Martinsburg gazette. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1833-1855, 1848-02-17
1Jolitieal.
MR.. STEPHENS SPEECH.


the resolutions reported from the Committee
OF The Whole on the state Of The Union. which
propose 10 refer he Presidents Message to
the appropriate committees
Mr.. SrErHEKs arose and made an able
speech, Of which the following is an extract:
Gentlemen may turn and twist this matter
as they please. for the purpose Of screening
the Pfeslee1t, but al! such attempts vii prove
utterly irullless AMI unavailng; the finai con
clusion that he "unnecessarlg aud unconsil-
tutionaliy" commenced this war can never be
escaped. The mark is fixed upan him as in
deilbly as thai stamped upon the brow of Cain
by The finger of God. He and his friends may
say ssout foul spo.n bui il viii not sou, y no,
not even by taking shelter under that Of all
others the most miserable sub,erfnge OF at
tempting TO cast the blame upon Gen. TAYLOR.
that gallant aud brave officer who has won
such name for himself, and gained SO much
fame for hts country. Sir, say, Of all the ex-
cuses. apologies, subieriuges. and prelexts re-
sorted TO by the advocates Of the President,
this will afford him the leas, shelter and the
attempt TO throw the responsibility Of this war
upon him is but pari and parcel Of thai spir-
il Of gross injustice with which he has been
so shameiuily ueated by this Administration
4 and many OF its advocates. Iii SAID that he
advised the removal Of the troops. and that
The advance was made in pursuance Of his
advice. Now. let us see how This position IS
sustained by the record. The first order to
| Gen. Taylor, directing him to enter Texas,
bears date al the War Office here on the 18th
/ day fJune, 1915, and contains this language:
THE point Of your ultimate destination is
the western frontier OF Texas, where you will
select and occupy, on or near the Rio Grande
del Norte, such site as viii consist with the
haelth of the troops, and will be best adapted
TO repel invasion and to protect what, in the
event Of annexation, will be our western bor-
der"
This was the order Of Mr. Bancroft the Sec
rotary OF War, in June, 1915, directed TO Gen.
Taylor, nj Fort Jesup, in Louisiana, and be.
fore the army entered Texas. telling him his
ultimate destination ,eas tie Rio Giulde, and
directing him 20 select and occupy a site on OF
near that river. as. in the event OF annexation,
/ il would be The tccstefn border or boundary OF
this Government. This. sir, was the FIRST or
der given, and before Gen. Taylor had given
any advice; nor have we ever yet seen the re-
ply Of Gen. Taylor TO that letter, infer fiom
the correspondence published that he did reply
to it, but. as in other matters, the great injus
lice has been done him Of suppressing his
views; for. on the Sth Of July. Mr.. Marcy
Secretary of War, writes TO him.
''ln carrying out the instructions heretofore
/ received you will be careful TO avoid any acts
of aggression, unless an actual state Of wal
should exist. The Mexican forces at tie posts
In their possession, and which have been so,
will not be disturbed so long as the relations
of peace between the United States and Mex
leo continue"
And, answer to this, Gen. Taylor's letter is
given; and valuable paper il is, not only in
vindlcatlon or his character as an officer, but
as patriot and statesman:
"HEADa'Rs lsr MILITARY DEPARTMENT.,
''.Nep Orleans, La, Jub 20, 1916.
"SrR; respectfully acknowledge yourcom
munca,ion OF July s, covering instructions OF
the Secretary Of War Of the same date, relative
10 the Mexican settlements on this side the Rio
Grande. These instructions will be closely
obeyed; aud the Department may rest assn
red that will take no step 10 Interrupt the
friendly relations between The United States
and Mexico. am gratifed al receiving these
instructions, as they confirm my views as pre-
vlously communicated in regard to the proper
line TO be occupied at present By our troops.
81 am, SIR, very respectfully,
"Iour obedIent servant
II. TAYLOR,
"Brevet Brig. Gen. U. S. A. commanding
''The .adjmaat General Of the .4snly.
Washington"
From this il is evident that Gen. Taylor had
previously communicated 10 the Department,
some views in regard TO the proper line 10 be
occupied by our troops which did not accord
with the views of the Department as expressed
in the order of the 10Th June. and he was
gratified at receiving the instructions of July
s, which directed him 10 abstain from Inlerfe
ring with the Mexican posts on the east sid.
OF the Rio Grande and he assured the De.
par tment lha, he should take no step 10 inter.
rupt the friendly relations between the United
States and Mexico. With these views he
took position at Corpus Christi, and made
that point his headquarters until he received
the celebrated order Of the 18Th of January,
1896 But il is said that, in letter of the
4ih of October. 1915, be gave that fatal advice
which MIR. Polk was so innocently led 10 fol
low. Now, lei us see that letter, or that por.
ton Of il upon which gentlemen rely 10 main.
tain this position. Ii is in these words:
.'Il is with great Difference that make any
suggestions on topics which may become
matter Of delicate negotiation; but II our COY
eminent, IN seulIng the question Of boundary
makes the line Of the Rio Grande an ultma;.
um. ! cannot doubt that the settlement will be
greatly facilitated and fastened by our taking
+ possession at once Of one or two suitable points
on or near that aver"
( Now, sir, who can mistake the character OF
this language2 1t is simply lis opinion that
I II our Government intended to make the Rio
Grande an uitimatitm IN the settlement of the
question OF boundary, il would be as well 10
take possession OF The country at once. He
says nothing about the proprieig Of making
that line the boundary. nor anything about tue
power OF Mr.. Polk TO fix our ,iitimatu,a as 10
boundary; nor does lie recommend or advise
him 10 exercise any such power. In his orig.
mai orders, as have shown, he was told that
his ultimate destination would be the RIO
Grande, which. in the event Of annexation,
would be our western boundary; and he here
says, That II such is the intention Of the Gov
ernment Indeed, in the Introductory part
OF this same letter of the 4ih OF October Ne
says: at will be recoected that the lnstruc-
tons of June Is, issued by Mr.. Bancroft,
then acting Secretary Of War, directed me to
select and occupy on or near the Rio Grande
'such site as will consist with the health oil
the troops, and will be hes, adapted to repe
INVASION" And the plain import of The af-
ter part which have quoted is, that IL ii Is
stM the intention Of the Government to make