The New era. [volume] ([Portsmouth, Va.]) 1845-1847, 1846-06-13
GEN. GAINEs's CALL FOR TROOPS

The following message was received in the
Senate on Tuesday, from the President of the
United States.
To the Senate Of the United States:
l communicate herewith a report from the
Secretary of War, transmitting the correspondence
called by the resolution of the Senate on the 5th
inst, with General Edmund p. Gaines and
General Wintield Scott of the army of the
United States.
The report of tho Secretary of War, and the
accompanying correspondence with Gen. Gaines,
contain all the information in my possession in re-
lation to calls for volunteers or militia into the
service of the United States, 4" by any officer of
the army" without legal " authority therefor, -
and of the measures which have been adopted %
in relation to such officer or troops called into
service"
In addition to the information contained in the
report Of the Secretary of War, and the accompa-
nying correspondence with Major General Scott
OF the United States army, upsn the subject Of his
'aking the command of the army of occupation on
| tile frontier of Texas"-I state that on the same
day on which approved and signed the act Of The
18th of May, le46, entitled An act providing
for the prosecution Of the existing war between
| the United and the republic of Mexico, eommu-
| Gated to Gen. Scott, through the Secretary of
War, and also in personal interview with that
officer, my desire that no should take command
| of the army on tho Rio Grande, and of the
volunteer forces, which I informed him, it was
my intention forthwith to call out to march to that
frontier, TO DO employed in the prosecution of the
war against Mexico. The tender Of the command
Gen. Scott was voluntary on my part, and was
made without any request or intimation on the
| subject from him. 1t WIS in consideration of his
rank as commander-in.ehi of the army NV
communications with Gen. Scott assigning him
the command were verbal, first through the Sec
| rotary of War, and afterwards in person. No
written order was deemed to be necessary Gen.
Scott assented to assume the command, and on
the following day had another interview with him
and the Secretary of War, in relation to the num-
Der and apportionment among the several States,
OF the volunteer forces to be called out for imme
diate service the forces which were 10 be- organ-
zed and held in readiness subject 10 future call
should ii become necessary, and other military
preparations and movements TO be made with a
vigorous prosecution Of the war. II was distinct
| ly settled and was we'll understood by Gen. Scott,
that he was TO command the army in the war
against Mexico, an 90 continued to be settled and
understood withou, any other intention on nv
part, until the Secretary Of War submitted 10 me
the letter of Cen. Scott, addressed to him unerd
date of the 2lst Of May, 1876 copy Of which is
herewith communicated. The character of that
letter, made it proper in my judgment to change
my determination in regard to the command Of the
army and the Secretary of War by my direction
in his letter Of tho 18th Of May, 1916, a copy OF
which is also herewith communicated, for the Ies-
sons therein assigned, informed Gen. Scott tbs {,
ne was relieved from the command Of the army,
| destined to prosecute the war against Mexico and
that he would remain in the discharge of his du-
ties at Washington. The command of the army
on the frontier Of Mexico has since been assigned
to Gen. Taylor. with his brevet rank Of msior-
general, recently conferred upon him.
JAMES x. POLK.
WAsHIeToN, June 8, 1916.