Richmond daily Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1842-1861, 1846-06-11
Gcnerais Scot, and Cn,uc.

|
TO the Ssnate Of the United States.
u communicate herewith report from the Secretary Of
transmitting the correspondence called for by re-
suon OF the Senate Of the 5th inst. with Gene raj Ed
mund r. Gaines aud General Winfield Scott of the army Of
the United States. 80 "
Tho report OF the Secretary Of War and the aeeomp.
hS correspondence with General Gaines all the
information IN my possession relation calls for volun-
ees OF militia into tho service of the United States" "by
any officer OF the army without legal auhoty
ana oil the measures which have been adopted" rela-
non TO such officer troops called into service"
addition to tho information contained in the report Of
ne secretary OF War, and the accompanying correspond
ence with Major General Scott OF the United States army
upon the subject OF his taking the command Of army
occupation on the frontier Of TeIas"-I state, that
ne same day on which approved and signed the act OF
the l3hs May, 1885, entitled IAN providing for the
prosecution OF the existing between the United States
ana inc republic of Mexico" communicated TO General
Scott through the Secretary War; and also in personal
interview with that officer. desire that he should take
command OF the army the Rio Gande and Of the youn-
'oet forces which informed him, forth
with TO call out 20 march that frontier be employed 10
the prosecution OF the against Mexico The tender of
'he command to General Scott voluntary my part.
ana was made without any intmauon on tho
subject from him. IL made in consideration of his
rank as COMMUNICATIVE chief of the army NV commu-
ncauons with General Scott assigning him the command
were verbal first through Secretary of Wa, and after
wards in No order was deemed 10 be ne
eessary Gene al Scott assented assume the command
and on the following day had another interview with him
and the Secretary of War; relation to the number and
apportonment among the States of tho volunteer
| he
which were to be organized and held in readiness subject
TO future call should become necessary and other mill.
ary Preparations and movements be made with view
Ia the vigorous prosecution ct tho 1t distinctly
settled and well understood by General Scott that he
10 command the army IN The against Mexico and
so continued To be settled and understood without any other
intention part, until the Secretary OF War submit
ted to me the letter OF Cen Scott addressed him under
date OF the 2lst OF May lSi6 copy OF which herewith
communicated The character OF that letter, made pro-
per IN my Judgment TO change determination in regard
to the command of the and the Secretary OF War
BY direction, his letter of the a5h of May 1896
copy which also herewith tor rea
sons therein assigned informed GeneraSco that he
relieved from the command OF the army destined prose-
cute the against Mexico, and that he would
the discharge OF his duties Washington The command
OF the army the frontier of Mexico has been
signed TO General Taylor with his brevet rank OF MAJOR
general recently conferred upon him.
WASHINGTON, June s, ls4G.
I'VE insert that portion OF the correspondence relating
| TO Gen Winfield Scott which is ollows
WLR DEPARTMENT, June s, 1876.
Sir In compliance with your objection, have the honor
TO transmit herewith such letters and documents in
this department. to enable the resolution OF
the Sense OF the 5h instant, requesting information.
First IN reanan TO unauthorized calls of volunteers and
militia the Of tho United States BY any officers
OF the &c. Second the correspondence between the
Secretary OF War and MAJOR General Scott the subject
OF hrs taking the command Of the army OF occupation
the frontiers OF Texas &c. Ana third, the correspon-
dence between General Gaines and the government from
the lot OF June lsi5 to the present time, upon the sub
ect OF volunteers mua ordered the frontiers of Tex
The information requested in the first and last branches
cf the is mainly furnished by the couespon-
dence herewith submitted between this department and
Gen Gaines who y the only officer Of the army known
have called for volunteers militia without legal author
ity within the periods specified The first unauthorized
call by that officer made the governor Of Louisiana
the 18th of August, 1885, for companies of yolun
teer artillery about 200 men, which mustered into
the 2lst that mouth and immedatly sent 10
Texas, report General Taylor Corpus Christi As
lnfD n cal n.da E,o,. III
department. General Gaines reminded, in a cemmuni. |
cation addressed him. that authority make such calls
vested only in the President and that he emergen-
cy which would tolerate or excuse the assumption of this
authority by military officer in command a distance |
from the seat OF government anticipation OF the Pres
dents action be indicating great and imminent
peril TO the county, peril great and imminent
TO leave reasonable doubt that the President with
full knowledge Of all the circumstances Of the case would
have felt be his duty such aid" As the
call had been promptly responded to, and the troops
Their destination before the action Of IieB Gaines
could be stayed, Gen. Taylor directed and
retain them IN long his Judgment the pub
lie eIgency might require, although by your direction Gen.
