Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1828-08-25
IRTTER II.
LETTER II. =
Gen. Scott 10 Gen. Jackson.
Head Quarters, Isl and Sd Military Departments

receipt OF your letter OIL the ON uNIHo, W.
gether with the twopapers therein enclosed.
I am not the author Of the miserable anc nn.
meaning article copied from the Columbian,
and (not being reader Of that Gazette) sholin
probably never have heard OF 1t, but tor the co
~ YOU have sen, me. And whilst on the sub
ject of writing and publishing, 1t may save tim
to say, at once, that with the exception OF 'ne
substance Of two articles which appeared IN
"The Enquirer" last fall, and journal KEPT
whilst a prisoner in the hands OF the enemy
have not written, nor caused any other to write
a single line for any gazette whatever, since the
commencement of the late war.
Conversng with some two or three private
gentleman, about as many times on the subject
Of the division order, dated at Nashville, April
22d, 1917; il is true that gave i, as my OPT
Mon, that that paper, was, as II respected the
future, mu,inous in its character and tendency,
and as il respec,edt the past reprimand OF the
commander in chief, the president OF the y.
States; for although the latter be not expressly
named. it is principle well understood, that the
war department without, al least, bis suppos-
ed sanction cannot give valid command to an
ensign.
have thus, sir, frankly answered the queries
addressed to me, and which were suggested TO
dent; but on a question 50 important as that
which you have raised with the war department,
or in other words with the president OF the Y.
States, and in which, find myself incidentally
involved, must take leave to illustrate my
meaning little, in doing which, shall employ
almost the precise language which was used on
| the occasion above alluded 10.
Take any three ufficers-Let be the COM
| mon superior, the immediate commander,
and e the common juniol a wishes 10 make
an order which will effect c. The good Of the
service, etiquette, and country, require; no
doubt, that the order should pass through B;
or, if expedition and the dispersed stu alton OF
The parties make ii ne cessary to send the other
| direct to c (of which necessity A is the judge
the good Of the service, etiquette, and country
require, with as little doubt that A notify B
thereof, as soon as practicable. Such notice of
itself, has always been held sufficient, under the
circumstances last stated. But we will sup>
pose that A sends the order direct 10 G, and
! negIects 10 notify thereof, & such appears to
be the precise case alluded to in the order be-
fore cited. Has no redress against this irre-
gularity? He may unquestiohably demonstrate
with A, in respectful manner, ard if remon-
STRANGE fails, and there be higher military au-
thorily than A, b may appeal to ii for redress.
Now in the case under consideration, there ex-
listed no such higher authority. The war de-
partmen', or in other words, the president being
The common superior (A) and the General Of
division, the intermediate commander (B) A
private and respectful remonstrance, therefore,
appears to have been the only mode Of redress
" ib, liz noes admitted Of An appeal
remons,ran.s shs public, before or after such
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS "-G 81 cater IRE
guarity than the measure complained OF; 10
rrprobate that measure publicly, as the division
order does, was to mount still higher in the
scale Of indecoSpm, but when The order goes
so lar as 10 prohibit TO all officers in the d;vi,
sion, any obedience to the commands of the
President OF the United States, unless received
through division head quarters, ii appears to
me, that nothing but mutiny and defiance, can
be understood or intended.
There is another view OF this subject, which
must have escaped you, as am persuaded there
Is not man in America less disposed to shift
responsibility from himself 10 weaker part
than yourself. Suppose The war department,
by order OF the president, sends Instructions
direct to the commanding officers, perhaps
captain al Natchitoches, post within your di.
vision, 10 attack the body Of Spanish royalists
nearest him; but if, in compliance with your
prohibition, lie sets the commands Of the presi- !
dent at raught, he would find himself in di-
rect conflict with the highest military authority
under the constitution, and thus would have to
against that "fearful Odds" The dan.
gerous position laid down in your ORDER
surely this consequence could not have been
seen by you, when you penned that order
must pray you 10 believe, sir, that have
expressed my opinion on this great question,
~:Ihou, the least hostility to yourself personal.
y, and without any view of making my cour,
n another quarter; as is insinualed by your
anonymous correspondent. have nothing to
ear or hope from either party 1t is not likely
hat the executive will be offended, at the obi,
hon, that IL has committed an irregulari,y in
he transmission Of one of its orders; and, as 10
ourselt although cheerfully adml, :ba, you
re my superior, deny that you are my CON,
landing officer, within the meaning of the 9Th
rlicle Of the rules and articles ofwar. Even if
belonged to your division, l should not hest.
ate to repeat 10 you all that have said, at
ny time, on your subject, if proper occasion {
fired, and what is more, | should expect vonr y