Richmond palladium. [volume] (Richmond, IA [i.e. Ind.]) 1839-1854, 1848-10-11
<icss. T:aylOr--lliS Writing.

<icss. T:aylOr--llis Writing.
The Locofocos and Barnburners, and
an occasional Wing, affect to doubt Gen
Taylor's ability, to write decent English,
and although they admit that his public
dispatches, and some of his letters are
excellent in style and composition. We,
they insist that they were all written by
Major Bliss, or some other friend. Now
the fact is the old Hero DOES HIS OWN
WRITING, AS WELL AS HIS FIGHTING WITH.
OUT SHRINKING FROM RESPONSIBILITY, and
we proceed to give you the proof Of this
assertion. Read the evidence.
Col. Gibson, an old and distinguished
officer Of the army. states to Mr.. Critten-
den:
81 have been for many years associated
with Gen. TAYLOR in military service, and
frequently on courts martial and of in
quiry with him. and General Taylor al
trays drew mp the proceeding and reports
of the courts"
John {. Spencer Of New York, late Sc
cretary Of War, in letter Of his publish
= i in the New York Courier says:
..y,c,u ask me TO communicate the opin-
ion which YOU understand has been ex-
pressed by me. in reference to the attain
mcnts of Gen. T.. vlor derived from his
with tie War Department
during the time it was Ii. my charge
II is very true, have often sta. Ho my h'eh
opinion not only of the sound ia 'Sn,eht
and unsurpassed discretion of Gen. ~
lor, but also of his capacity as writer:
and when doubts were cast upon the au-
thorship of the admirable dispatches which
came from Mexico under his name, l de-
clared unequivocally my thorough con-
viction that he was the author OF them
And stated my reasons for this convic-
ton: that his official letters and Other COM
which had fallen under my
contained the same conden-
sed vioor of thought and expression. the
same peculiarities of style. and beauty.
and force Of language that characterized
his Mexican dispatches; and that. from
personally Known to me.
| was certain that he could not have had
the aid in writing the letters and comniu-
nications referred to, which some of the
alleged had been rendered to
him in Mexico. This opinion ] now de-
lberatelv reiterate. You and know
perfectly well that persons who are in the
habit of literary composition can detect
the style, manner of thought, and turn Of
of writer, after having been
acquainted with some Of his productions.
with certainty at least equal to that with
which an expert in penmanship can de-
eide upon the signature of one whom he
has seen write his name.
IL do not mean to deny that Gen. Tay-
lor like Gen. Washington, and like every
other modest man. may have had the aid
Of literary friend in looking over his
dispatches. written, as they must have
been, under great excitement and some
times in haste. and that friend may have
erased redundant word or phrase, or
period. If this be evidence Of
who shall escape! 1t is noto-
rous that the writings of w ashington,
and particularly his Farewell Address.
the revision of Gen. Hamilton;
and that the messages and public comuni-
cations of every other President have al
ways been subjected to the critical exam
ination Of his Cabinet. Indeed do not
hesitate to say that the men who will sub
'iht upoito't puoAiS P0PCAS " 3'O P~o''S
scrutiny without the revision OF friend.
when it can be obtained. will evince more
than good sense.
''For forty years Gen. Taylor has been
in the military service OF the country:
more than thirty years of the time in gar
risons and at posts. where in time Of
peace he has had abundant leisure.-His
habits are admitted on all sides to be ex
emplary. and he to be any thing but an
indolent man-What then. have probably
been his occupations during the tedious
DAYS. weeks. months. and years of garri-
son duty2 The answer to the question
may be found in the rich. manly. and con-
densed thought that makes his compost
tons models Of epistolary writings"
MAJOR Bliss states that "erery despatch
during the campaign ,cds scriften by The
General himself. and the most ever did
was to dot an or cross a t."
Is more proof necessary to establish
the fact. that Gen. Taylor does his o,cn
rriiinga Ra ."so s-9 az @a- ..
nd Il ~ L