Staunton spectator, and general advertiser. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 183?-1849, 1846-06-18
GENERAL, SCOTT.

GENERAL. SCOTT. |
The great length Of the correspondence between |
Gen. Scott and the War Department, prohibits us |
from any extended comment
The prominent facts of the case these that
about the 18th of May the President cerbalh,, COM
municated TO Gen. Scott his desire that he should
assume the command of the army OF volunteers and
regulars about to be raised for the invasion of Mex
ico that from that time To the Goth, Gen Scott
in frequent and full conference with the Presi-
dent and Secretary OF War in relation to the plans
OF the campaign, and was actively engaged in ar
ranging the indispensable preliminaries that, dur
ing inns Time he expected to take the command, i'm
person, only when an army of about 10000 voun-
eers should be organized and on It's march that he
dld not hope to be able to put this army on the Rio
Urande before the LIST of September, and did not
expect To go thther himself much ahead of it that
these expectations were made known to the Presi-
cent and apparently approved by him, proved by
letter written by Gen. Scott under the Presidents
sanction, to Gen. Taylor, under date of the 18th
that Gen. Scott had doubt that his plans
were approved until the Goth, when Secretary Mar
cy although no written order had been given to Gen
Scott, expressed to him the Impotence of the Pres
dent that he was not already on his way to the Rio
Grande; that on the same day the Goth. i bill was
reported in the Senate, known by Gen Scott to be
at the instance OF MIR. Marcy. providing for the
creation of t,co ne,c Major Generals and fo,n, B,
Sddier Generals, and authorizing the President to
select State Generals for the command of the so 600
volunteers that Brigadier General Wool after hay
ing been called to Washington to command under
Zen. Scott, one of the columns which were to march
INTO Mexico, was, about the 18th or 10TH informed
that he might not be assigned to that command as
other generals might be selected that these cir
cumstances caused Gen. Scott to suspect the admin
ston through the influence of its political friends
In congress, OF changing its design place him at
the head of the army that accordingly on the Dist
he wrote to Mr.. Marcy expressing his suspicion, in
very strong terms, and stating the infinite import
ance OF securing himself against III ,ciU on precor-
demndfton IN has rear that the President took UNI
bragg at this letter and recalled his appointment of
Zen. scott to the command that Gen. Scott, i'm
letter Of explanation, restricted his impuations to
MI Marcy and disclamed making any upon the
President; that in third letter, Gen Scott decar-
ed to MIR. Marcy that his previous apprehensions
were ''neary, if not quite removed, and expressed
the hope that the President would recur to his ORR
glnal purpose OF giving him the command at any
time he might be pleased to designate; and finally
that the President has given Mr. Marcy no further
instructions in the matter.
We have thus summed up the leading facts. be-
cause we deem it important to 4 Just conception of
the whole case, that they should be kept prominent
ly In view. We think it appears from the cores
pondencc that Gen. Scott had very strong grounds
to suspect sinister design on the part of the adj
mnlstratlon ; and doubt not. that many circum-
stances which he could not publicly adduce confirm
ed his suspicious. If he was imprudentiy harsh in
MS Irst letter, as IN his last he substantially ac-
knowledges that he was, he has now made the due
attonement, and it remains to be seen whether the
President, by still refusing to give him the com
mand, Will prove that his intentions were not mis-
understood in the beginning. Gen. Scott's dsclaim
er of all mistrust of the President himself and his
respectful claim TO the rights incidents to his rank
leave no ground of etiquette to Justify MIR.
Polk in setting him aside.
We presume, however, that the determination of
the Administration to supersede Gen. Scott will not
now be revoked. The President positively announ-
ces IN his message, that Gen. Taylor has been APP
pointed to the command of the army in Mexico.
The fact, that this measure adopted either be-
fore Gen. Scott's last letter OF explanation was re-
ceived, or after, and regardless of it, confirms the
Deef That 1t was deliberately contemplated before
the correspondence commenced and was truly indi
Gated by The circumstances which induced the first
remonstrance of Gen. Scott.-Richmond Times