The southern press. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1850-1852, 1850-08-09

due justice was given TO the troops that served in
battle; and il given in that brief positive style
! that was his own. He never dwelt in superla-
tives superfuities, but in brief, positive, and
pointed language, and gave 10 each the credit that
was his due, and condemned in all the irregulari-
ties which they committed. 1t was not as the SEN
ator's reseach seems to have induced him TO sup
pose, that Texas alone received condemnation for
breach of orders and good conduct, In harsher
terms than were ever bestowed upon the troops Of
Texas, the troops of Arkansas were censured in
orders at Aqua Nueva. Even at Matamoras, in
the early part Of the occupation Of Mexican ter
ritory, the irregularities Of the new levies were
noticed the great difficulty in the task con-
eli'ating the inabitants Of the enemy's country.
Then the hope expressed that discipline
would correct the evil. read an extract from
an official letter Of General Taylor written at his
/ "HEApoUARrERs, MArAMoRos, Aug. 1, l845.
! - I" Since crossing the Rio Grande il has
been my constant aim to conciiate the people of
the country; and have the satisfaction Of belIev-
| ing that much has been done towards that object,
not only here, but at Reinosa, Camargo, and other
towns higher up the river. The only obstacle
encounter in carrying out this desirable policy
arises from the employment of volunteer troops
Some excuses have been committed by them
upon the people and their property, and more,
fear, are to be apprehended. With every exer-
ton, it is impossible effectually to control these
troops, unaccostomed they are to the discipline
Of camps, and losing in bodies the restraining
sense of Individual responsibility. With increased
length of service, these evils, tits hoped, will di
minish I"
At later period the troops Of many States
were involved in apprehension, which the want
of special information made general. now refer
TO the expressions contained in the very letter Of
June l6, l947, which the senator quoted to show
how bitter the General was against the Texans
That letter referred to every body else but the
troops of Texas; it referred TO the twelve months
men--those who had just been mustered out. The
Texans were not twelve months men, and had
been mustered out more than eight months before
the date of the letter. He said that the peaceful
inhabitants Of the villages along the road COM
planned of the outrages Of these returning vol
unteers. That the complaint was made and the
outrages were committed, have no more doubt
of the one than of the other. The Mississippi
regiment went down about that time, and was Of
the character Of troops described in the letter.
But have never "winced under it, my "withers
were unwrung." | have never felt that il had
any application to the Mississippi troops, and
therefore have felt nothing, and had nothing TO
say about it, Let any Texan, approved at home
and approved abroad, be consulted by the senator
from Texas on these points, and he will, think,
find that he will agree with me mainly in what
have said. On no important point do l believe
there would be any difference. Go to those who
served under Taylor in battle where his form,
like the whiteplume Of Henry, was guide to
point the bravest to the hottest of the fght--to
those who have shared the toll of his marches,
and who will not fail to remember his attention,
his kindness and his cheerful, unaffected greeting,
whenever they approached him--go TO him whose
private affairs led him to seek counsellor in his
General; or, further still, go to the wounded man
who received his care, and ask him whether vain
pride, or selfshness GOODNESS was in his heart,
| and you will receive from each and all the same
answer-No! The renown of his public career,
the fame that he gained in battle, was column
| for the public admiration, more pershable, less
desirable, than that impression which was made
| in the hearts Of those who knew him. 1t was his
sterling private virtues that made every soldier he
commanded his friend; it was this which, COM
bined with confidence in his military skill, gave
MIN that power to lead his thousands on where
thousands bleed
1t was this that always made his subordnates
ready to serve him, and never willing to leave
| him, the distressed found sympathy, the friend
less friend, and the brow that terrible to
the unprincped oppressor, spoke hope and en-
couragement TO the oppressed. II was this beau
tiful trait IN his character which caused him to
scorn all those whose want of morality led them
to commit aggressions upon the unarmed and de-
fenceless. It was this which caused the pride Of
his triumphant followers to mingle with the graf
| titude of the people he conquered. 1t was this
which caused the victorious shout TO be mingled
with the blessings of the down trodden, whom
he raised, the defenceless, whom he protected,
and which brought so many other leaves b side
yP'1oS
arch.
| His character may be very briefly stated hon
est sincere, resoute true to his friends, charita
BILE to his enemies, and just to all men, were
benevoence turned justice aside. OF all of the ac-
cusations that could be brought against any man,
none could be more unfounded than that of a want
ofsympathy with the brave whom he commanded,
Though stern and unmoved in battle, he came
with parents solicitude to his suffering COM
rades when the strife had ceased; the man whose
A. Al
would feel a mothers softness o 'er it creep when
he looked upon suffering Of wounded comrade.
After the close of the battle Of Monterey, he
divided the little comforts he possessed among
the wounded, and sent even the presents Of fruit
which he received from the inhabitants Of the
country to be distributed at the hospitals. Away,
away, with the reflection II were as well to deny
Huctuation Of water, cohesion to granite, as
manly sympathy to Taylor's heart.
| When the Senator reiteratedly charges him with
| prejudice against State, it but shows how little
! he understood his character. So far from being
well founded, l can say, il ever knew man
who entirely above sectonality, he vas one.
| To this his education conduced : he had grown up
in the army, and served his country in every por-
| ton Of it. His fame was identified with his whole
country, and his affections were as broad his
whole country. | never heard sectional remark
made to him that it was not checked or rebuked,
! as it might deserve the other. How could
il be supposed that State for which he had taken
such high responsibility, to secure the volunteers
of which he had incurred responsibility
and official---would, through any portion of its
representatives, have spoken hus ofhim.
| But the senator, having run all these pri-
vae traits, then called nquestion his military en-
dowments He said that the battalions fell at
Monterey; and he would not say how they were
disposed; he spares criticism on Gen. Taylor,
whose movements are said to have been pronounced
above criticism by the first soldier of Europe. He
liz over kind. Criticism is defled But / hone
the will least learn the localities of the
town before the task Of criticism performed upon
the manner in which it was successfully invested
and attached Then let him try it at any point, from
the commencement Of the siege TO the close of the
capitulation. All criticism is equally de6ed of his
more remarkable battles, those of Pao Alto and
Resaca de la Palma; those battles which set upon
our armies the zeal of invncibility, and which
led the way--yes, made the future victories aeon
sequence. Or, if he choose, he may go to the
last, that was filled with many crisis, and
which was so important in its results; fought
against such numerical odds without an erro-