Democratic banner., 1848-04-24

a few days afterwards. On the 18th,
Lieutenant Porter, with tmall bodyofmen|
was attacked, and after being wounded,
fell into the hands of the Mexicans, and
was butchered. On the 10Th, General Tay-
.lor, satisfied that war was bles
'biockaded the mouth of the Rio Grande to
cut off the upplies Of the Mexicans at Mat
amoros. On the Gath, General Arista, chief
in command at Matamoros gave General
Taylor notice that hostilities had commenc-
ed, and lie Should prosecute them: On the
25th, Capt. Thornton, in command Of 52 dra-
goons, was attacked by a large body of Mex
leans; ten men were killed, and a number
captured. On the 2sth, Captain Walkers
camp was surprised in his absence, and
five men were killed. On the LIST of May,
a family of fourteen persons, unofending
and unarmtd, were taken prisoners 1.-TWO
of them were females) on the Colorado;
their threats were cut, after every possible
outrage had been perpelrated upon them,
and they we've left without the common re-
sPect OF a decent burial. General Taylor
proposed an armistice to General Ampu-
die, early in April, which was declined.
These facts prove, conclusively, that the
war was imperiously necessary; and Gen
eral Taylor, on the 26th April, 1916, felt
authorized to call out about five thousand
volunteers from Louisiana and Texas, TO
use his own emphatic language, "to prose-
cute the war with energy, and carry it, as
it should be, into the enemy's country."-
These facts cannot be mistaken; and they
prove beyond question that Gen. Taylor
Thought that his country was right; that tile
Mexicans deserved a logging, and he was
ready and willing to give it to them. 1t will
be remembered that all these things occurred
previous to the battles of the 9th and 9th
Of May.
On the 18th of May, General Taylor
crossed over to Matamoros. General Ar
ista proposed an armistice, which General
Taylor declined; and, writing to the War
Department, said, as follows:
81 replied to this, that an armistice was
out ofthe question; that q month since, ]
had proposed one to Ampudia, which was
declined; that circumstance we're now
changed; that ] was receiving large rein
Iforcements, and could aot now suspend
operations tchirh / hud not initiated nor
proroked; that the possession Of Matamo-
ros was a Stne qua o
Here, then, is proof positive, to show,
that General Taylor coald not have con
sidered the war either nujustor uusonstitu-
t%ional, for it will be observed, that he
y5Dckaded the Rio Grande, made q requi-
esiiion for volunteers on Louis lana and Tex
las, seEfeVedrths position opposite HAAta'no-
10. Inc ,G6iieF sq"sRs VI f saae e. zap 'i 10
crossed The Rio Grande and captured. tnat|
town,-all without any directions from de
War Department to that eject. And yet
he says to Arista that the operations mean
ling the wary had not been by ~hfesS!rA-
TED OR PROVOKED. Trae General Taylor
was authorized to call out any number of
volunteers, which, inhii judgment, the ex-
igency of the public service might require;
and he was also instructed to select a pofl
sition on or near the Rio Grande, but the
selection of the positioI opposite MatamoI
ros was an act of his owi judgment, in the
exercise Of power necessarily, to some ex-
tent, discretionary. Tlb selection of that
particular point is made a grave matter Of
complaint and accusatim by the Opposition
though General Taylor,( and he alone) is
responsible for it. w believe the brave
old General has, in thatact, done nothing
more than any America commander ought
to have done under the circumstances; but
how can gentlemen Of he Opposition CEN
sure the act, which w,s discretionary on
the part of General Tailor, without, at the
same time, sullying thu fair fame and rep
u~tation of the old herr? Truly should the
old General say, "Tie Lord deliver me
from such friends
MIR. Ficklin here gos on TO defend the Presi-
dent against the false darges that Gen. Taylor
has been dealt unfairly with, which is unneces-
sary to repeat here.
THE COURT OF INQUIRY.
I We have further reports of the Court Of
Inquiry IN Gen. Pillows case. The testi-