Mississippi Democrat. (Carrollton, Miss.) 1844-18??, 1846-07-01
General Winfield Scott,

correspondence between Gen. Scott and
the War Department, complete. As it
would fill large portion of our space to the
exclusion of other matter, and as it it has
been generally published, we have concIu-
ded to substitute the following synopsis
from the N. Y. .NelDs, and portion of the
caus,ic comment of the Vcksburg Sentinel:
For anv officer who has bravely fought
the battles of the country, and calamity
perilled his own life in her defence, We
feel. not only high respect, but warm
regard. Such have always been our feel
inOs towards this veteran soldier, who
canned, most nobv, Iaurels OF undying
fame at Lundy's Lane. Nor have his
personal and partizln lntirmitres and IN
discretion, which we nave toni more than
one occasion to lament, suthield TO des-
troy entirely that respect, certainly not
to lessen our regard. Sincerely do we
deplore, not only for his own sake, but
also FIR the character of our Army, that
one 81 honorably distinguished should have
injured his prospects by the unfortunate
exhibition Of moody suspicion and foolish
with the Secretary Of War, communicated
by the President upon the CALI of Congress q.
Gen. Scott has proven himself his own
worst enemy; The united efforts of all his
personal, professional, and political enc
mics in the land, could not have accom-
plshed as much to his discredit. The
simple truth is that he is sadly deficient
in prudence, tact, and Judgment.
1t appears from the correspondence that
the President, in an intervie with Gen.
Scott, and though the Secretary of War,
verbally informed him that he was select.
ed, being the comm lnder-in chef Of the
ARMY, to command the forces to be raised
for the invasion of Mexico; an honor
which he, as a military man, greatly de-
sired, He Immediately applied himself
at Head Quarters at Washington, to ma
king preparations which he deemed, and
doubtless wisely, necessary. Being in
formed by the Secretary of War that fault
had been found because he did not proceed
Immediately to the Rio Grande, he address,
ed to him a letter explaining in what man
ncr his time had been occupied, from
which we extract the following paragraphs:
In the midst Of these muItiIutious and
indispensable occupations, have learned,
from YOU that much Impotence is already
felt, perhaps in high quarters, that have
not already put myself in route for the
the Rio Grande; and now, with 10 lrteen
hours a dav preliminary work remoinIng
on my hands, for many days, | find my
Sefcompe to stop that necessary work
to guard myself against, perhaps, utter
condemnation, in the quarters alluded to.
am too old a soldier, and have had too
much special experience, not 10 feel the
infinite Importance of securing myself
against danger, ill 1riN, or pre-, cOndem-
nGtiOn,) in my rear, before advancing up
on the public enemy. Not an adyanta-
geous step can be taken, in a forward
march, without the confidence that all is
we'll behind. II insecure in that quarter,
no general can put his whole heart and
mind into the work TO be done in front. |
am, therefore, not a little alar,ned--nay
crippled in my eIergies--by the knowl-
edge and the Impotence in question. and
| beg to say, l fear no other danger.
all preliminary arrangements here, TO pass
down the Ohio and Mississippi, to see,
or to assure myself by correspondence
that the volunteers, on whom we are most
ly to rely, in the prosecution OF the exist
ing war, are rapidly assembling for the
service; to learn the probable time Of
their readiness to advance upon Mexico;
TO ascertain iftheir supplies, Of every kind
are IN place, or are likely to be in place
in rlficent time; to hasten one and the
other; to harmonize the movements oil
volunteers, and to modify their route (i
necessary 80 that all, or at least suff
cent number, shall arrive at the indicated
points, on The Mexican frontier, at the bes
periods, and, as far as practicable, abou
the same time.
All that have but SketchPd, | deem Il
be not only useful to success, but indspen
sable. As a soldier, make this assertion
without the fear Of contradiction from any
honest and candid soldier. Against The
dd cGptandum condemnation of all Other
persons--whoeve may be designated fol
the high commands in question-thert
Can he no reliance Gin his absence) oihe
than the active, candid and steady supper
of his government. 1t cannot have tina
sure br>is, to rest upon it will be infinite
ly better for the country mot to speak o
my personal security that some oihe
commander Of the new army against Mex
leo should he selected. No matter who h,
may be, he shall at least be judged AM
supported by me, in this officer and every