The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1850-07-31

Resoced Tha the C3mnittee OF Military Ada ts be IN
snetsl 20 inquire into he expedeucy prohibiting 10y
la oliaet OF The trny r, assuming exercising
authority conferred by Of Congress, aud pro-
vd'ng an adequate punshnen' ior such oiivnee--
Mr. PEARCE said Mr. President regret very much
the necessity which compes engage the discus
sion OF this resolution When it under consderas
ton some two three weeks since, the senator from
Texas saw TT 10 make speech, in which panied
10 hear charges against The late President of the United
States OF The gravest and most serious characerchagcs
which am that would not have made if he
could have foreseen the fatal illness which
folow-charges which must think, from the acknowl
edged amiabity OF his character he himself cannot bui
regret having made. They were such ii made in
this body against any honorable member would de-
mapd prompt and vigorous reply, and, being brought
against the President. an imperative obligation is imposed
upon his friends to vIndlcatc him. That necessity not
the less because he ls removed where the voice of
praise or blame can no longer reach him Sir, nothing
remains OF him who cherished in the hearts
OF his oouniIymen but that spoess reputation which is
the pride OF his family and the treasure of his county
That priceless reputation must be viDdcsled it
must have been vndicated il be had lived from charges
which mpute moi only magnty OF purpose, hut positive
fasehood TheJemarks of the from Texas have
gone upon the pages OF our congressional history and
the leaves Off the volume woad place their reiua
ton. must therefore, ask the attention OF the Senate
while endeavo 10 exhibit the gross injustice done 10
character oil noble simplicity truth, and honor,
passed in the annals OF the great
The senator said that General Taylor had trauced and
DETAINED the people OF Texas and that this light
and causeless charge, but which he made with the
full knowledge that he had incon,estable authority 10
maintain it. He produced to the Senate what he consd-
cred " "inconestable authority" propose to examine
and contest the horiy which he pronounced nconest
abe and to show that the has utterly mistaken
the tenor and effect OF the which he read from
General Taylors dispatches, that they true and
such he was bound to communicate to his government
Perhaps IN the course OF my remarks, may seem to
carry the war little too far into Africa But my pur
pose requires freedom and fulness Of discussion; beyond
that do desire TO CO. aud shall certainly not seek
iIhe upon the senator any personal pain observed,
sir the speech, spoken and reported, that General
Taylor is said to have DETAINED the people Of Texas by
hat
unwilling to come to the aid OF the country at period OF
penl And now here is the ncontesiable authority
upon Which the senator Issts that charge M In letter f
War; General aj or called upon the Secretary to furnish
him with recruits tor the regular forces then under his
command, and he used this language
Under this of thiags, again, and urgenty,
cal your AZ. non 10 M n.'sssy % Of specify ~ ..nd'.s re-
remote from the border that We cannot depend
upon their uid
What is the commentary which the senator has put
upon this simple assertion OF undenied and undenable
fact, hich subsequent events proved to be precisely
Mr.. HOUSTON. Ii the gentleman will permit me,
will state that charged part OF the blame to that
preston will call the attention OF the senator TO the
portion TO which alluded which was that they
inefficient when they arrive that they cannot be depended
upon.
MIR PEARCE. Then for what purpose was the ex
tract read by the senator Even with this explanation
shall show that he has done the late President great in
justice; that he did emphaticsy admit the efficiency OF
the troops OF Texas and though he complained OF their
mpatence OF control, he gave them quite much credit
Tor hardihood and courage their ardent friends
could demand But the speech of the senator will show
that this was the authority upon which he based bis
charge against Gen Taylor that he had declared the
efficiency of the Texan troops and that they were not
reliable in case of emergency For he says while
menting upon this extract
He has assumed responsibility of deamns the char
acer of men who, to say them, had given
the least such puation his'nen no
would have rallied to his standard IN moment, he had
given them the least n,tnston When, ask, had they
been neicen delinquent. in time of peril
the hour of dsnger Yel he,s high unconary
OF the government. the head OF lis sogmstzss the
oil Texas inefficient and unreliable IN time OF pecl
Experiences had never enabled hun 10 Judge OF them aud
was this then, no manifestation OF prejudice
Sir, ask when where has the late President said
anything which would justify this comment' the pas
sage quoted by the does and venture say
that be nowhere find sentence OF his which will
sustain this charge. The senator himself has
through prejudiced medium, else he has
"Tho.e optics sharp, ween,
Which see what is not to be seen y
IL is true that the 29th March. 1916, General Tay
lor IN bis letter to the Secretary OF War, said that
the population OF Texas, from whom the volunteers
called for from that State be drawn. too re-
mote from the border To be depended in
gency and the result proved that he was correct for
when the danger became more imminent-that is the
26lh April Of the yeaT-he informed the AdJnani
General that he had that day called Tor volunteers from
regiments OF horse and two Of foot The Texas volun.
teers later in reaching the field than those from
Louisiana, and, besides that they did not come in the
force which called Tor. only regiment of foot
responding 10 the call for And further, when Col.
Harney, by the authority OF General Taylor, had called
for companies from Texas, the then acting COVER
the 23ih June, 1916, addressed hum letter, say
ing that the sparseDess o her population, the exposed
condition OF her frontier, together with recent petitions
from citizens OF some frontier counties Tor two com
panies of mounted for their protection obliged
him request that the call be made other Stale
Doubtless this was all perfectly true. but II shows how
lushable General Taylor when he Penned the SEN
encs on which the senator commented with such unjust
severity. The law does not allow volunteers To be
ceved Tor less period than year Those OF Texas
not willing TO long They proposed term
only militia for three months according to the law o
Congress. But the senator says:
When la.t they called upon. what did they do
Like lions, they anxou- pursue enemy
Tor il they had the peor of
ing them equal ierms but they were restrained and
wele uuncq uaiuted with Mexican warfare. Leuenan
from Fermitied to lead uoop
the ppareIs and unges of Mexico, whs
the brave Texans restrained taken to the southern
plains there meet beneath burning suns lingering
dcath by disease.
Strange that the senator from Texas has 30 m'scon
ceved The events of that period The OF Texas
reason of General Taylors refusal 10 allow them to en-
rage the enemy When they. joined his command he wa
anxious TO retain them the service longer than h'
three months which the utmost period OF service
which militia men could be held, and volunteers coul'
not legally be received for less than twelve months M
plan therefore, was to have them re.engage M mIiui
for three monhs at the end OF their hFst tern
Of duty In his letter OF 3st july 1916, to the AdIuan
General, he says:
deem their services. particularly OF the mounted regi
imam nta pdIS SleU Uaa