Boon's Lick times. [volume] (Fayette, Mo.) 1840-1848, 1848-04-15
From the Philadelphia Bulletin, 18th inst.
THE SECRETARY OF WAR AND GEN
TAET or

In ref-Ctirg on the treatment OF Gen. Taylor
by the Secretary Of War; we are at loss 10 de-
fine 1t. without transcendng the rules OF courtesy
due 10 so grave mater.
Bu, it is in vain 10 discuss the actions Of pubs
lie men, without examining their motires; and if
these are wicked, in whatever terms they may be
exposed, if we call things by their right names.
we cannot avoid severity. Gen. Taylor's high
moral courage and skill in battle. and ia his cool
judgment in the exercise OF his complicated du.
lies, from the field Of Palo Alto 10 the Plaza OF
Monterey, had attracted the applause OF every pa.
triotc American. When Monterey was taken, he
was in possession OF the strongest fortress OF the
enemy on the confines Of the greet desert which
stretches towards Po,os He had no force su1i-
cient for further offensive operations nor could
any be collected Judging from the past,) within
three or four months, even If under any circum-
stances j. could have been advisable 10 penetrate
further into Mexico on that side. when all the sup
plies OF the army, including even water must
have been transported over sterile and uninhabt.
ed mountains $50 miles.
Thus circnmstanced, Gen. Taylor, to get pos>
session OF the fortress and defeIces OF Monterey
and 10 spare the further e6uson Of blood, accepts
the Mexican Generals, offer OF Capitulalon for
an Armisice OF 60 days. Nothing could have
been more judicous, in military pon, OF view.
but Gen. Taylor's popularity had spread over the
United States the newspapers had even named
him for President-and the secretary OF War,
possibly by advice Of a Cabinet Council, prompt,
orly annuls the Armistce, and orders the war to
proceed!
The sequel has proved that this order was most
unwiye. Gen. Taylor having an inferior force, in
the enemys country, remote from his supplies,
could not divide his corps; while the enemy dis.
persed his light troops through the forests in Gen.
Taylors rear, by which they were frequently en-
abed 10 cut off his supplies and murder the poor
teemstcrs who conveyed them.
Gen. Taylors skill and courage, and accurate
knowledge OF the surrounding circumstances,
were deemed 10 be nothing. The Secretary Of
! War, VIM. L. Marcy!-Famous for WHAT. three
thousand miles distant, assume 10 penetrate tho
critical condition Of the service, and sends forth
his mandate. Is there any intelligent mind, calm.
ly surveying the scene, that does not perceive in
this transaction other motives than devotion to
the interests OF our country? But if there could
be doubt as 10 the motive for this extraordinary
order at the time, that doubt must have been dis.
PEELED, when the vote Of thanks TO Geo. TAYLOR
was discussed in Congress. The cloven foot was
then uncovered; the PsIty hacks 81 Washington
plainly showed that the Armist'ce was to be used
to destroy the popularity Of the Velran Commsn.
der
| In what terms can such an insidous design be
characterized? Was it the spirit Of faction sac.
rifcing the interests OF the country to some selfish
interests, or some baser passion? Or was it foul
plot, contrved by an invidious conspirator to de-.
stroy the fame of an illustrious Patiot. in order
10 make room for some drveling sycophsnt OF
his own species.