1t has not been of
ny own seeking. TO the extent of my
biity, and the means placed at my dis
,osal, have sought to serve the country,
" carrying out the wishes and instruc-