Daily Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1861-1862, 1862-03-20

oord and harmony and Q general determination 10 CO.
operate aously with the Executive for the successful
henceforth matters would proceed more smoothly than
'retofore.
Mr.. CROCKETT, of KY, moved the indefinite post.
pouement of the resolution he did not Thick the House
had sufficient information before Is now 70 vote Tor such
A sweeping resolution as thiI.i He Mr. C) had some
pers )na interest In this matter having son who Was
surrendered in that battle. he was not in favor OF
voting for resolutions complmentipg all the officers who
were engaged in that battle. He should not say upon
whom be would cast his censure He had never YET
said and pever intended 10 who was censurabe I'M
,il there il full investigation While he wiling TO
vote any complimentary expression Of thanks to the
officers OF regiments and prvates be could not give nls
vote at present for resolution OF thanks including all
| the Generals in command there. who was liable
to censure its connection with that battle, be would say
but he should not vote upon resolutions OF thanks until
there was full investigation of all the facts connected
with that surrender. He thought no harm could result
from delaying action upon this resolution until the Com
mt.ee having the subject Of the Fort Donelson before
T. shall report. II there any one to blame, the
House should have an opportunity Of knowing who it is
1t seemed TO him that it would be strange courss
for them sresolution OF thanks to all the gener
ais aud all the officers, and ell the prvates, and at the
same time be conducting Investigations alter what has
passed in this House in the shape of denurcatons and
criticisms upon the actions Of Of the officers en-.
gagged in the FJrt Donelson battle. He IN. O. had lot
i7dulged in these denunciatons but there have been
furious AMI bitter tcnuncisons Of several generals con-
| nec.ed with that transaction.
He trusted the House would postpone the matter. He
regretted the resolution was introduced. He shought at
the time Of its introduction that it premature. Re
hop-d now however thathe matter would be postponed
until the House informed fully upon the subject.
Mr. SMITH of Ala. thought this . very unforlu.
nate resolution 10 be introduced at this time tpreends
to be resolution Of thanks, but it seemed to him that
resolution of thanks ought TO be accompanied with
d,ub;a The resolution before the House amounts
simply 20 this-"We don't know whether you are deser.
ng OF tha ks not; bu. nevertheless will give
| the thanks" He (Nr S. did not know What kind
satisfaction It would Sford 20 any man to receive be
thanks of Cons ress In this douoiful form. Is thanEs
ought to be unstnd and tie House SHOULD bot accord
| a thanks unless ~ well dsserV d.
Il. hoped TIE g-nil, would withdraw the resolu-
en and has no cotton would be bad upon the ject
uutil III. HOuss wss fully informed OF he conduct OF
tie tfic r engaged ia the batlls OF Fort D9uel'on.
Mr. WILCOX Of Texas, tsd II be had ais way in re
gard TO tbs matter he would vote resolutions Of thanks
o~he entire command. He regarded that one Of the
eos heroic struggles that has or viii ga the annals
| Of { 10 war
H. had little more patience than rome of bis friends
uuop tue door. II. lever thought that this matter
ought 10 be investigated 10 the In which is
no bsilg Investigated. He had the most perfect
hlencs in the military ski, character and courogs Of
Gcn Buckner. No man upon tbs h'cr can doubt his
capacity and una nching courage He Mr.. oci cd
tnst Gsu Buckuer wAs.desnsd 20 be Of the Nap
Icons CT our Sicily had he not been taken prisoner Of
war He (Hr W bad the same confidence in th:
6d " courage aGd military capacity OF Gen Pillow as
| he had In that Of Gen Buckuer BE had coLf iencs
ronnIy sr,nE in Gen. Floyd. Il is q very ay matter
for Us to cfiice Distinguished and brave soldiers
| Nh.n they met vita dlsEsteIA We fed msu al such
tm,s 10 cay, II sold you so" whereas, II hey were
t6t uselyss the positions OF these men, they would
and themselves fail very far short OF vha they would
h,vs thes. gallant ofhcers accomplish. II be Mr.. W
did not mistake that OF the boodiest battles OF
the revolution As was attesed by the heaps Of dead
which Law everywhere scattered along the Of the
| b,tLe Oar troops were literally overwhelmed,
compelled TO yield, and because we were so oyerwhem-
| cd some gentlemen here disposed 10 oepsure the
| officers in command He (Mr. W } thought that they
were too Ardy in awarding praise and too apt TO yield
70 the biting criticisms Of certain gentlemen In reference
70 certain eff who commanded q. Fort Doneson -
He could with s bis heart in the presenc5 Of the
tn, aud Of his God for the most unlimited al
unbranded thanks 10 Generals BUckuer, ri low Floyd
aud Ill the other oc aud prvss Eso we're engaged
in that contest aud If he (hr hAd his wsy IL tbii
ms,ter be Woad INTRODUCES resolution TO shat effect!
