Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1848-03-25

their city against his army could at the same time
carry into distant province and, in like MANNER th.
Wings had been found strong enough conquer New Spain
and vigosous and successful against the
near this capital When this correspondence should pub
lshed Mr. c. intended to say few things about il, anf
show the people how shameessy had been gabled and
tilated with view to uphold the Administration.
Mr.. THOMPSON of Mississippi here obtained the floor
4 Mr. CIINGMAN said it had been his intention with
draw his molten before he down but the gentlemen
had got the floor, let him go on.
4 Mr. THOMPSON then proceeded to observe thai
this debate wholly unexpected by him, yet he wished
to say few words in reply to the gentleman from North
Carolina That gentleman had taken very strange attitude,
and seemed want place the Administration and its friends
ia another strange. The gentleman according his
own showing believed the with Mexico be unjust and
unconstitutional If So then il must have been an immoral
and ireigous And though Congress had furnished
the carry on, and the gentleman himself had voted
the supplies for that purpose yet he maintained that the Elk
ecuy its arrangement OF the troops employed had vlr
tuay been making upon OF generals, and
would have rcioced to him defeated Could any thing
be conceived in the heat Of party ZEAL ridiculous
than this That he who was, under the constitution
Of the whole military force Of the country,
would rejoice armies defeated and dsgraced while
his glory, the alleged author of the war; mani
testify depend the of arms Why this attempt
up the Administration against generals and set
them array against each other In this attempt advantage
taken Of the generals themselves. While it the Pre-
sient himself who had called Gen. Scott the head Of the
army, pretended that had been done only destroy
him. Nothing could be ridiculous
The gentleman alleged that the Administration had crippled
and opposed General Taylor from the very beginning that
they had not furnished him adequate force capture Mon
erey and had refused neglected to furnish the
transportation But could the gentleman have examined into
the facts Of the case II that Gen Taylor had made
such complaint in letter to Gen. Gaines but the moment
that complaint known to the Administration the Quar-
ermaser General had been called upon to explain The let
ter of Gen. Jesup Ga not unknown to this country but
who had himself some reputation by deeds with which
every the country famiar) before Mr. T.,
and he would take heberty Of reading extracts from it,
II interesting documen and, from the remarks OF the
gentleman from North Carolina, Mr.. l. certain the
leman could not have read it.
Here extract read from Gen. Jesups letter. dated
New Orleans, December 5, alleging that it all the fault
of Gen. Taylor himself who got all he asked ior if he want
ed more he should have asked for more, &c
The gentleman from North Carolina had repeated in his
speech what Gen Jesup had heard report his
New Orleans When that officer heard the report he had
written to the Department referring to letter from General
Taylor of the I'd July, addressed TO the General in
which he stated that he have rely the country for
the means OF transportation, &c. Mr. T. quoted the letter
Here Gen. Jesup after making his explanation and defence,
added the request that his statement not deemed su
cent and satisfactory he demanded court martial Did the
gentleman fom North Carolina desire martial
tie the question whether the Quarease General had or had
not done his duty Gen. Taylor If the gentleman had had
the fairness to admit (what doubt the ruth that the
difficulty experienced by Gen. Taylor from the subject
ITSELF and Inherent in the state of the country he would
have done justice both General and The Admnsra
ton But he not content with this. With or without
cause he charge the Administration and the Executive
with inefciency But the explanation contained in the do
cument which he had just read entirely full and salts
factory that all just and honorable minds admit il.
Mr. T. said he knew well how far party zcll would some
times drive who yielded himself up itsnluence. But
he insisted that gentlemen would be just either
give the credit Of the and Of the peace both the army
and the Government, else deny credit either Why
make this invidous distinction Why must he generals be
auded because they Wings, while the Administration
-
Democrats Gen. Scott told the Secretary Of War what
he proposed to do, viz hold the country this side the
Sierra Madre, and remain the defensive, here Mr.. L.
quoted the letter. adding that 1t would be the policy of the
enemy 10 cut our lines of military delences.
Now, here the and substance Of the instructions Of
the Department to General Scott You provide suf-
Gent force enable General Taylor hold this side Of the
Sierra Made and the other troops at your disposal ope
rate on the Gulf coast, especially at Vera Cruz.
He next read from the letter Of General Scott 70 General
Taylor informing him Gen I. that be obliged take
from him large portion Of the troops he had long
mandcd that only sufficient force would be left him the
present act the defensive, &c. This sufficient force
provided for General Taylor remain tie defensive
General Scott being authorized determine that queon-
for the Secretary himself said positive directions would be
given touching the quantity Of forces be left these espec-
tive points, and that Gen. Scott himself determine that
queson-yet strange to say the gentleman from North Ca
ona inmated most broadly that the troops Withdrawn
from Gen. Taylor that he might be defeated
Mr. CLlNGMAN (the floor being yededl said be had not
lnng lie had ihey with
drawn from General Taylor by orders Of the Department and
they undertook to supply him with other troops in their place.
but neglected 10 do H.
Mr.. THOMPSON (resumng) said that reminded him Of
one point As the gentleman from North Carolina
member Of the last Congress, he would therefore be acd
responsible but his party would be held responsible m it, 1t
this Why troops forward carrier day.
hen General Scott left here supposed that additional
troops would be sent forward
Mr. CLINGMAN I'm his seat) said long before that
tcers had passed.
Mr.. THOMPSON replied it was very true. But he would
ike 70 know of the gentleman from North Carolina If General
Scott did not desire Of the Administration THOUSAND rcgu-
lars and il he did say that he considered regulars
luteIy necessary for the service
Mr. CLlNGNAN understood TO remind the gentleman
that his party had majority Of seventy this oor and could
pass any measure they had a mind 10.
NJ. THOMPSON said that was very true but was also
true that the minority could under the rules, delay The pas
sge Of BILL particularly the Senate by discussion. In
this House they carried IL through with the utmost prompt
ness under the previous question. In the Senate they had
very meagsr majority, and talked upon nearly two
months Such the history Of the proceedings. Who
I responsible for il.
Mr.. HAEAISON (Mr. T. yielding) said he hal better
avail himself OF this opportunity perhaps to put himself and
the country right in regard matter He did reInem-
Der exactly the day upon which the bill providing FOR the adj
dlcna military force passed he though, upon the Ith
Of February, ls47 but thing he did remember WELL be-
be then acting in position which made bis duty
look well into the ma,terhat the bill raise the ten re-
ements reported this House, he thought on the 29h
December certainly the very first day at which could
done after the reference Of the Presidents message and on the