The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1846-06-29
The Position Of General scott-Save him
from his Friends.

pence per single copy.
The Position of General scott-Save him
from his Friends.
We regret to perceive that the wing press are
endeavoring 10 screen General Scott from the con-
sequences of his indiscreton, by charging con-
spiracy on the President and War Department.
This is the worst possible mode OF generating
General Scott, and can only cventuate to the fur
Their injury of that gentleman in public estima-
tion.
This attempt 10 bolster up the palpable mis-
takes of the General comes, oddly enough, from
the only two papers in this city that opposed the
war. So sinuous and complicated are the tortu-
osities ofparty politics, that should not be at
all surprised if the aim Of these papers was to
consummate the work that General Scott has so
misguidedly commenced by rendering him more
unpopular than before; a consequence which is
sure to result from any attempt to excuse his error
by throwing the onus OF it on other shoulders.
1t is useless to deny that General Scott has
hitherto stood deservedly high in the estimation
OF his fellow-citzens, as a brave solder and an
able general. His services in the field were duly
appreciated, both by the mass of the people and
successive administrations. He was raised to the
highest rank in the army; and he might, per
chance, have ultimately been honored with the
highest station in the gift of the people
So far as appears from the official documents pub
lshed the present Executive and the War Depart
ment,i respect to his high rank Major General
ofthe army offered, in apparent good faith to be-
stow upon him the command of the expedition
against Mexico. This he l-adviscdly and petu-
lantly declined, at the same time accompanying
his refusal with an mputation on the motives of his
commanding officer, the President of the United
States. He was thereupon promptly and very
properly relieved of the command Of the expedi-
sion. For his conduct there is no earthly excuse
no palliation of any sort. Doubtless he had bad
advisers. But his worst counsellor was his own
ambition. An opportunity was offered him by
the President for gathering more laurels, and he
would undoubtedly have returned from the expe-
dihon with increased popularity. But unfortu-
natey his ambition overruled his better sense and
prompted him to stand directly in the way of his
own advancement. Obedience to the commands
OF his military superior, besides being his best
policy, was his paramount duty rs a soldier. He
chose to act without any regard to his military
duty; and he received from the President a very
mild though decided check for his INSTRUMENTATION
Ii was bunder that led to the political death Of
the General.
1t is highly njudicous, therefore, in those who
pretend to be the friends of General Scott, to at
tempt to put the blame of this matter on the Pres-
dent and the War Department The greatest act of
friendship they can render to the General is to
maintain profound silence regarding his error
The more his case is agtated the more will it re-
hound to his condemnation His punishment has
been very mild. He still holds his rank in the army
"a rank from which he would certainly have been
degraded had he lived under any European govern
nent. 1t is therefore the extreme of Stiffness and
folly to represent him the victim of persecution
and conspiracy. tits seen III his own letter that
he is not He is but the victim of his own msdi-
rected ambition, and of the bad counsel ofhis pre-
tended friends. Let his real friends say nothing
moro about the mat er, but hope as we do, that
the General may have an opportunity of retrieving
his error, and regaining that popularity and es-
TEEN which in an evil moment he was tempted to
jeopardize.
But seems that politicians well as soldiers ARE
IN danger of being lost in the chaparral during the
war Oh the Rio Grande.