Weekly national intelligencer., 1848-07-15
GENERAL TAYLOR.

GENERAL TAYLOR.
The following descriptive sketch Of Gen. TAY-
LoR IS by Col. HUMPHREY MARSHALL, Dem ocrat
OF Kentucky. We commend il to the attenti on Of
all VINO desire to know, from unprejudiced test-
mony, something Of the old Generals character;
NY service IN Mexico frequently brought near 70
zen. IArLon, and wasindustous in my examination Of
me actuai Character OF the whenever opportunity
presented have no motive to deceive you and you must
take the impressions received for what they are worth II
desired to express in the fewes words what manner of
Gen. Taylor i, should say that in his manners and his
appearance he Is one Of the common people oths counfyy
He might oe transferred from his tent at Monterey to this a
semb and he would not be remarked among this crowd Of
respectable old farmers at all distinguished from
those around him. Perfectly temperate in his habits per-
ecty plain in his dress entirely unassuming in his manners
ne appears to be old gentleman in fine health whose
thoughts are not turned upon his personal appearance and
who has point about him attract particular attention
In his intercourse with men, he is Free frank and manly
He plays of airs. like great whom have met
Any may approach him nearly can be desired and
the more closely his character examined the greater
he dscloses
!. He is honest man. do not mean by that merely
that ne does not cheat lie that he is man that
never dsembes and who all DISCUSSES He neither
acts part among his friends for effect assumes to be-
ID
nesy believes, and, whether right or wrong Won el assn
rance that he has expressed his real opinion His dealings
with men have been of varied character and have
never heard his honest stained by the breath Of the
slightest reproach.
?. He is a man Of rare good Judgment By no means
possessed Of that biancy Of genius which attracts by its
flashes YET like the meteor expires while you look UPON
it, by no means possessing that combination of talent which
peneates instantly the abstruses. subject and measures its
length and breadth if by inuion Gen Taylor vet has that
order of intellect which slowly but quite surely mas
all that engages, and all the combinations of
which the subject susceptible. When he announces his
conclusion you feel confident that he well understands the
ground upon which he plants himself and yet assured
that the conclusion is the deduction Of skill and sound sense
faithfully applied to the matter in hand II is this order Of
mind which has enabled him, unlike many other officers of
the army 70 attend to the wants Of his family BY using the
means at his dsposa to surround himself in his old age
with handsome private fortune, and be bessed with an
almost perfect constitution would to-day prefer bis advice
IN any matter OF private interest would take his opinion as
to the value would rather follow his
In scheme where property capital to be embarked
would pursue more confidently his counsel where the manage
ment Of army involved the true honor OF nv coun
try was at stake than any other have known
regard his Judgment being first every thing from
horse trade up 70 trade n human life upon the field Of battle
g. he IS firm man and possessed of great energy Of
character were waste Of time dwell upon these traits
Of his character for his military career has afforded such
abundant examples of his of these Qualities as to rem
der them familiar every citizen who has ever heard or read
Of the In his army they daily exhibited and stand
conspcuousy displayed every order which emanates from
his pen.
f. He Is benevolent This quality has been uni
orpy displayed IN his treatment of the prisoners who have
been placed in hs power by the vcisstudes Of war; No
who had him after the battle of Buena VISTA as he
ordered the wagons bring the Mexican wounded from
Re battle held and heard him he at cautioned his
ovp men that the wounded to be treated with mercy,
could doubt that ne was alive to all the kinder impulses of
The ndscreons OF youth he chdes with pa,er-
nal kindness yet with the decision which fobds their repe
on and the young men Of his army feel that is pleasure
gather around him because they know they are as well
come though they visited the hearth-stone of their own
home and they always freely invited to parts AXE of
what be has TO offer il they under the Of father
His conduct in pang the deseers who were capu red at
Buena Vista exhibited the time In rena rkabc
manner his benevolence and his Judgment Don't shoot
them, said he, the punishment will nnc is 10 re-
turn them TO the Mexican army When Napoleon said to
one OF his bataons, lnscribe their flag No longer
OF the army of Italy,, he used an expression which was
deemed remarkable that history preserved for The admir-
ration Of future ages yet orcbe AZ an illus
taon Of his touching the springs Of action
than Is that Of Gen. Taylor Illustrative Of the n which
Gen. Taylor would make example for the benefit of the
army
s. He is Of business la5iis-T never have known
Gen. Taylor TO give up dsyto pleasure. have never visit
ed hs quarters without seeing evidence Of The industry with
which he oied. II bis talented adutant surrounded by
papers 50 was the General and though he would salute
visiter kindly, and bid him with fama grace 10 amuse him
self until he was at leisure he would interrupt the duties
WHICH MS stunon called on MIN 70 PERFORM hen these
closed Tor the day. he seemed enjoy remarkable degree
the uvaciy oyoung officers and to be gado mneIe in their
society As conversational, do think Gen. Tay or
possesses great power He few words and expresses
himself with energy and force, but not uenty His language
Is select would say, however, from my knowledge Of the
man. that he Is entirely capable Of producing any thing 10 the
shape Of order letter which has appeared over his
signature, and, in saying much, understand myself as as
sering that be Of his mother tongue and can write
about as handsomely and effectively . he can fight Such,
then, the picture Of the man, Of the general who won
my esteem am not in the habit of eulosxng men, and
have INDUCED on this occasion because desired describe
70 you with the exsctness Of TRUTH those qualities which, com
bIned m Gen. Taylor, made him appear rsf-rafe
model Of an american character. Others will dwell upon
The ehvsly he has often displayed, and his greatness
consPcuously illustrated upon the field Of battle formedn my
ideas Of the when he free from duty, and bad no mo-
tive 70 appesr In other light than such thrown upon
him by nature, education, and principles.
An address was deliveredat Railway On. .J.) on the
Fourth, by WILLIAM B. REED, ESQ.,, on the occs-
sion Of the Inauguration Of monument erected