The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1848-05-04
CONGRESSIONAL.
SPEECH OF sIu. j. THOMPSON,

In the House Of Repressnatirss Hdrch 2l ls4S-On the
motion of Mr. CLISGMAN, of North Carolina 10 recon
slider the resolution TO inquire into the expediency OF
printing an extra number OF the correspondence with
General Scott and Mr.. Trist
Mr. THOMPSON said Mr. Speaker, this debate has
been sprung upon the House wholly Unexpectedly. The
remarks of the gentleman from North Carolina have been
extraordinary, that feel unwilling TO allow them 70
pass without few words in reply. He presents himself
singular attitude before the House and the
try, and endeavors to place the administration and its
friends in position as strange as it is unnatural He
admits campaigns Mexico have been successful
glorious; but the administration, who planned these
campaigns is entitled 10 credit no honor; but, on the
contrary, decided censure for its imbeciy in plan
willie our generals, Scott and Taylor, have won for
themselves glorious name, and gathered around their
brows bright wreath OF Immortality the administration
deserved reprobaton and contempt This, IN my esima
ton, not only manifestly UNJUST but IN the, highest
degree arrogant and impudent
The gentleman from North Carolina, Mr.; CLINGMAN'l
with all of his party friends held and had declared that the
war 'unconstitutonay and unnecessarily com
menced by the President Of the United States The con.
sequence OF this position according to all the rules o.
common and correct reasoning well as all the
principles laid down by the approved writers upon inter-
national law, is that the war is unjust wrong IN Its IN
cepton wrong in its prosecution, wrong in all OF its ope
rations, and will be wrong in its termination In such
war; must be ''immoral and rregous to rejoice
vctores and to isolate generals from the admin
straton-o praise the instruments, and abuse the work.
man-o endeavor pile up honors upon those who have
successfully effected the task assigned them in this I'M
Just and unrghteous war, and to call down the public
reced hem-is both ridiculous and grossly absurd But
the gentleman goes step further He represents the
Executive in attitude of hostility 10 the generals In
the first place. he selects the generals carry out his pans
and then arranges and distributes the troops voted by
Congress for the prosecution OF the between those
generals and orders them forward in most hazardous
service make manifest he would have been willing
them defeated Could anything be conceived in the
lowest depths party in the gross blindness OF
party amnesty more preposerous and malicious That
he who, under the constitution was the commander-in
chief OF the whole military force OF the country would
rejoice to armies defeated and disgraced While
his success, the glory of his administration, must
manifestly depend upon the OF arms The
defeat of army, the disasters and disgrace OF our
generals. would have suited the gentemans party pur-
poses and served to make the unpopular and odOus
TO the people; and thus he might have secured the
throw of the party he hates He might, with perfect
consistency, have desired to see our army defeated and
our generals dsgraced but such result such feelings
on the part OF the administration and its friends. would
have been unnatura contrary to every dictate and mo-
tive of the human heart. This attempt TO array the
President against the generals and the generals against
each other act of injustice both TO the President
and the generals
Great partially shown by the President for Gene
raj Taylor selecting him the commander OF the army
of occupation, when first moved into Texas where the
most delicate and responsible duties devoved on this Of
cer With great readiness and cheerfuness, the Presi-
dent conferred the brevet rank of on Gen
Taylor for his bravery and good conduct at Pao Alto and
Resaca AS he possessed the power the President
appointed him major general, and always sustained hm
in his command the army of occupation. Can Gene
raj Taylor be lost to all sensbty so devoid OF those
lofty feelings which control brave and generous
minds as not feel grateful for this manifestation OF
partiality and confidence Sir, he ISLANDERS him who
supposes him proud OF the honors conferred and the
opportunities afforded him of distinction and usefulness
The President thought proper 10 call General Scott to the
command OF the expedition against the capital General
Taylor had right to complain; did he so Tar as
know General Scott had asked for this command; and
doubt not the proudest hour OF his life was that IN
which the President informed hun that he possessed his
confidence, and that he would ntrust this high and re-
sponsibe duty to him. Can the widest dreamer with
the President to disgrace and destroy General Scout
Noman without the stranges perversion OF the attend
ing circumstances will assert such thing. A.. c.,.
When the gentleman began his speech, Mr.. speaker,
by mere accident had in my hands the correspondence
of General Taylor with the War Department. communi,
Gated this House at the last session OF Congress And
as have not the correspondence with General
Scott now communicated, shall confne myself 10 the
two charges gavey and deliberately made against the
War Department in its dealings with General Taylor.
lst The administration had obliged General Taylor to
march forward from the Rio Grande TO Monterey; anu
he had been furnished with the necessary means OF
transportation ne would have captured ,ne enemy VIII ~
march OF the enemy IRON that place with the hohors Oh
war. ~, ,
from General Taylor, under order OF the War Depart
ment leaving him too much weakened in his position,
with the expectation of new recruits being forwarded
which never to his support and which should nave
arrived long before the battle OF Buena Vista, and in
creased his command to ten thousand men,.
know the gentleman from North Carolina has made
these round assertions, OF Charges,
without acquainng himself with the facts know tna
efforts have been made to drag the military reputation
and military popularity of General Taylor into the potl
cal arena and 10 make it available Tor party purposes
and to subserve party ends These efforts rst began III
this House. with those who desired to render the war I'M
popular 1t caught up by sympathising spirits IN the
country and they who denounced the war as uncohsu
tuonal, unnecessary, and unjust yet praised the war
rior and in order to put down the friends OF the war;
was found necessary TO place them in apparent hostility
to those chivaous men, who had gone forth at their cal
and solicitation TO battle for the country and Its sacred
cause This cunning and hypocrisy, so well worn, 70
save sinking cause, escape the deecuon and
odium of an Intelligent and honest constituency AS
tons and alschood shall endeavor to do full and am
| nile Justice TO all the parties concerned
In reply the charge that General Taylor was IN wan
of land transportation prior to the battle OF Monterey
saw that the responsibility is Gen Iaylors responsibility
(and he is the man who shrinks from no responsible
ivy and the blame, if there be blame anywhere, must
attach to General Taylor; and assert in addition as my
opinion that if Gen. Taylor had had at his immediate COM
mand any amount of transportation, he would have gone
forward 10 Monterey with only SIX thousand men, as ne
did go.
! TO sustain these positions, rely upon the letter OF
Gen Jesup, which now hold IN my hand, ana which
am confident has been read by the gentleman from
North Carolina Before its introduction, need not say
one word in behalf of this distinguished and faithful pub
lie servant The pages of his counrys history are EN-
blazoned with the glowing descriptions OF ms heroc
deeds performed in the face OF Toe 'worthy OF our
steel" Bridgewater and Erie attest his vaor ana NOPE
daring and many years of arduous and usefs service IN
the camp have familiarized him with the duties OF ue
soldier and the responsibilities and powers OF Inc com
mander His statements none here will dare to question