Herald of the times. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1830-1846, 1837-04-27
WHOLE NO. 359.
GEN. CAss TO THE PUBLIC.

contained an address from the Hon. LEWIS
CAss (now in France) in reply to the imputa-'
tions made against him as Secretary ~ War,
respecting the conduct Of the Seminole cam
paign, by certain witnesses who testified iD
the case of General Scott. We now copy
the substance Of the address.-rhe following
is the ommencement-
A friend has sent me short extract from
the evidence recently given before the Mlli~
tary Court nj Frederick by Gen. Clinch, to-
gether with copies Of some letters presented
by him. In bis sestimony Gen. ClincF char
ges me with neglecting to make adequate
preparations for the defence of Florida, upon
his representations, during the progress Of
the difficulties, and for some time after the
commencement Of hostities.
The failure of a campaign is m old subject
for elimination and recrminatlon. In all ages
and nations it has been fertile in disputes,
sometimes confined to the officers themselves,
nsd sometimes extending to the adninistra-
tion Of the Government. Knowing that while
in the Department Of War; 7 anxiousIy en-
deavored 10 fulfil the duty which the troubles
with the Seminoes imposed upon the Gov
ernment, and satisfied, on as dispassionate
in matter which so nearly concerns him,
that that duty was faithfully performed am
not willing to be subject to the impWation
which Gen. CliDch has so cavalierly cast up
on me. II the course Of events in Florida.
whether attributable to imbecility, to misfor-
tune, or to circumstances beyond control. may
seem to the military commanders to require
propitiary sacrifice, shall most assuredly
not submit to receive npon my head their
maledictions without an appeal to the justice
Of my countrymen. That appeal ] am now
led to make: but in the performance of t1lis
task, it is not my object to assai any one.
carry on no Carihagenisn warfare, and shalk
coniine myself to repeliing n serious imputa
ton laid upon me. beg that it may be re-
collected that am far from home, that ] an,
destitute of many documents essential to N
full investigation Of the statement of General
Clinch. have no papers upon the subject
excepting those already aludedto-the two
pamphlets Of documents published by order
Of Congress in the session of 1885 and'l836,
and for which ] am indebted to the same
friend, and the defence Of Gen. Scott, pub
lished in the NATIONAL Intelligencer. ForalI
else must RELY upon my memory; but Itrust
r shall commit no important error. | am sure
shall commit no intentional one.
/ The writer then mentions that the COM
manding generals in Florida "had CARTE
blanche as 70 men,, rnd n,cans,aBd plans, and
that therefore the Government way not re-
sponsbe for results; ''the actual and only re-
sponsibiity of the Government, being the Sc
lection of officers to command"
Upon this point have nothing to cay.
would not utter word Of reproach sgainst
any Of the gallant men who have served in
Florida. ] would not if | could, tarnish n
single laurel gathered in other and happier
fields. The difficulties they had to encoOn-
ter were great, and in some points unexpect-
ed. And believe that the general conduct
of our officers and soldiers during this trying
warfare, was worthy Of the best periods in our
military annals. Ofthe military service and
claims Of General Scott few have a higher
estimate than l have, and no person has
heard me utter a sentiment of disrespect to-
wards him. Nor shall reproach myself for
any part which took in his selection for the
command. Success is not always true test
of merit. nor the want Of it of incapaoi.y.--
When General Scott took the command the
season Of operations was short. Everything
was to collect, to combine, to organize. l
saw his difficulties then, and can still better
appreciate them now.
Nevertheless, his plan for conducting the
struck the writer hnfavorably, and
when the Generals letter disclosing it was
read to the President he expressed the strong
est dsapprcbation of it. To have overruIed
him, however, at the distance Of thousand
niles, was deemed a hazardous experiment.
But the main point of the sddress relates
% the following reply Of Gen. Clinch to the
Court Of Enquiry at Frederick as t. the
,ause of the failure of Sco,t's campaign
at was owing to the neglect Of the head Of
he War Department in not having made
nore adequate preparations in 1895, and ear.
Y in 1896. In other words, because there
we're not troops enough in Florida to prevent
he Indians from commencing hostilities.
herefore the campaign to reduce them was
nsucc CT cssfu."
Mr.. Cass replies tartly, and still more 80 to-
he remark Of Clinch that he (the Secretary
when he awoke from his dreams of polticaf
and turned His tention," &C.
ir. Cass intimntes that Gen. c. attributed HIS
cing superseded in command to him, andto
he President the rcsurn of his commission
nth the hope that he would continue,snd
I owe to Gen. Clnck no explanstiou. A
morbid scnsibility, or some other motive NOT
,ore worthy Of tolerance, has led him to mis-
IKE his own claims and situation, and to be-
ONE the vehicle Of unjust imputations-
II is nevertheless. stated to tho pnblic thas
Gen. c. was only brevet brgndier gene
~ III he <fn a hR