Gaines informed that his proceeding was not ap-
proved by you. These volunteers discharged and
home the expiration OF their three months term OF
service.
No further calls appear have been made by General
Gaines for volunteers militia until early in May of the
present year, when unauthorized request, acquisitions
in various forms and Of different import were made by
him for volunteer force, be readi .ss and
others for immediate entrance into service, the
ascertained, embraced a statement which is among
the docum' ats herewith furnished
It's also understood that he h taken measures to or
ganizo troops independent of his calls upon States through
the respective Governors; and the accompanying
ments show that he had Apo ned various staff officers
without in,uctions legal authority AS as inor-
nation received OF tho proceedings, prompt mea-
taken to counterfeit them and this
course Of Independent, act portion of those thus
called int by acquisitions upon the governors of
Alabama, Ms, ssppi and Missouri having promptly re-
sponded 10 same, he Of those States
Informed that these calls upon them had been recognised
ITO the erteHf Of the numbers furnished and Ter
To this extent, and further, has the conduct OF
Gen. Gaines IN making acquisitions calling service
and organizing troops been recognised and all beyond has
been distinctly disappiOyed.
By your direction orders have been is-Ied relieving him
from the command OF the western division and requiring
him 20 repair TO this city.
The correspondence called for BY the second branch |
OF the resolution accompanies this communication In /
relation to that Of which asks for information wheth
any order any time given by the President or
Secretary Of War Cen Scott proceed TO the Rio |
Grande, TO take command Of the army" &C. have to
that, about the the law recognizing the existence
Of between the United States and Mexico and au-
thorlnR the raising volunteer force Of 80 900 men was
passed, had a conversation with MAJOR General Scott
and by your direction, informed him that you intended 10
put the army designed operate agsnst Mexico under
his immediate command and Ivited him, you request
ed me TO do to call on you for the purpose Of receiving
your views and instructions An interview between you
se aud him, at which presert, shortly after took
place. when you announced him your determination 10
assign him 70 the command OF the army the against
Mexico The order and instructions him were verbal
and that they have boon reiterated i'm Wi
Ting He Immediately entered upon the necessary arrange
menls 10 carry into effect your views and Instructions and
down to the ume has been assduousy engaged in
tho duties Of his office. Interviews and consultations be-
tween him and myself often my particular instance
have very frequently taken place regard 10 arrange
ments aud preparations for carrying the war. When
first communicated 10 him your intention 10 place him IN
command OF he army be replied that he should neither
decline solicit thar but once on receiving
your verbal order entered readily into the preparatory
90 carry thom into effect / not 1re that he /
claimed that command due him from his rank in the
army" expires I'd any wish be assigned 10 IT, until bis
preference nmated IN his letter of the 2jh ulumo
IN reply to mine Of the date, and his claim forth
IN that Of the 27th both Of which among tho papers
herewith submitted. His wishes in This respect have not
been made known to me- further than they pressed
IN these two letters. had inumauon whatever that
you intended to change, fought Of ecOnsdorng tho
orders to Cen. scott, committing 20 him the command Of
lhr nnnLnln ngln-I MnEcn mnmI Ind .uunlllnd