The northern tribune. [volume] (Bath, Me.) 1847-1855, 1848-02-09
CONGRESSIONAL.
WASHINGTON, Friday. Feb.

Mr.. Rusk submitted a resolution to pur-
chase Disturnell's map of Mexico and the seat
of war. He laid the map before the Senate
and alluded to its Importance.
The bill to establish general pre- emption
system was considered and postponed to Mon
day fortnight.
A bill making appropriations to remove oh.
structions from the Savannah river was pas.
sed.
The bill amending the act passed July 4th,
1886, granting half pay to the widows and or
phans of the husbands and fathers who died
of wounds received in the service of the Unit.
ed States, was taken up.
1t was debated by Messrs Miles, Johnson, of
Lou, Dix of N. Y, and finally laid over.
The ten regiment bill coming up, Mr.. Sc
vier took the floor and defended the policy of
the administration and the action of the Pres
ident.
He took up the history of the annexation
of Texas in detail, and called attention to Or
ders given by the Mexican authorities, before
the war began, as complete justification of
the course pursued by our government.
On motion of Mr.. Hunter, the Senate ad.
journed to Monday.
HousE.-A message from the President was
received and read. 1t was reply to resolu-
tion of the House calling for copy of Gen.
Taylors letter in reply to the letter of the
Secretary of War of the 9th January, lS47.
The President communicated the copy re-
quired.
A copy of the letter has been telegraphed
to the Herald as follows:
Head Quarters Of the Army of Occupation,
Aqua NUEvA, March Sd, lS47.
I have had the honor to receive your COM
munication of Jan. n. enclosing newspaper
slip, and expressing the regret of the Depart
ment, that the letter copied in that slip, which
was addressed by myself to Major General
Gaines, should have been published
Although your letter does not convey the
direct censure of the Department and the
President, yet, when taken in connection
with the revival of the paragraph in the regu-
lations of 1925, touching the publication of
private letters concerning operations in the
felG, l am not permitted to doubt that have
become subject of Executive disapprobation.
To any expression of it, coming with the
authority of the President, l am bound by
my duty and by respect for his high Office
patiently to submit but lest my silence
should be constructed into a tacit admission
of the grounds and conclusions set forth in
your communication, deem it duty which I
owe to myself to submit a few remarks in
reply.
shall be pardoned for speaking plainly
In the first place, the published letters bears
| upon its face the most conclusive evidence
that it was intended only for private perusal,
and not at all for publication. 1t was publish
ed without my knowledge, and contrary to
my wishes. Surely need not say that am
not in the habit of writing for the newspapers.
The letter was a familiar one written to an
old military friend, with whom 1 have been
for years interchanging opinions on profession
al subjects That he would think proper,
under any circumstances, to publish it, could
not have been foreseen by me. In the absence
of proof that the publication was made with
nv authority or knowledge, I may be permit
ted to say, the quotation in your letter of the
Goth paragraph of the superseded regulations
of 1925, in which the terms mischievous
and disgraceful " are employed to character
Use certain letters or reports, conveys, though
not openly measure of rebuke which to say
the least is rather harsh, and which many
think not warranted by the premises.