Alexandria Gazette

We are among those who have been slow to believe, though it has been frequently charged, that animosity was cherished by the Administration towards General Taylor, because we could not conceive any motives, even of party policy, for such hostility against a citizen who has unquestionably rendered distinguished service to his country, and entrenched himself thereby safely in the public esteem. But it cannot be doubted, considering the recency of the fact of the publication of the Letter of Gen. Taylor, that the "General Order" published in our columns to-day, has direct reference to that officer.

How many hundreds of unofficial Letters from Officers of the Army, of every grade, up to that of Gen. Taylor, have been published all over the country within the last year, without calling forth any rebuke from the Executive! So far from it, have not many of such letters been published, without a lisp of disapprobation, in the newspaper in this city which is the recognised organ of the Government; published not only without any expression of dissatisfaction, but on the contrary, with high commendations! As late as in that paper of yesterday morning we find precisely such a letter, from an officer of Gen. Wool's command. We do not say that the Regulation which has been thus waked up from a sleep of more than twenty years- which had been in fact disused so long as to become obsolete-may not be in itself, as a general rule, a proper one. But we do say that it has not been heretofore considered as an order to be strictly observed; in proof of which many instances can be remembered, in which it has not been regarded, nor has the departure from it been visited with any reproof, much less with such a public rebuke as that conveyed in the revival and republication, obviously with that intent, of the Regulation of 1825.

The effect, besides, of the promulgation of the order at the present particular moment, is that of ex post facto legislation; a proceeding directly against the spirit of liberty, and so recognised by the organic law of the Republic.-National Intelligencer.