The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1846-06-11
WASHINGTON, June 8, 1916.

General Scott, 44ias-Aias, General Scott
There is one result in which history is uniform
and infallible. Great events, while they elevate
obscure men to power and distinction, in cor
responding ratio reduce great men to insignifi-
canoe and obscurity. And it not unirequently hap
pens that crisis which, if rightly appropriated,
or seized in season, would give an enduring popu-
larity and reputation, is obstinatey rejected from
suspicious, the most flimsy, stupid and absurd
The political atmosphere at Washington is, in
degree, like that of every other capital in Chrisen-
donl-corrupt and encrvating. The petty and
contemplate intrgues for ephemeral Offices, fas-
ten themselves upon the trunk of the body polite
like poisonous vine; and while clothing it in an
outside show of luxurant verdure, absorb its vita
lity, leaving it the prey Of worms and pismires
The election of a President is not determined be-
fore the game for his successor begins; and all the
wires and pulleys Of the vast machinery of the
government are moved,not for the hapPiest results
to the people, but by contendng factions for the
elevation Of their favorite aspirant, and the COLA
teral division Of the spols. The administration is
game for the Presidency-the opposition to the
administration is game for the succession The
government has become the inheritance and the
competition Of stock jobbers, and in any alterna-
tive It is the fate Of the people to be shaved.
We might further pursue these general refiec-
tons to great advantage, but we have a special
subject before us. Since the list Inauguration,
General Scott has been a prominent aspirant of
the wings for the campaign of lS4S. He has been
endorsed by Henry Clay-his friends have been
multiplying-his competitors yielding the wall,
until at length he seems to be, by general assent
the successor to the fortunes of the Great Harry.
With this suspicious prospect before him, he be-
comes man of importance to the politicians. He
is courted-he is hattered-he is caressed He
need only remain in Washington,a and his triumph
is complete.
with the President and Secretary of War, the
hero OF Chippewa is appointed to head the army
of occupation in the South. He will think of it.
He is no longer the soldier-he has turned politi-
clan. He confers with some of his WING friends.
! 1t is scheme-there is no doubt about tit is a
scheme to subvert him--to supplant him-to root
hum out is conspiracy to murder ar. him in a
against the Mexicans, by exposing him to the black
vomit and the yellow lever, the centipedes, the
rattlesnakes and the tarantulas of the Rio Grande
and the chaparrals. He sees just as distinctly as
/ can be, that the whole war was gotten up, con-
| cocted and perfected, with view to his removal
| from the track of the succession. 1t was a
spiracy from the start. But he is little too old
Jenny Polk has an old tactician to deal with for
once in his life. The Presidency is the game, and
Gen. Scott is not to be bluifed off by miserable
campaign among the chaparrals.
| He ruminates, he cogitatcs, he lucubratee, he
thinks over the matter, and it is as clear as mud.
1t is flank movement He is to be surrounded,
driven into Mexico, and starved out in the chap
arrals. Unfortunately afflicted with the cacocthes
scribendi, he writes to the Secretary of War-such
letter; and we come now to the correspondence
read to-day in the Senate. 1t is exceedingly
dant and picturesque.
When il was announced by the Vice President,
there was general demand of "read,' "read."
Senators fixed themselves firmly in their SEATS
Uass ca as spectator in the
/ He had had no conversation with the President,
and the resolution for the facts regarding the patri
otto conduct of old Gen. Gaines, was by no means
intended to bring out to the light the literary
cellences OF Gen. Scott. Not at ALL Ask Sewer.
de knows that there was no such design. Ask
Allen-why didn't he say last Friday-good Fri
all this discussion, it due the two Generals
to have all the papers? He had not seen the pa
pers, no more than Gen. Cass, when he came out
of the War Department one day last week, with
a smile upon his face as broad as full moon in
July.
The Secretary commenced the reading. Crit
tcnden appeared disconnected from the frst-J.
M Clayton, sort of grandfather among the
Senators, saw that there was no use of Disgusting
the fact that there was taur pas about to be dis
closed-Mangum looked Observation-Disclosures de-
mure and Observation-Disclosures mysterious-Re-
verdy Johnson mortified-Berrien expectani, and
Thomas Clayton rather sleepy. On the democra-
tic side there was general appearance OF quies-
cent amiability, or assumed curiosity, Cass and
Sewer listened if they had never dreamed Of
such thing-Bagby looked as sober as priest,
and Allen as circumspect as an old diplomat As
the reading progressed, their eyes twinkled, and
at intervals general laugh broke out among
/
even as far among the opposition, as to reach
young Clayton and Dayton, and Morehead and
Crittenden.
Gen. Scott protests against the assuming the
command ofthe Southern army, because he must
have so May men, at such a day, and these he is
not likyto getthe plan OF the campaign is laid down
upon magnificent scale, and this is not likely to
be allowed-the rainy season sets in on the Rio
Grande in June and lasts till September, Tor rice
veysd) and the horses hoofs become sotender that
they drop off in the mud like old shoes. Some
parts of Mexico afford no water-others are pref
iy well supplied. Some parts afford no provi-
sions-others abound in cattle and such like. In
some directions the route to Mexico is quite i'm
practicable, and in others remarkably straight
forward and accessible. Hence the conrS and
ing General declines to lead the army Of opera
tons. These are reasons worthy Of an old sol
der; but the final, conclusive, unanswerable, and
phlegmatic objection, is this =
Romans countrymen and lovers,
Hear for my cause, and be silent that ye may hear"
believe the President has an ill-will against
me. believe there is an organized band OF con.
federates in high quarters to put me down, or kill
me oil among the Mexlcans, the centpedes and
the chaparrals and shat while the Mexicans
will be firing upon me in front, my enemies at
Washington will be firing upon me in the rear
This is the Generals lofty ultmatum of
decnaton. Hence he declines the pow
er. You can't make Joab out OF him
The French Directory made the fortune of Ma
poleon by sending him Oft to Italy. He asked no
questions. He made no complaints. He did the
duty dsslSneu MIN, Cdfuc UdCh to dSsulbc hic
reins of government But the hero of Niagara
has earned his laurels-and though he is not afraid
he says he is not afraid, and We know he is not
afraid-but still, though not afraid, he objects to
the chaparrals What pity II is a pity. What
a mistuke-whata weak and unsoldierlike Argyll
ment is this. What gorgeous and most ridcu-
lous movement for the Presidency! Other men
may fight the enemies Of his Countrywide prefers
the head quarters of intrigue against his individu
al enemies for the Presidency-other men may
choose The chaparrals-he has acquired penchant
for the East room, and the luxurious living of the
peace establishment on temprd-oh mmss--
oh Lord
Oh General Scott,
Why did you not,
Upon the spot,
With sword in hand,
Take the command,
OF the army Of the Rio Grandc
The Secretary of War in the name OF the Pre-,