New-York tribune., 1841-11-09
From The Newark Daily Advertiser.
LETTER FROM GENERAL SCOTT

From The Newark DAILY Advertiser.
LETTER FROM GENERAL SCOTT.
The following circular letter from Major Gencr-
al Scott, has been handed to us for publication It
has been drawn from him, understand, by nu-
mereus letters from various parts of the Union, in
cluding applications from citizens OF New-Jerscy,
asking his opinions concerning the politics of the
day. Without meaning to intimate any opinion as
10 the object or policy of the CORES spondence. we
remark with pleasure, that the reply is written
with the characteristic frankncss and ability of its
distinguished uulhcr; being full, clear, and une-
quivocal in all It's expressions of opinions:
wAsuIScroS, Oct, p. ISL.
C;entlemcn-I have lately hal the honor 10 re-
veive many letters from many different States
each propeunding, on the part Of the writer and
his Heighbor, nearly the political nterroga
tores-to which answers are requested.
The scope of the inquiries is tatcring proof
of the interest that some Of my countrymen take in
the opinions that have formed on certain great
principles Of abiding importance to the success Of
our system Of government and as | have nothing
to conceal, if nothing Of value to communicate,
shall, once, without policy reserve and in the
form Of circular, comply with their several re-
quests.
L. PARTY PoLlTIcs.-Although from early man,
have, by the profession sf arms, in defence Of my
country, been thrown out of tbs arena of party
politics, yet | have never ceased to be an atten-
tive observer of public eveXts, and thus, believe,
there has scarcely been discussion of moment in
Congress, within my tune. Oh which did not form,
and modestly, but firmly express passing opin-
ion.
A mere youth, felt the livclicst Joy when the
alien and sediiion laws expired in the triumph of
Mr.. Jefferson. From 1906 was old enough. bv
speech and pen, TO call for prompt and energetic
redress Of our wrongs suffered from Great Britain
until her Orders in Council, the attack on the
Chesapeake frigate, and long continued Impress
ment of our seamcn; and when the war of 1912
at length came, was among the first and longest
in the presence of the foe. The insults received
from the French Directory their depredarions on
our commerce, renewed under Napoleon's DEGREES
(Berin and Nlilan) which followed the British Or
ders In Council, also largely shared in my ndig-
uant reprobation.
The administrations of Mr.. Madison and Mr.
Monroe, like that of Mr. jefferson had, in their
respective periods, my humble but hearty appro
baton and have since ccnsured nothing in
either but the sale of part and the dsmas ing of
our navy; the gun-boat system et defence that fol-
lowed, and the indefinite embargo-which Grip
pling us for war; by destroying our commerce and
finances and expressing agriculture, was losg con-
tnued, without rearessng one outrage from abroad.
| give this little sketch of the growth oc my
party feelings or opnions--unimportant perhaps,
except to myself and few partial friends, to show
that if have never been Federalsi, in any party
of the term, so neither have been .Iaco-
hin; inTracttca1tc abstractionist amy
whatever; sut aways an od-tdshoned republican,
devoted to the support OF law and order-a demo-
cratic Wing Just as all my family had been Wings
IL. TO-,
dependence.
The JupIcIARy.-From an early and long-con-
,nued study of elementary Law, my mind has ever
been imbued with deep reverence for the Bench
State and Federal; an independent department in
systems of government, and which, holding
neither the purse corrrup, the sword to ter.
riiy, addresses itself only with the mild force of
persuasive Reason, 10 the intelligence and virtue of
the whole community. By The federal constitution
every possible safeguard is provided to shield lis
Judiciary against Heeting prejudice, political IAN
cour, and party dependcnce-,o which Legislators
and the Executive are unavoida5lv directly and
constantly exposed Hence to the one supreme
court is widely extended (by the appellate uris-
diction) "all cases in law and equity. ari,in- un.
der rhi, constitution the laws of the United SIatrs
and treaties made, which shall be made. under
their authority.
l
wavs held that wher IL doubtful sues;ioa-ari.ing
under the constitution itself, the supreme law Of
the land under an ac, of Congress or t,eaty, has
once been solemnly adjudica,ed, by tha, court, the
principle of the decision ought 10 be taken, 6y all
As detni,ivey set,led--unless, indeed, 1t be upon
u re-hearing before the same tribunal. This ap
pears 10 me oe clear for disputaton for the court
is not only declared be supreme, and hence there
can be 70 bench beyond it; but to Congress IS ony
givcn he power to constitute inferior tribunals
By appeals to nc Supreme Court settlement was
intended 10 be reacsed, and anarchy, through
long distraction OF til pGblic miud, on great ques
TONS otlegi,lstive and executy, power, thus rem
deed Impossible. Practically, Therefore, for the
people, and especially their iua,t;oaayies to deny
,tur5, or impusr princinles ,hus coas,i,u,ionally
established strikes me as &C evil example, if not
of dicart revolutionary tendency-exccpt indeed,
in the ca.e ofa judicial dcci>ionenarsag power and
ayans, liberty and any dangerous err-r OF this sort
can be always easily correct d. (and should only be
corrected) BY sN amendment Of the constn,ioa, in
one OF the mole, prescribed BY that insirunen; it
sel,-rhe organic las OF the States ana the People.
Mis:on.tructious of the iaw other than the consti