The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1850-07-06


time. that it was ..next To impossible to detect
the individuals who thus disgraced their colors
and their country" Besides, there was no
code for the punishment of offences not military,
and this was source Of constant embanass-
ment. The individual perpetrators being un-
known, the offences could only be designated
as having been committed by the corps to which
the perpetrators belonged Nor was this doing
any injustice TO the corps, the character of which
depended upon the conduct of its members, in
the same manner that the character of an army
depends upon the conduct of the different corps
of which it is composed.
Continuing his quotations from General TAY-
LoR's letter of the 10th of June, lS47, Gene
raj HoUsroN proceeds:
.'I have, in consequence, ordered Major Cheval-
lies command to Salllo where 1t can do less mis-
chief than here, and where its services moreover,
wanted.
".Whcre their services are wanted'-for what?
To do mischief that is, to kill more than 'one
Mexican ] suppose. Ia it not strange that he
should send these men, whom he is unable to re-
strain and control in the face Of large army, to
place where there mono 10 control them and re-
strain them from outrage on the Mexicans! Were
their services wanted there for outrage and depre-
dation? or were they sent there with view Of as
containing whether new temptations would inspire
with stronger sense Of duty
".The constant recurrence of such atrocities,
which have been reluctant to report to the depart
Inent, is my motive for requesting that no more
troops may be sent TO this column from the State Of
ISras."
"No more troops from the State of Texas" They
had been an incumbrance to him, one would sup
pose"
SIS it not strange that he General TAY-
LoR should send these men, whom he is I'M
able to sustain and control in the face Of large
army, to place where there was none to con-
troll them and restrain them from outrage on the
Mexicans?" General HoUsToN is again at
fault in point of fact AT that very time, Gen
eral Wool was encamped near Saltlllo with
over 1000 men, while al Monterey there We're
not over six or seven hundred The country
around the former was more sparsely, settled,
and offered less temptation to plumber and out
rage than the region below.
The flct of such atrocities having been COM
mitted by the Texas volunteers is not denied even
by General HoUsroN himself. Their constant
recurrence is equally indisputable. Between
the Texans and the Mexicans there had long
existed such feelings of deadly animosity that 1t
was found utterly impossible to restrain the for
mer, when securing the country in separate de-
tachments, from committing excuses upon the
unarmed inhabitants Therefore it was that,
as a last and final resort, General TAYLOR re-
quested that no more troops might be sent to
him from the State of Texas. In making this
request, he cast no imputation whatever upon
the bravery and patriotism of the people OF that
State. He had, in his official orders and de-
spatches. borne willing and ample testimony to
the efficiency of the Texas volunteers, and the
services rendered by them on the field OF battle.
He had shown his readiness to confde IN
their "aid' in the 50 hour of peril" by calling
upon them for il in the first call made
by him for volunteers, and by the anxiety ne
manifested to have them to continue with him
another term of three months, after the first
term had expired.
III view of all the facts we have presented
facts not susceptible of denial-we doubt not
"every candid man, who is disposed to canvass
or discuss truth when it is presented to him,
will come to the conclusion that, instead OF
General TAYLoR's having ''nwarrantably' as
saiIsa, traduced and DETAINED" the people Of
Texas. General HoUsroN has ''unwarrantably
assailed traduced and DETAINED" Gen. TAYLOR.