Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1848-03-16
For the Green Mountain Freeman.
Gen. Zachery Taylor and the Mexican
War

As there is some prospect that this Hero of the
Mexican War, will be the Wing candidate for our
next President it would be well for the antlwar men
of that party to consider what relation he has sustain
ed to that atrocous scheme of national murder and
robbery
1t isassertcd by many that as he was servant Of
the government it became his duty to do her bidding,
and that he is not accountable for the part he has Ia
ken in the transactions. do not hold to such doc
trine 1t was, in my opinion, his duty, if he was OPP
posed to the war; to resign his commission and retire
from the field. This he might have done, and the
fact thqt he did not do it, is proof sufficient to my
mind TINT he was at heart in favor of the war.
But did he act merely as a servant and passyey O.
bey his master? Did he not take such part as to
become responsible for his actions even onthe ground
Of those who think that man may become such
machine as to lose his moral accountability.
will here give an extract fromo speech of Vice
President Dallas, made at Pittsburgh on the 18th OF
September, 1917, which has some bearing on Gen.
Tovlor's relation to the war. | have not seen the
same in any Vermont paper. But if has been pub
lshcd in some Of the papers, it will be new to most
of youreaders.
"Texas had been annexed to our Union She had
been a sovereign and independent nation. On enter
inc our confederacy We were bound to protect her,
When therefore, her soil was threatened with invasion,
our government sought to find the most eflcctua means
by which to overcome the medtated evil. The brave
magnanmous, patriotic and long-tried soldier old
Zachary TAYLOR, was directed to take such position
in the territory of Texas, US would best enable him to
protect her citizens. Occupying position onthe rv-
err Neuces. he soon accertned that another position
was more desirable in order to effect the object lie
therefore, at once sUGGEsTE a12a EcoMMENDED to The
Ercc,Ue The occupation Of posi- on The ITO Gfaaae'
This admirable and sagacious recommendation was at
once complied with, and he took position IN Accord
ance nih his o,cn vees Of the work inbl,sted 10 him;
and upon whom could the administration have more
implicitly relied in a similar emergency than upon
this old and tried patriot and soldier? This arGs his
first movemed And none have forgotten the ever
memorable eth and 9Th of May 1916, whenhe was the
hero of two battles, equallmg in their leading iea-
lures the most brilliant achievements Of the Reyou
tonary war;"
Ihave italicized two or the clauses which wish to
have particularly noticed Wings nave, III the most
severe terms, censured Mr. Polk for ordering Gen.
Taylor to occupy position on the Rio Grande. But
it seems from the statement of Mr.. Dallas that he did
this in compliance with the suggestions and recommcn
dntion of Gen. Taylor And yet the cold hero" is to
be made President by the votes of these same Wings
who have censurcd Mr. Polk for doing what, reali
ty, Gen. Taylor is accountable for. 20 consistency
Thou art jewelw
It appears that "Old Rough and Ready" fearing that
he should win no laurels where he was on the Nue.
ces, wished to change his position where he would be
certain to have brush with the Mexcans; and he ac-
cordngly got permission to pass to the Rio Grande
"Ths was his first movement" in the Mexican war;
He no doubt made this movement with the desire and
expectation that it would lead to an open rupture be-
tween the two governments How then, can anti
war Wings consistently support such Il man.
! ARGUS