The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1848-07-30

general in command daily and hourly risking his repu
taon voluntarily in the service, and yet cannot say
whether there is any Justice or necessity on the part Of
his country for all the calamltes OF war; 30 much from
candidate for the presidency who is TO be elected pc
he is ''he honest man. leaving the inference hi'
he Is the only honest man in the republic.
In the same letter. when asked as TO me necessity OF
national bank and as TO the effects OF high protective
tariff upon the country, he replies
g not prepared to answer them could only do so
after daily investigating those subjects which cannot no"
Here he inadvertently observed of the great fgnda
mental pIncipes of elocution-when you know nothing,
saw nothing This letter presents strange compound
frs he asserts that every freeman has right to know
the opinions of candidates for Office second as to the Jus
tce OF the war; he cannot give an opnio az to bank
and tariff he has opinion third, he SIS no politician
fourth if the people elect him Chief Magistrate he Will
serve them which all men accustomed to public lie
understand to mean, IN PLAIN parlance, am cahuuae'
and would be pleased TO be elected
This letter written June 8, 1S47 Afterwards,
August g. 1884, he writes his celebrated letter to the Hon
j. II lngersoll, in which he avows himself "a wing
not indeed, AN ultra partisan wing, but wing IN princi-
pie" Here he shows an astonishing Improvement IN
political knowledge in few weeks But me sentence
which follows, shows conensveIy to my mind that this
letter writer, who assumed the name OF Mt lngersoll,
had msled and deceived General Taylor and had thrown
him into passion. lie ADDS!
And after the discussion which occurred in both houses
Of Congress athe last session growing out of their cap
aon oi Moniereyn which discussion you thought prope
asaled sops,raf j t!trely party grounds in the
House of which yon penFer qF which you have my
who dsapproved that measure, hardly imagine how
any who present. and heard the speeches on that
OCCASION read Them after they were published, could
well mistake the complexion ofmy politics"
take it for granted, that General Taylor was imposed
upon in this matter by some designing man. But call
upon gentlemen TO mark this lucid passage What is the
idea conveyed in tsnme democrats, on party grounds,
had disapproved OF the capituiaon OF Monterey! This
taking ground against him and after that no one
that knew him could mistake the complexion OF his
politics" Here the vindicve and intolerant spirit of
man long accustomed to command, unused to tolerate
disobedence aad impatient OF contradiction, manests
itself. But if this discussion made HIM wing, then
say that wings OF easy manufacture. But when
General TAYLOR discovers the fact that not single wing
in the whole land is willing to defend the terms OF thai
capituation on the grounds on yhlch he placed IN his
official report which had been laid before Congress, by
the process OF reasoning the complexion OF his
politics" will again become doubtful.
When that discussion took place. we had before us the
official report the captulaon and the correspondence
which had passed between General Taylor and General
Ampuda and also the fact had been made known that the
President had dlsapProyed o. ae a[msce' pqa Inc rea
papers and iacts, members OF Congress formed and ex
pressed their opinions
In order TO full understanding of this subject, let
recapituate the facts On the morning OF the 10th Of
Sept 1916, he encamped at the Walnut Springs near
Monterey, with army less than seven thousand strong
On the morning OF the 2oih the ghsl9s began winch
the most astounding courage and uneXamped daring by
our troops There is not American citizen living who
does not feel proud of his country when he reviews the
days On the night of the 23ds at o'clock, Gen Ampu
da sent message to Gen. Taylor, saying GAS have
made all the defence OF which believe this city caPa
be" &C. 81 propose your eXcelency TO evacuate the
city and CITADEL taking with me the personnel and mate
rel Of war which is left" On the next morning, at 7
o'clock, Gen. Taylor replied I'm answer to your pro
sonnet and materiel Of war, have to state that Ply duty
compes me to decline accedng to it. A complete sur
render of the town and garrison-he latter as prisoners
of war--is now demanded"
On this day General Taylor said che felt he had the
city in his hands'
The result of the above correspondence personal
interview between the generals the appointment OF com,
mssoners to arrange the terms OF the capuaton, and
the agreement that the Mexican army should retain Their
arms, with twenty one rounds OF ammunlon march ON
of the city with the honors OF war; and that there should
be an ar,nistce of eight weeks duration. This was
great falling off from the first demand:
And what were the reasons assigned Tor thus utter t
sacrifice of advantages great and so dearly bought
Not that severy military man must admit, who has seen
the ground, it was impossible TO invest Monterey so
closely as to prevent the escape OF the garrison MOI
'thc consideration of humanity was present in my mind
during the conference which led to the convention ana
outweighed in my Judgment, the doubtful advantages to
be gained by the resumption of the attack upon the
town not ''a the date of the surrender of Monterey
our force had not more than ten days rahons;
These reasons were atter-thoughs, urged upon re,
argument OF the case These were military reasons ana
none are so good judges Of their soundness as military
But be it ever remembered and kept in mind that the
only laid before Congress were contained IN
m will be seen that the terms granted the Mexican gar
ron ire rigorous than those first imposed Ihc gallant
defence to,cn and The fact Of recent change govern
meat IN Derco believed to be taDordb to the interests %
peace induced concur with the commission IN the
terms which WILL trust receive the approval OF the gov
Tie later consideration also prompted me c2npen
fion for temporary suspension Of hosfthtes though
scarcely warranted by my instructions, yet me chahse
affairs since those instructions ssueh seemed 70 war
this beg to be advised, as early as Pracu
cable. whether have met the views OF the government IN
these particulars "
Here is the whole argument in behalf of the terms O.
the capitulaton, by which entire hostile army was
released and eight weeks cessation OF hostiltles con-
coded to them.
Mir BARROW here interposed, and said that he under
stood the gentleman from Mississippi TO say that NOT
single wing was willing to defend the capitulauon
Now he would say he ready to defend mat capItu
| lation, and had always done so.
| Mr. THOMPSON continued. The gentleman IRON
| Tennessee is not exactly correct do not nor nave
said that there found to defend the capltulaon
know to the contrary But have yet to find the mar
who defends the terms of the capuation for the rea
sons furnished in General Taylors official report ant
particularly that portion of the capltulaton which eve
gave rise to any dscusson-the armishce. The sol'
that was, the supposed change in the govern
ment believed be favorable to the interests or peace
Will any one defend that part OF the capltuation
insist that those who abandon the reasons here sWet
for the terms granted the Mexican garrison are them
selves the censurers of General Taylor. They accuse
him of an effort palm upon the country, as glorious
| victory, an iidecisve battle.
| General TAYLOR insists, in the only report when wa
then known Congress- that these favorable terms We
granted er grata, necesstdte speaking as he san
he felt that che had the city in his hands, But I'M
i won upon his generosity; and 'the fact OF recen
change of government in Mexico believed 10 be favor
be =, the interests of peace had misled him, and caused
INN TO think unnecessary TO insist upon rigorous terms