Boon's Lick times. [volume] (Fayette, Mo.) 1840-1848, 1848-02-26
HEADQUARTERS ARMY OF OcCupAT1oN.


SIR: have had the honor to receive
your communication of January 9Th, en-
closing newspaper slip, and expressing
the regret Of the department that the letter
copied in that slip. and which was ad-
dressed by myself to Major General Gaines.
should have been published.
Although your letter does not convey
the direct ccnsUre of the department or of
the President, yet, when it is taken in con-
nection with the revival of paragraph in
the regulation Of 1926, touching the publ
cation of private letters concerning ope-
rations in the field, am not permitted TO
doubt that have become the subject of Ex-
cutive Misrepresentation. To any expression
of it coming with the authority ofthe Pres.
ident, | am bound by my duty, and by my
respect for his high office, patiently to sub
nit; but lest my silence should be construed
into tact! admission of the grounds and
conclusions set forth in your communica.
ton, deem it duty which owe to my
self to submit few remarks in reply. ]
shall be pardoned for speaking plainly.
| In the first place, the published letter
bears. upon its face the most conclusive evil
doncc that it was intended only for private
perusal, and not at all for publication. 1t
was published without my knowledge, and
contrary 10 my wishes. Surely, need not
say that am not in the habit of writing
for the newspapers. The letter was a
familiar one, written to an old military
friend with whom have for many wears
interchanged opinions on professional sub
jects. That he should think proper to
publish it, under any circumstances, could
not have been foreseen by me.
In the absence Of proof that the publica.
ton was made with my authority or knowl-
edge, may be permitted to say that the
quotation in your letter Of the six hundred
and ft,icth paragraph Of the superadded
regulations Of 1925, in which the terms
"misch!evous" and "disgraceful,' are EN-.
ployed to characterize certain letters or
reports, conveys. though not openly, meas.
ure of rebuke, which, TO say the least. is
rather harsh; and which many may think
not warranted by the premises. Again:
| have carefully examined the letter in
question, and do not admit that it is OBJ
noxious to the objections urged in your
communication. | see nothing mi which
under the same circumstances, | would no,
write again. To suppose that it will give
the enemy valuable information touching
our past or prospective line of operations
is to know very little Of the Mexican sour.
ccs Of information, or OF their extraordina.
ry sagacily and facilities in keeping con.
stantly appr!zed of our movements. As
to my particular views in regard TO The
general policy TO be pursued towards Mex
leo, perceive by the public journals thai
they are shared by many distinguished
statesmen, and also, in part, by conspicu
GUS officer Of the navy, the publication o.
whose opinions is not perhaps obstructed
by any regulations Of his department. L
is difficult, then, TO imagine that the dilfu
sion of mine can render any peculiar aid tc
the enemy, or especially disncline him "tc
enter into negotiations for peace"
In conclusion, | would say that i, hal
given me great pain to be brought into tht
position in which now find myself witt
regard to the Department of War ant
Government. 1t has not been of my owl
seeking. To the extent ofmy ability, AM
the means placed at my disposal, / hav,
sought faithfully to serve the country. b,
, carrying out the wishes and Instructions o
the Executive. But il cannot be concealed
that, since the capiiulation of Monterey tn
confidence of the department (and, i to,
much fear, of the Presidency has been grad
5 ualIy Withdrawn, and my consideration an,
| usefulness correspondingy diminished. Tn
' apparent determination of The department
to place me in an attitude antagonistica
} TO the government, has an apt illustration
in the well known fable of Esop. But
= ask no favor, and ! shrink from no respon
| siI,ilttN hIila
! mand IN this quarter, | shall continue to de