The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1846-06-08


war, that we presumed Con. Scott would take the
command of the army of Mexico. Such was the
determination Of the President Of the United States
the consdeate and liberal course OF the Presdsn-
sanctioned as it was by the Secretary Of War We
know that this was their desire, and we know il was
accompanied by the declaration, Let Gen. Scott
win the laurels, and let him wear them"
But this determination rests upon higher au-
thorty than paragraph in the Union, or the recol-
firmly recorded in the message which the President
has this day laid before the Senate, and which the
Secretary OF War repeats IN his report.
We have to announce, upon the same authority,
that the decision has been changed, and that some
other general is to lead our armies to victory, which
awaits them We might have contented ourselves
with simply noucing the change, and laying the
correspondence before readers, if several Of the
wing presses had not run ahead Of the evidence,
and in their eagerness to strike down the admins
traton, have taxed it, some by inuendo, others by
direct charges with treating the worthy general, who
led his troops to victory the plains OF Bridge
water. 1t would seem as il the spirit Of faction
never to be satiated. The National Intelligencer
could not be silent More adroit in its manGuvres,
it limited at something that amiss in the treat
msnt Of the commanding general, and stated the
other morning that General Scott sis still in this
city, and have not heard Of his being under or.
ders TO repair to New Orleans, although it is here
understood that he rendered his services immedate-
y on the arrival here Of the news Of hosttes hay-
ing commenced" The National lntelligencer IN
questionaby knew, when it penned this adroit par
agraPh, that General Scott was not to repair to the
camp and the reasons for the change the part Of
the Executive. We pass over the less adroit but
more open nsinuations Of the correspondent Of the
Philadelphia North American from this city. Other
wing presses catching the cue, became more violent
in their denuncistions, until we see the Lancaster
(Pa.) American Republican coming out with such
outrageous charges as this:
"ExEcUrWE MEANNxss.-Every movement of the
present administration seems to be- and doubt is
specially designed to effect single object, which
is the reelection Of Mr.. Polk and the consequent
continuance Of his friends in office. To this end
have all the energies Of the government been directed
Ii was with reference to this object that war was
threatened against England and il in furtherance
Of this object that war is now actually prosecuted
against Mexico. All the acts of the government,
for two years to come, will be based upon this pr-
mary idea. So that the administration can keep
itself power it makes no difference what effects its
acts may have upon the honor and interests Of the
people.
ain plain words, Mr.. Polk and his party are
afraid of that glorious old veteran Winfield Scott
They know that he is the man on whom the peo-
pie have turned their eyes, and for this reason no
pains have been spared, no means left unemployed
to injure him in public estimation. The whole tribe
Of party scrbblers, from Father Richie TO Colonel
Carter, arc now busily engaged in the work of de-
traction.
The first scheme was to send Scott to super
sede the gallant Taylor and thereby bring him
into odium with all the friends of the latter. This
plot failed, because Scott with all that respect for
the rights of others which has ever distinguished his
character, refused to rob the hero of Pao Alto of
the chance Of gaining further aures Fooled in this
scheme, il is now understood to be the plan, that
General Scott shall not be actively employed during
the war, in the hope that the daring exploits Of 9TH
ers may divert public attention from the remem-
brance Of his heroism in the second war of indie
people will revenge any insul, the powers which
be may offer TO their favorite. Mr.. Polk may re-
fuse to give him the command of the army, but in
lS4S the legal voters Of the country will give him a
commission az commander-in-chief of the army and
navy according to the constitution
In similar strain tho Columbus State Journal
(another wing press) processes to paint the il-reat-
ment of Gen. Scott, and attributes it to the inus-
ce Of the Democratic party and to the jealousy of
Mr. Polk. We have no room for the threats which
it employs and the denunciations which il levels at
the President.
And now let the country compare these charges
of the wing press with the proofs which the cores
pondence exhibits Of their injustice. The Presi.
dent determined from the commencement of the
war to give the command to Gen. Scott The Sec
rotary Of War cheerfuy agreed to the selection.
Gen. Scott was called into consultation with them
to devise the best plan for conducting tho campaign
1t desired that he should repair as soon as pos
sible to the camp. We regret, deeply regret, that
instead ofprompty complying, he should not only
delay his movements, but ascribe this impotence Of
the Executive to motives Of hostility, which would
only have subjected them to the severest censure
The letters speak for themseves-but no man who
weighs the generals first letter be aston
shed at the change Of decision on the part of the
President. No one can censure the President or
The Secretary for the course which they have pur-
sued They owed il to themselves, if not TO the
general, to permit him to remain at Washington
There is one further remark which we must
make upon this correspondence. General Scott
seems to think that the volunteers would not be in
Iace to permit the campaign to open before the first
Of September. In this prediction he was mistaken
The volunteers have rushed to the camp with an
which is worthy Of the cause, and there
an be little doubt that the advance will take place
hnEo al. II
Let not the Mexicans then believe in any such idea
If tardy movement and ola protrac'ed campaign.
We notice in the wiser Zeitung," January %,
hat Of 81 American vessels which cleared in !
s45 from the port Of Bremen to the United States,
he most Of them had arrived in Bremen in ballast