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

leo, and so continued 10 be settled ana unuefstooui
without any other intention my part, until the
Secretary Of War submitted to me the letter OF Gen:
Scott addressed 10 him under date Of the 2lst OF
| May, 1886, copy Of which is herewith eommu-
nicated. The character Of that letter, made f2P-
er in my judgment TO change my deIerminalio m
regard 10 the command Of the army ana INC oee-
rotary Of War by my direction, In his letter OF the
25th Of May, 1916, copy of which 10 also here
with communicated for the therein Assigned,
informed General Scott that he was relieved rom
the command of the army destined TO prosecute the
war against Mexico and that he would remain IN tue
discharge of his duties at Washington. Inc COM
mand Of the army ON the frontier OF Mexico mas
.;ncr bssn assigned to General Taylor with his
4 breyet rank Of major-general, recently conferred
0P0" "''"' JAMES X. POLK.
WAsHISGToE, June 8, 1886.
I'VE insert that portion of the correspondence
lstng to General Winfield Scott, which Is as fol-
isRs
| WAR DEPARTMENT, June s, 1916.
| Sra In compliance with your direction, have
| the honor TO transmit herewith such letters and
documents as are in this department, to enable you
10 answer the resolution of the Senate OF the 9th IN
stAnt requesting information. FIRST IN relation to
unauthorized calls Of volunteers and militia into the
service Of the United States by any officers Of the
army, &c. Second, the correspondence between the
Secretary Of War and Major General Scott, on the
subject vi his taking the command Of the army Of
occupation on the frontiers Of Texas, &c. And
| third, the correspondence between General Gaines
and the government from the lst Of June, l545, 20
the present time, upon the subject Of volunteers
militia ordered TO the frontiers OF Texas.
| The information requested In the first and last
1 branches Of the resolution is mainly furnished by
| the correspondence herewith submitted between
this department and General Gaines, who is the on
y officer Of the army known 10 have called for vol
| mil vii he
| periods specified. The first unauthorized call by
| that officer made on the governor Of Louisiana
on the 18th Of August, l645, for two companies Of
volunteer artillery, (about 200 men, which were
mustered into service on the 2lst ofthat month,
and Immediately sent 10 Texas report TO General
! Taylor at Corpus Christi As soon as information
| Of this call made known to the department,
| General Gaines reminded, IN communica-
| ton addressed 10 HIM, that authority to make
such calls was vested only m the President;
and that 1.-The emergency which would tolerate or
! excuse the assumption Of tins authority by null
tary officer in command at distance from the seat
Of government in anticipation Of the Presidents ac-
ton must be one indicating great and imminent peril
| 10 the country peril great and imminent az 10
leave reasonable doubt that the President, with
full knowledge Of all the circumstances of the case
would have felt Il TO be his duty resort 10 such
aid " As the call had been promptly responded to,
and the troops sent TO their destination before the
| action Of Gen. Gaines could be stayed Gen. Tdy-
Tor was directed to receive and retain them IN ser
vice, long as in his judgment, the public exigency
might require, although, by your direction, Gen.
| Gaines was informed that his proceeding not
| approved by you. These volunteers were dis.
charged and sent home on the expiration Of their
three months term Of service.
No further calls appear to have been made by
Gen. Gaines for volunteers militia, until early in
May Of the present year, when unauthorized re-
quest or acquisitions in various forms and Of differ
hv i'm fnr n voln
to be in readiness, and others for immediate
entrance into service, the amount OF which is not
yet known at this department, but, far ascer-
tanned, is embraced in a statement which il among
the documents herewith furnished.
IL is also understood that he has TAKEN measures
10 organize troops independent of his calls upon
States through the respective governors; and the
companying documents show that he had appointed
various staff officers, without instructions or legal
authority. As soon as information received Of
those proceedings, prompt measures were taken TO
counteract them, and to this course Of inde
pendant action portion Of those thus called into
service by acquisitions upon the governors of Aaba-
ma, Mississippi, and Missouri, having promptly re-
sponded 10 the same, the governors Of those States
were informed that these calls upon them had been
recognised ito The erteat Of the Numbers furnished and
sent 10 Tsras" To this extent and no further has
the conduct OF General Gaines, in making requisi-
tons calling into service and organizing troops been
recognised, and all beyond has been distinctly dis
approved
By your direction orders have been issued re-
lieving him from the command Of the western d.
vision and requiring him to repair 10 this city.
The correspondence called for by the second
branch Of the resolution accompanies this commun-
cation In relation to that part of it which asks for
| information "whether any order was at any time
given by the President Secretary Of War to Gen.
Scott to proceed TO the Rio Grande, to take COM
mand of the army" &c, have to state that about
tha he laW pisinu he of
| a between the United States and Mexico, and
authorizing the raising volunteer force Of $4,000
men passed, | had conversation with
Major General Scott, and, by your direction, in.
| formed him that you intended to put the army,
designed to operate against Mexico, under his inn
mediate command and invited him, as you requested
me 10 do, to call on you for the purpose Of receiving
| your views and instructions An interview be-
| tween yourself and him, at which | was present,
| shortly after took place, when You announced to
him your determination to assign him to the COM
mand OF the army in the against Mexico. The
order and instructions to him verbal, and am
| not aware that they have been reiterated in writing.
| He Immediately entered upon the necessary
engagements to carry into effect your views and in
structons and, down to the present time, has been
assiduousy engaged in the duties Of his Office In
| terviews and consultations between him and my
self often at my particular instance, have very fire.
quently taken place in regard to arrangements and
preparations for carrying on the war. When first
communicated to him your intention to place him
| in the command Of the army, he replied, that he
should neither decline solicit that service but at
once receiving your verbal order, entered readily
into the preparatory measures to carry them into
effect l am not aware that he claimed "that
| mand due to him from his rank in the army" or
expressed any wish to be assigned to it, until his
preference intimated in his letter Of the 25th
ultimo, in reply TO mine Of the date, and his
claim set forth in that of the 9th, both which are
| among the papers herewith submitted His wishes
| in this respect have not been made known to me,
further than they are expressed in these letters
| | had no ntmation whatever that you intended to
change, thought Of reconsidering the orders to
| General Scott committing to him the command Of
the army to operate against Mexico, until had
submitted to you his letter to of the 2ls utimo.
After your examination Of that letter l received
your direction, changing your previous orders, and
communicated it to him in my letter of the 25th Of
May.
have the honor to be, with great respect, your
obedient servant,
WI. MARCY.
| To the President.