Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1848-10-06
THE WAR;

THE WAR;
Tho Wing leaders, after voting that the war
was the act Of Uexico, unblushlnsy chaiseu
that il was caused by the President OF TUG
limited States. We have again ana again
showed that the Wings were right when Tue!
said our country was right, and that they were
wrono when ,hey carried laid and comfort TO
the enemy, by the gross injustice they o'd !"
changing their ground, and declaring lha' OUT
country was to blame for the war. Since II mas
been The fashion with Whiggery, as It was wiz"
the Federalsts in the war with England 10
abuse their own Government, we have exposed
the hypocrisy OF Whggery, by showing mat inc
views of General Taylor, in regard 10 the war;
were those of the Democracy Of the country
The Wing leaders denied that such were Inc
views of General Taylor, and contended lha'
the part no bore in the matter was solely IN con-
formity with his Instructions from the President;
and that he was too much of peace man To
press hos,ilities, unless he was distinctly order
ed TO do so.
We furnish our readers with few extracts
from the Reports of General Taylor, which VIII
show that he was by no means acting upon Tue
cold "ordsr" principe, which the Wings 10
Justify their gross and shameless inconsistency
contend governed his conduct. 10 his letter Of
April, 1916, TO the Ad;u,ant General, ne says:
"Hoslil,ties may now nc considered as con
menced, and have this iay deemed II necessary
10 call upon The Governor OF Texas for Tour rec :
meDtx OF vouuteeIs-,wo = be mounted anG TWO
to serve as foot. As some delay must occur "
collecting these troops, have also desired ne
constitute an auxiliary force of nearly 5000 msn
which will DC required 10 pFosecn'e The war witt
energy, and carry il, as il shooid be- into The enc
my's country. | trust The department will ap-
prove my course in this mater, and will give the
necessary orders 10 the staff departments Tor The
supply OF ;his large additional !orcc."
Here we find the old soldier, acting on his own
responsibility, calling out an auxiliary force OF
nearly 5000 men, which OiH be required TO pro.
seetlis the ,oar vith energy, ami earrp at, as it
should be, into the easmy's country and tsuaing
that the d p ,rtmcnt wpt approve his course IN
tn matter, and will give the necessary orders to
the staff departments for the supply Of this
large additional force.
Why express the hope that "ths department
scill approve" his conduct. il he was acting un.
der ORDERS as the Wings conlendl The fact
is, General Taylor thought his country right,
and his conduct was approved by the President
and the Democratic party In his letter of May
9th, 1916. 10 the Adjulant General, he says:
"Trhe enemy has recrossed the river, and
am sure viii 40, again modest us on this Bank
Here we would ask, if Wing argument is 10
be relied on, why it was, if Gen. Taylor had such
a holy horror Of war as they are pleased TO re-
present, that he did not wait for unqualified ''or.
de 50 from the department to prosecute hostil-
ties. when he fh sure that The enemy rouid no.
again modest rim on the 7:ras side Of tie Rio
Grands rirer?
10 his letter to the Adjutant General, dated
NAV 18th, 1896 Gen. Taylor says
81 avail myself OF the brief lime at my com
mand, 10 iepori thai the main body Of the army
i nos occupying /. former position opposite
Mstamoras TIE Mexican forces are Amos
dI>orsan'zed, and shall lose no lire IN investing
Matamofas, aud opening The navigation OF the
river"
We here find the right war spirit in defend
ing the rights and honor of our country under
the lu>t expectation that our country would say
GAIL right. Go ahead"
From his letter o. the 18th May, 1886 We make
the iol owing extract:
81 ipade every pyenaraon 10 cross he river
above he town while L'eui Col. Wilson made
diversion on the side OF Burrila, and The order
...h t.r nf,l ~.
from the camo near Fort Brown, when as walt
- uu,.n ~ G-n R,qnens, empowered by Gen.
Aris'a, commanding in chlefthe Mexican forces, !
TO treat for an armistice uutil the Govern |
menis should hnaly settle the question, re-
piled 10 this that An armistlcc was out Of the |
question; that a month since | had proposed |
one 10 General Ampudla, which was declined ; |
that circumstances were now changed; that l
was receiving large reniorcenents, aud could /
not now suspend operations which had not mi
tiatet or provoked; that The possession Of Mata-
moras was sine qua non that our troops
wo nd occupy The town, but that Gen. Aris,a
might withdraw his forces, leaving tho public /
property Of every description.
Ne think General Taylor was clearly right in |
The armisIice, but his conduci certainly
presents striking contrast when compared with |
tue peace picture WHICH w hlSSeIy is peaseQ 10 |
draw for its candidate for the Presidency. He |
had ba, month betcre proposed an armis.ice |
and when The Mexican General expressed de-
sire for The delay OF hostities until the two co
vernmenIs could take action in the mater, ID
fighting old hero told him that The thing was ip-
admissible. BY the shade Of Tamerlane." this
was as "bloody" As the speech of The Sage OF
Ashland while in New Orleans, or The speeches
If the patriot, hero and statesman, Lewis Cass.
IN the Uaiied States Senate, which SO shocked the
nerves OF the psaee-t0v,ng Whiss.
On The 2lst May, 1916, Gen. Taylcr writes:
"Sir !: No, being fully in possession OF The views
or policy OF The government in rs.aTd 10 opera
ions 10 this quarter, mod fed. as they perhaps
nave been, by the recent defeat Of the Mexican
army, have The honor respectfully TO solicit fer
her instruc ions lor my guidance.
"Our future movements mCs depend, in 4 erea' |
eeree, on the ex'en, 10 which the Rio Grande is
ayigable for steamboats,, ard fear tia, my ey-
eclalions in this particular will not be realized
'hough at lines navigable as high as Camargo, {
r even Mier, il is doubtful whether boat can C
ow be pushed higher than Reinosa. Indeed, i