Martinsburg gazette. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1833-1855, 1846-06-18
GENERAL SCOTT AND THE WAR
DEPARTMENT.

NItE hpS4lotC vi blN Dtl lLSA.g tOlliiDulitdtSu
Message to that body, covering all the cores
ipondence that had had taken place between
the War Department, and Gen. EDMUND p.
GAINES, and Gen. WINFIELD ScorT Of the
calls for Volunteers or Militia into the service
of the United States, 'swithout legal authority
therefor" Sc, and also in relation to the com
mand of the Army in Mexico We have read
the correspondence with Gen. ScorT very at
tenhvely, and regret most sincerely that il has
taken place. The General is brave and gal.
liant officer-has rendered his country most
distinguished services, and has imprinted his
name and fame so indellibly upon the pages
Of his Country's history, that the politicians
can never succeed in destroying the affection
of his countrymen for him. The press on our
columns prevents us from attempting to give
any portion of the correspondence to our rea-
ders, nor, indeed, do we consider it necessary,
as the prominent points in it, can readily be
set forth in a condensed form. We find in the
Richmond Times and Compiler the annexed
sumnary-whch agrees so entirely with our
own views and impressions that we adopt it,
and commend it TO ourreaders We must nall
candor, admit that the GENERAL was ''imprat-
dedly harsh" in his letter Of the 2lst of May,
but in his letter of the 25th, he so explains his
apparent harshness of the 2lst, and so posi-
lively disclaims any disrespcctt to the President,
that it seems TO us a generous mind, not glad
of an opportunity and excuse TO pursue a
course, and accomplish desired end, would
have accepted the explanation, and showed
the man by carrying out his originally expires
sed intentions. But here are the remarks of
the times AND COMPILER"
The prominent facts Of the case are these:
that about the 18th of May the President rer-
I bdLy, communicated to Gen. SoorT his desire
that he should assume the command of the ar
my Of 7olunieers and regulars about to be raj
sed for the invasion Of Mexico; that from that
/ time TO the Goth, Gen. ScoTr was in frequent
and full conference with the President and
Secretary of War in relation to the plans of
/ the campaign. and was actively engaged in
arranging the indispensable preliminaries that
I during this he expected TO take command,
I in person, only when an army of about 90 900
( volunteers should be organized and on It's
march: that he did not hope to put his army
on the Rio Grande before the LIST of Septem-
/ Der, and did not expect TO go thither himself
/ much ahead of ii that, these expectations
were made known 10 the President and appa.
ren1y approved by him, as proved by letter
written by Gen. ScoTT, under the Presidents
sanction, TO Gen. TAYLOR, under date of the
1 18Th; that Gen. Scorr, had no reason TO
doubl that his plans Were approved until the
2Oth when Secretary MARCY, although no
WRITTEN order had been given to Gen. ScoTT.
expressed 10 HIM the Impotence Of the Presi-
dent that he was not already on his way TO
4 the Rio Grande, that on the same day, the
20th, bill was reported in the Senate, known
! by Gen. ScoTr to be at the instance of Mr.
/ MARCY, providing for the creation of t,co ne,c
,Nqjor Generals and four Rrigadier Generals,
and authorizing the President to select State
Generals for the command of the $4,000 vol
untcers that Brigadier General WooI after
having been called to Washington to COM
mand, under Gen. ScoTT, one 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 gener-
ais might be selected that these circumstances
caused Gen. ScoTT to suspect the adminstra-
ton, through the influence Of its political
friends in Congress, of changing its design to
place HIM at the head of the Army that
accordingly, on the 2lst, he wrote to Mr.. MAR
cY expressing his suspicion, liz very strong
terms, and stating the infinite importance Of
securing himself against III aciH or precondem-
nation in his rear that the President took UNI
bragg at this letter and recalled his appoint
ment Of Gen. ScoTT to the command that
Gen. Scorr, in letter of explanation, res
tricted his imputations TO Mr.. MARCY, and
dsclaimed making any ON the President; that
in third letter, Gen ScoTT declared to Mr..
NANCY that his previous apprehensions We're
''nearly, If not quite removed" and expressed
the hope that the President would recur TO his
original purpose Of giving him the command
at any time he might be pleased 10 designate
and finally, that the President has given Mr..
NANCY no further instructions in the matter
We have thus summed up the leading facts,
because we deem it important to just con-
ception OF the whole case, that they should be
kept prominently in view. We think il APP
pears from the correspondence that Gen.
ScoTT had very strong grounds 10 suspect
sinister design on the part Of the administra-
ton and we doubt not, that many circumstan-
ces which he could not publicly adduce con-
firrned his suspicious. II he was imp,atdentlY
harsh, in his first letter, as in his last, he sub
stantially acknowledges that he was, he has
now made the due atonement, and il remains
to be seen whether the President, by still refu-
sing to give him the command, will prove that
his intentions were not misunderstood in the
beginning. Gen. ScoTT's disclaimer of all
mistrust of the President himself and his res
pectful claim 10 the rights incident to his rank,
leave no ground even Of etiquette to justify MIR.
Polk in setting him aside
We presume however, that the determine.
ton of the Administration to supersede Gen.
ScoTT, win not now be revoked The Presi-
dent positively announces in his message, that
Gen. TAYLOR has been appointed to the com
mand Of the army in Mexico. The fact, that
this measure was adopted, either before Gen.
ScoTr's last letter ofexplanation was received,
or after, and regardless of it, confirms the be-
lief that il was deliberately contemplated be-
fore the correspondence commenced, and was
truly indicated by the circumstances which in
duced the first remonstrance of Gen. ScoTT.
0o-We do not perceive in the Proceedings
ofCongress, much ola general character inter