Staunton spectator, and general advertiser. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 183?-1849, 1848-04-26

FROM THE NATIONAL INTELLIGEScER, APRIL l..
PROOF THAT GEN. TAYLOR WAS NOT
THE CAUSE" OF THE WAR.
As some Of the Democratic papers appear to re-
gard as of much consequence extract of letter
from a gentleman of respectable character" pur-
porting TO give Gen. Taylor's views of public poll
cy, which was published in the 'sUnion' of Thurs
day of last week, and quoted in this paper of Friday
among the debates In Congress, we have taken the
pans TO compare, in the only particular where rs
means are at hand, the assertions thus anonymously
put forth with the recorded sentiments of the bravo
officer whom the Democrats seem so anxious to dis
parage in the estimation of his friends. The par.
of the letter in the Union" TO which we refer is
the following
"He General Taylor thinks that the President
was not TO blanc about the war; that he Gen
Taylor was the cause of the moving of the army
on TO the frontiers and gave as his reasons that q
large force ,cas collected at .Hatamoras and, I'M
less there was an opposing force in the neghbor-
hood, that The .hlcricGns might cross and com
NIT any amount Of depredationS ,cithout has being
able to arrest their progress in time 10 the In
habitaats."
Now, as no one disputes the honesty and straight
forwardness of Gen. Taylor, in order to be satisfied
that the above, if not purposed misrepresentation
is an utter misapprehenson of his opinions, it is
y necessary to contrast the above with the existing
state O! facts at the lime referred to- as derived from
the correspondence of Gen Taylor himself, and pub
lished by order of Congress. From that correspon-
dence we make the subjoned extracts, plainly
showing that there was not large force Of N1eXi-
cans collected at Matamoras and that Gen. Taylor
never apprehended the least danger TO the frontier,
from invasion by the Mexicans. while ne remained
at Corpus Christi. Writing from Il At place, the
; General says:
NJ traIa
occasionally from The Rio Grande bat bring TO news
of Importance. They represent that there are no
regular troops on that riuer except at Matamoros,
and dc not seem 10 be aware of any preparations,
for demonstration upon this bank Of the river
AUG. 2G.-"l shall communicate with President
Jones and ascertain the number Of volunteers that
be called into service in case Of an. Rcasion b,j
.NericO, and shall take the necessary steps arm
and employ that force, sio!dthe safety of the coun
Try require it, iteet confident, hOtceoer, that srch
necessity acih not arise"
SEPTEMBER 6.-''l have the honor to report that
confidential agent, dispatched some DAYS since 10
Matamoros, has returned, and reports that no ca
traCrdiaary preparations are going there; that
the garrison does not seem 10 haze been increased
and that oar Consul as of opinion there ,oiN be no
declaration Of acm. The agent, who is intel
/ lgent, and upon whose statements good deal of
reliance may, think be safely placed, sovs thai
The mass Of the people acM aChonl he mingled /.
! opposed to eCar tcHh as"
September li-''In view of the LARGE reinforce
ments irregular troops ordered TO join me- | cannot
believe that it will become necessary, under any
circumstances, TO employ volunteers from the Uni
ted States | have directed two of the three
companies from Red River to San Antonio, retain
ing one at Austin. With 4 COMPANY of mounted
rangers at each place Tie frontier soW be secure
from insult. The commander Of the rangers at San
Antonio (Aiaior Hays has reputation partisan
and to him have specially entrusted the duty of
keeping RE advised of any movements on the Rio
Grande. in the neighborhood Of Lored0. . We
have no news Of interest from the frontier A.
rsta at the last accounts at Mier but ,gitioae
any force; nor IS there as yet Gny concentration of
force The rirey."
OCTOBER ll.-"Recent arrivals frora the Rio
Grande bring no news or information Of different
aspect from that which reported in my last The
views expressed in my previous communication re-
pie on both sides IF The rrer, continually con
firmed"
NOVEMBER % respectfully enclose q copy Of
letter from Commodore Conner commanding the
home squadron"
This letter is dated on board the ship Falmouth
off Vera Cruz, on the 24th October In it th,
Commodore says: ''.No t,oops hare marched IN
1cards the frontier for length IF time and an
told by Mr.. Parrot, who left Mexico a few day:
since, tHat many Oh NrSlaS cIceTS mad returned q
that city in state ofutter poverty"
In the same letter, Gen. Taylor in reference I,
a suggestion Of removing the army 90 the Ri
Grande, says "JHe position no;o occupied b,, N
troops may pc,j'aPs be tic best ,rIiie negotiation
arc pending"
NOVEMBER tg.-"Shoald the present pacif
aspect Of our relations with Mexico continue il vi
not be necessary to continue this force the comps
MES Of Texan rangers in service, except possibl
; one company as guides"
The next despatch from Gen. TAYLOR is dated q
the 9TH Of January and consequently, the above nj
all that could have reached Washington at Che Tin
the march to the Rio Graude 1clich caused The agg
+ was directed by Order from Headquarters in th
S city. That order bears date on the 18Th of JaBu;
G ~, 1876. Is il probable, then, we would ask,
view Of the pacific aspect OF affairs, described
g Gen Taylor himself, which existed on the Ii
Grande during the whole time that our army II
8 manned at Corpus Christi, that General Tayh
d could have stated TO this gentleman Of respectful
" character" that he was the cause Of the moving
p the army to the Rio GTande, ard had caused il q
/ ~ be moved because a large force was collected
e Matamoros. and he feared they might c.oss owe
70 and cornmitany amountof depredatons without hi
c being able to arrest their progress in the time
saye tho Inhabitants?