The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1846-06-08
him. and 70 Jake his direction in regard to its con,

him. and to take his direction in regard TO its con-
tents.
The passages in your letter which have excited
his surprise and deep regret, are those IN which you
impue the President IN terms not inexplicit, III
uiA towards yourself, or pTseOndsmaaliOa, and
course Of conduct his part which has already, as
you aIege, impeded your labors Of preparation and
crippled your energies.
A reference 10 two or three paragraphs in your
letter will show that he is not at liberty to give
different construction to your language. You were,
through me, and also al personal interview with
the President, made acquainted with his settle de-
termination TO put you in immediate command of
the forces TO be employed in carrying on the war
with Mexico, and you had, as you state, been de-
voting your time and attention 10 preliminary and
preparatory arrangements ain the midst of these
multitudinous and indispensable occupations "
(you say, al have learned from you that much
ilupaence is already felt perhaps in high quarters
that have not already put myself IN route for the
Rio Grande; and now, with fourteen hours day Of
preliminary york remaining on my hands for many
days, | find myself compelled to stop that neces.
sary work to guard myself against, perhaps, utter
condemnation in the quarters alluded 10. ! am too
old a soldier, and have had too much special expert
enCe, not to feel the infinite importance Of securing
myself against danger--( Gil will or precOndemnation)
in my rear, before advancing upon the public enemy.
Not an advantageous step can be taken in forward
march, without the confidence that all is we'll be-
hind. 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 little alarmed
nay, crippled in my energes-by the knowledge
Of the imPatenee in question: and beg 10 say fear
no other danger"
This language scarcely requires a comment That
il conveys the strongest suspiclOn-not to say di-
rect imputauon Of most unworthy motives in the
Executive government-of bad faith towards your
seE-of reckless disregard Of the interests Of the
country-of design to carry on a war against you
while you are sent forth TO carry on a war against
the public enemy, there can be, think, question
You must allow me to advert to the only fact to
which you allude the foundation for such grave
mputauons. You hare learned you say, from
me that much impdfitnes Is ttA perhaps IN high
quarters that you not already pull in route for the
Rio GrGds, Sc. What said on this point at
our interview, when this subject was alluded TO- is
not 80 fully stated It ought to be- considering the
purposes to which you have converted IT, You pre-.
scented fully and clearly the difficulties and de-
lays which, in your opinion, would attend the as
semblIng Of the volunteers on the Rio Grande and
IN conclusion expressed your belief that II could not
be done before the lst day Of September next then
alluded to the troops which were now Fastening TO
Gen Taylor's standard, under his reqnislti5n-to
the excited feelings Of the country-to the patriotic
HrdOr Of those troops-io the disappointment which
both they and the country would feel IL an army of
eight or ten thousand men the Rio Grande
comparatively inactive during their entire tour OF ser
vice, which, being limited to three months, would
terminate before the period named by you for the
assembling of the volunteers on the Rio Grande 1t
with special reference TO the empo yment of the
troops that would be on that frontier by the LIST day
OF June, that | spoke of what would he the senti-
ments of the country, and of the spirited and gallant
men who had entered into the service, and Of the
cSpec atoms Of the Executive upon thus subject ]
was well aware that the fresIden; most anX-
that the war should be prosecuted with prompt.
ness and viSor, and that the brave and patriotic
men who had been called out should have an Uppor.
tunlly TO render their country active aud effective
service. | knew, too, that the President confidently
hoped and expected that large portion of the vol
unteers, authorized by the act Of May 18th, would
arrive on the frontier in suicen force for active OPP
eratons before the time which you in heated
With the view Of securing this important object the
'nost energetic measures had been adopted. Every
consideration Of economy and duty forbade that the
troops should, ii thus collected, be permitted to re-
main inactive, by rrason OF the absence Of the gene
raj officer, who, fully possessed of the views of the
Executive, was to direct their movements.
did not deem it improper, indeed considered il
a matter Of duty, to communicate to the general, to
whom the President had freely cOnfded the manage.
ment Of the war, his views and expectations upon
this point. That this communication, made in the
manner it was, should not have been kindly re-
ceived is surprising to me; but vastly more so Is
offensive imputalions against the executive govern
ment which had voluntarily selected you to conduct
our army, and determined to put at your disposal
the amplest means it could command to insure
victory, and to bring the to successful and spec
dy termination.
1t was aso a matter OF. unfegned surprise to me
that you should have attributed to the President the
intention Of opening a fire upon your rear while
fire in front was opened upon you by the enemy
On what foundation could such assumption rest
Had not the President, in a frank and friendly spi-
rt, Just ntrusted you with command on which the
glory and interest Of the country depended to say
nothing of the success of his own administrations
How could you, under these circumstances, arrest
your labors Of preparation, and suffer your energies
to be crippled, for the purpose Of INDUCING ip lib
eral imputatons against the man who had Just be-
slowed upon you the highest mark Of his conf
dence'
Entertaining, as it is most evident you do, the
opinion that such the motives and designs Of
the Executive towards you, and declaring it to be
your explicit meaning that "you do not desire to
place yourself in the most perilous of all positions
fire upon your rear from Washington, and the fire in
front from the .Nericans," and so entertaining them
entirely without cause, even the shadow of just
fcation the President would be wanting in his duty
to the country, if he were to persist in his deermi-
nation of imposing upon you the command of the
army in the war against Mexico. He would prob
ably misunderstood the object you had in view in
writing your letter, and disappoint your cxpecta-
tons, If he did not believe that it was intended to
affect change of his purpose in this respect. am,
therefore, directed by him to say that yon will be
continued in your present position here and will de
vote your efforts to making arrangements and prep
arations for the early and vigorous prosecution of
hostilities against Mexico.
have the honor to be, very respectfully, your
obedent servant,
w. L. MARCY.
Major General WINFIELD ScorT,
Commanding General, &c.
HEADQUARTERs OF THE ARMY,
Washington, May 25, 1886.