Evansville weekly journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ind.) 184?-18??, 1848-06-08

! free pass prompt entrance to the soil of Mex
iico; and he landed amongst his countrymen,
with the conniyance and permission of the
American Government His presence in Mex
| leo gave spirit and confidence to the nation;
the enemy rallied, and immense armies fiocked
to the returned exile, prepared to deal death
under his sanguinaTy lead. This laid and CON-
fort" to the Mexican nation might have been
we'll meant; but what can be thought of sagaci-
| ty so dull and policy SO stupid?
The major generals of the American forces
commanding in Mexico were both Wings, and
the hero of the Rio Grande (Taylor) was in
creasing In popularity faster than the Admins
tration party desired, and he threw shade over
the persons regarded as prominent for the Presi-
dency on the Democratic side. Though occu-
plying an extended line of operations between
| The Rio Grande and San Luis Potosi, and in the
face OF formidable foe, the regulars of his lit
tie army were Withdrawn, while hundreds of
miles in the enemy's country, cut off from all
succour. Thus circumstanced, and, like Uriah,
placed in the front Of battle, the Presidents
| general, Santa Anna, with some twenty-o one
| thousand troops. advanced to the gorge Of An
gostura, where Taylor, with four thousand sew
en- hundred volunteers, awaited his approach.
| The result was, the overthrow of the legions of
our enemy, and the complete triumph of the
gallant army, led on by the invincible SOLDIER
OF THE BIO GRANDE, That day decided the
fate of the war, and gave prestige to the
American name in the field of battle, never to
| be lost in the lapse of years. Neither treache-
ry at home, nor yet the formidable numbers of
| the Mexicans presented TO the mind OF Zacha-
/ ny Taylor any obstacle to success. He was
placed there with force inadequate to his po-
sition but he resolved to ''defend it at all haz-
ards" and nobly did he meet the expectations
of his country, Mr. Polk left him weak before
the enemy; but that days work made him
strong in the evidences of true patriotism and
IN the affections of his native land.
| The next movement of this Administra ion,
in this war for party purposes, was, the attempt
made to manufacture general, with lieutep-
ant prefxed to that title, and TO supersede both
Taylor and Scott in Mexico as the commander
of our forces there. This notable scheme could
never find any favor in the purer days of the
Republic; but amongst the ''latter-day saints"
Of the great Democratic temple, no imposture
was thought too bold for Democratic Con-
gress then assembled in this Capitol. The
jealousy with which General Taylor was view
ed knew no moderation, and stopped at no bar
rler in its attempts to arrest his brilliant and
successful career. That modest old soldier,
grown gray in upholding the flag of his coun-
try, was not of the household of their political
faith, and his brilliant exploits We're not likely
to rebound to the credit of the party which
| plunged US into this unfortunate war. A netv
commander of our army-some man who would
act the double part of an executioner and a
pander-seemed necessary to give effect to the
original designs of the Administration. For
/ this nurpOSe thara ra mon then in COnUrpSS
who would stop at nothing, and who meanly
undervalued the qualifications OF the glorious
old veteran, who never surrendered or capitu-
/ lated TO domestic traitor or foreign foe
Congress could not, and would not, execute the
fell designs of the Cabinet; and the scheme for
a military dictator, under the pleasing guise of
lieutenant general, was hurled back with dis
gust and contempt.
] There was too much honesty in the masses
TO permit such violation of all decency, and
/ General Taylor was permitted to hold his tri-
umphant march while an enemy could stand
before him. The President found out to his
cost, that though he could giUe the McricanS a
leader, he dared not deprive the American
army of one of its invincibe commanders.
On par with this attempt, was the coward
ly amendment proposed to a resolution oil
thanks to the old general, disappearing the
terms of the equalization at Monterey. This
was the third attack made upon Gen. Taylors
rear while he had the PreSidcnts gcaeroL (San-
ia Anna) and the hosts of Mexico laundering
in his front. These ''allied powers" Mr..
I Chairman-thanks to the American people,
the Senate, and the gallant volunteers at Bue-
ma Vista-have all been vanquished, and i'm
partial history, and the posterity, will con-
sign them both to the same dishonorable
graves.
But, Dir. Chairman, sufficient political capt.
tai has not yet been made out of this war, and
the work still goes on. think that this Ad-
ministration will find, about the sides" of No
yeapeE, that it has"run this thing into the
lgropnd,' as we say out West. There are now
some forty thousand soldiers in the field, and
hostilities suspended, awaiting the action OF
Mexico upon the treaty. These troops are
idle at an enormous daily expense. Notwith-
standing this, and Immediately after the ratif-
cation of the treaty, the Senate, by a vote of
strictly party character, passed bill calling
ten THOUSAND additional regulars into the field.
This DILL had been hanging in the Senate for
, three months without the action of that body,
and all at once became immensely important.
The exigencies of the service did not require
this force-the prospect Of peace did not make
them necessary-but, sir, the good of the party
r did, Thousands of expectants had been hang
ing round the portals of the Executive qla9siop
asking LOT Inc 1--WE uuIlutcu olHCce lHqC thto
bill would place at the disposal of the Presi-
dent This is the secret of the effort to saddle
this nation with an additional million of war
expenses, under the guise of patriotism and de-
votion to the public interest. We have wit
messed the same spirit in this Hall, in theanx-
iety to hurry that bill through the forms of
legislation here. Warriors in embryo have
beset members on every hand, urging its
prompt passage, they have stalked around
| these hallsi they have denounced the taFdy ac-
: ton of the popnla branch of the Legislature.
$ and aided by their friends in either House of
f Congress, ciamor for the "spoiIs' wrung from
. the labor Of the country. These people have
i reason to knolo that the country will not need
5 their services: should the treaty receive the
e sanction of the Mexican Congress; but they
S rant the ofFces--the epaulettcs; and in that
e alone consists their windy love of county,
Sir it is heart-sickening to witness the prosti-
4 tuition of Executive patronage in this war, and
10 think of the stupendoLs public debt incurred
to build up and perpetuate the reign of a pros
J. crip4ye party. Honest industry must pay all
al. Al.