Weekly national intelligencer., 1848-07-22

Well our army Of over 900 would now be distrbut
ed only through the United States but In Oregon in Ca
iornia and New Mexico. We had received into the terri
tory Of the United States hordes of savage wake
Indians in New Mexico and California, and he asked any
gentleman who proposed to reduce this army why was if
10 900 troops required in 1915, that large number
of troops recommended by the President
ry and least the number of general officers
But there another view Of this subject which he
not willing omit and Of which he prepared take his
full share Of the responsibility was known to this Con-
gress AID to the county that Zachary Taylor was made
major general without his knowledge After those
splendid battles of the Rio Grande the universal of the
American people demanded that he should bea major general
He well knew, did his friend from Kentucky, that that Of
fee was rendered General Taylor by the President in obe
dence the will Of his countymen, and to General
Taylor without his knowledge without his asking for it.
He had heard that General Taylor had asked for Of
fee OF any kind He asked that gentleman If he willing
that Zachary Taylor who promoted be major general
under these circumstances should be dismissed at the close OF
the supernumerary, ncumbrsnce the army OF
the United States II must fall on him if this law not
passed in form. He~sad to this House, the President
did bis duty, he did act Of nexpessibe meanness,
he would dismiss General Twggs and Kearney Generals
Gaines and Wool their Seniors and he said the President
dare dismiss Generals Gaines and Wool hence Generals
Twggs and Keay must 60 out under the law as now
stood and he asked gentlemen if they prepared for
that Had they done nothing in Mexico deserve better OF
their country than that He trusted that the first section Of
this bill would not be defeated in this way.
Mr.. HASKELL said that independently of considerations
of public 1s he felt il to be dnty bis part 10 num-
the officers whose heads would fall unless this bill was
passedaduy growing Of the be had shared p
camp the field with
make known this House particularly than all oil them
perhaps knew who the individuals who would tall
unless saved by the passage of this BILL He spoke now par
cularly of the Majors With reference TO Nathan Boon ne
had the pleasure know him, and be could not speak of
him particularly. Next the list was Major Philip St
George Cookea familiar to this House having been
identified with the operations of army In California
Passing the of Major Crttenden, an officer dis
IL b. fn
Thomas Chds an officer who had served with marked dis
ncton every campaign upon which he bad been ordered
He bad been three times beveed, and recently brevetted
Bgadier General for distinguished services IN Mexio
he the officer who had defended Puebla during
the long and arduous siege of that place. and who protected
the of Gen. Sceits army. Passing by the name OF
Major Porter, of whom he could not particularly speak,
next the list he noticed the of Major T. D. Hawkins,
the officer who after the heroic Brown had fallen IN defence
of Fort Brown, opposite Maamoros, assumed the command
being the oldest officer and continued to defend that post
til the arrival of Gen. Taylor from the fields OF Pao Alto and
Resaca the officer who when summoned to surrender
by Ampuda the opposite bank sent back the cool answer
that he did not understand Spanish There were also Major
Washington, whose battery with Major Bagg, at Bnena
VISTA contributed much that achievement whose glory
had shed usre upon and added much to our ma
ona reputation Major Sewa of the defenders OF Fort
Brown who distinguished himself by his activity and valo
George W. Mccall, with whom he had the pleasure OF per
sonal acquaintance distinguished upon the fields OF Pao Alto
and Resaea de Ia Palma and with whose arduous dnes ably
ard credaby performed adj utant general and upon
the staff of Major General Patterson be famiar Major
Lee, officer whom he did not personally know but with
whose character he well acquainted from the representa-
tions of those who had known him and had witnessed his
gallant conduct the field and who spoke Of him of
the merorous and deserving of the officers OF the
Dixon s. Miles, officer who entered the field at the eariiest
stages of the camagn and who in advance the army took
possession Of the city Camago which subsequently became
the key upon Gen. Tayors line of operations ard the depot
of the Government stores.
Passing Major Green with whom he had acquant
ance he proceeded to Major BanbIdge who served in
all the battles from Vera Cruz to the city OF Mexico And
last but far from least, there the name OF our old
and valued friend Major Wait, formerly of the I'd infantry,
and major of The 9th sh In reference TO his par
cular case, he wished say word 1t had already been
said by members of this House that some these officers had
only asked for promotion but that they had recesed
without full knowledge Of the circumstances under which
the promotion Major Wait received information Of his
promotion the of the battle OF Cerro Coro and then
he first heard of the passage Of the act creating the ad
doDal majors Here then Major Wait who bad served
his country as many he Mr. H. had been born
who had devoted his life to his country and had now reach
eJ period Of life when he untitled Tor any other than
the profession of arms here was Major Wait, with
mission rendered to him by the President OF the United States
by virtue Of power delegated him by Congress- because be
was the Oldest captain Of the regiment and stood heh IN biz
proessionhere, he repeated Major ait IN this posi-
on standing m the face of the enemy, without knowing the
circumstances under which the law passed and would
it. he asked, consist with the honor and pride OF soldier to
refuse such commission, and suffer his junior to command
him that field No and he would appeal to The OF
justice of Congress- # they not behind the spirit which
animated the people, if these officers after having been egis
lated into commissions without their CONSENT should be egs
lated out Of the public service
He proceeded, understood, to describe awound from
musket ball which Major Wait had received OF which he
reminded by Major Gaines, who sat near him, which
passed round into h groin, and from the consequences of
which be would and he again asked the House
with what show Of justice and property they could egsa,e
such OF the service Were they, after they bad
fought the battles Of the country, 10 be ostraczed II they
might well exclaim in the language Of commander Of
cient times, " few such victories and ruined"
Mr. HARRISON appealed to the House not to sustain
the previous question: and he should object to the question Of
order OF the gentleman from Virginia, since there had been
much discussion, until he had said what he desired 10 say.
The first section Of this bill provides for the retention OF
major general and two bgader generals IN the service
It epeas that section Of law which provides thai Of the
major generals and Of the bgader generals shall he dis
missed at the end Of the Having been opposed o1ha
section years ago. there good why he should
be anxious have il repealed 1t had been said that
Of these appointments had been made not only without
bring sought but without the knowledge OF those upon whom
they conf ed and be apprehended this would be found
true regard to Gen. Taylor, and he knew would
Gen Twggp Of the brgader generals who TO he a
ected by this law. These appointments made shortly
after the battles of the sh and of May ls46, when the
whole country anxious do honor to those Those
appointments them he repeated conferred them with
their knowledge, in Of their distinguished services
those occasns Gen. Taylor elevated TO the rank Of
major general and placed side by side with ien Scott giving
place him only Of the date OF his commission
Gen. Scott too partook largely in the recent he