He could no.: however, A. he apprehsndsd have hi.
wsy in this matter, and he Was satisfied TO vote the
tanks of the House indicated 10 the resolution now
uuder col sideraon. He believed that the conduct Of
all the generals engaged 10 that battle would stand the
| test Of al Coming lime.
Mr. DARGAE OF Ala said he was not willing to vote
resolution OF thanks to tie generals and other officers
a.
resolution Of censurc. Ii be correctly Informed
Generals Plo1 and Floyd Saturday Friday night
LEFT Fort Done.on with portion OF the army and retire.
to Nashville II that be true, he wished gentlemen tC
answer this question: why the boats that took them there
had rot re urned during the night and taken Of hC
| troops 20 that point.
Nc. PUGH OF Ala. thought, that action upon this mat
ter now would BE- premature. H. satisfied that sn,
vote upon the resolution would indicate division In thu
House and impair the value Of the thanks TO these gal
lent men.
n, moved to Law the resolution on the table, but su.
| s,opeaty withdrew Il at the request of Mr. FOote.
| Mr. EOOrE said he deemed il kis duty as charm o.
Of the Committee 10 whom the resolution referred
| say word more upon the subject
He did not knov what his friend from TeI.s NJ. WI
eoI) meant by the alluson which Just now in 81
| very emphatic manner. H. pre,uned the gentle n
intended to Sllade TO him. when be fpcke Of C u
hitting fAcasms and certain strong deuunciatcns which
he said had been uttered upon the conduct Of the gen
sras commanding at the title Of Fort NELSON. tn
| pentlsmGn referred to him ho' would tell him thu
Re would have to task bis memory li!tle more
| diligently in regard 10 events that occurred there
| before lie would be prepared to rCpjr; him Nv
~ 20 this body or the country, fer he had utter
al ne such reproof ss the gentleman referred to
! Nothing OF tho sort had come from his lips he hat
never ut .red word Of ceDSure upon any ndiv d.
commanding At Fort Dcneison upon any Of thoee VIII
ware under the command OF otceTs there he lhr
~ sunpos then that he stood vindc.t sgaiEst th
very Extraordinary reproof OF the gentleman, who's
manner certainly nue. more bitter than hls matte
effective, Laughter Blu, perhaps the gentleman
might have intended refer to the Presidents late
Age TO tbs House. Ne Mr.. ~ had heard no rAproc
suggested at sl eIcsp. in the Presidents mes age il
forming the House that Generals Pillow and Floyd hGt
been relieved Of their commands. De Mr.. did no
that any had been p's'ed upon tn
individuals at all, expressed or implied, except by th
President and he did not rise there for the purpose
dispMG rlng the action Of the president. He believes
his action was prudent aud jud cicus Undoubt dy thi
,ubsue Was not intended 10 ceusure toe action Of th
President and be uhs sa Sssd that no gentleman tier
would come to the conclusion ths. &c so intecded
He (Ar y ~oud Ike 10 know Vset'p tie zsHl5
m.n intended t. cJadc Mn ths RIroItiVI nd all VIII
Gle associated with him. II so, ne W.. + was pre-
pred T.. sand upon that int 10 defenc. Of he Pres
dent de (Ar + lid not think he was at eli to tam
for having done what he bad douo, namely having
under the unexplained Q rsumsarees OF the fhlir
P,rt Donslrop Ia tie ,1-rcsa Of his wise dcr ton
iusIv. -isely, and pstro ically, he hsd no doubt