Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1846-06-17
THE PRESIDENT AND THE MAJOR
GENERALS,

time, ,hetween the President and his Major Gen.
erals, thon between Taylor and the Mexicans.
Gen. Scott has been relieved from the COM
mand ofthe army, destined TO prosecute the war
against Mexico" and Gen. Gaines has also
been "reIieved from the command of the Wes'
tern Division of the army and required to
appear at the city Of Washington.
We have them before US, and we have care
fully examined, the Presidents message: and
all the correspondence that has come out be-
tween The Secretary of War, and the refractory
Generals-and we can see as yet: nothing to
censure in the conduc, ofMr Polk. and partcu'
larly, in the case of General Scott.
Genera! Scott had been verbally informed,
both by the President and Secretary Of War,
to hold himself in readiness to take command
OF the army which was TO invade Mexico and
anxiety was expressedthat he should commence
operations as soon as possibe.-Perhup i'm
patience was manifested, that he did no, imme.
diately commence his route to the seat of war.
Such being the state of things, Gen. Scott
wrote letter to Secretary Marcy, in which he
enumerates his various occupations. the diff
Guilty Of making all thu necessary preparations
for vigorous campaign before the tof Sep:
tember, and his utter aversion to hu7ing an
enemy in front ahd.fesr:of him. The follow.
ing is hs language: "In the midst of these
multitutious and indispensable occupations
have learned from you that much impalience is
already felt, perhaps in high quarters, that l
have not already put myselfin route for the
Rio Grande.
Not all advantageous step can be taken in q
forward march without the confidence tina: sll
is well behind. Ifinsecure in that quarter, no
general can put Ills whole heart and mind into
The work TO be done in front. am, therefore
not little alarmed, nay crippled in my erier.
ges, by the know ledge of the impatience in
question, and | beg to say fear no other dam
ger" :.
After making some other remarks. with re-.
gard 10 his intentions and "preliminary ar
ransemepts," he comes out more plainly, and
says My, explicit meaning is, that do not
desire to place myselfn the most pericus of
al positlnns--a fire upon my rear from Wash.
ington, and the fire in front from tile Mexcans."
Under these circumstances, the Secretary of
War, by the instruction Of the President, very
properly wrote to him that he was no longer
expected 10 60 to Mexico. Gen. Scott's reply
10 The Secretary is dated "fIom hasty plate
Of Sonp.p He commences his letter exactly
in this manner--
"Head Quarters Of Tie Army,
Washington, May 26, 1916.
Sir.--Your letter Of this date, received at
about 9 P, NJ, as + sat doom to take a hasty
plate Of soup demands a prompt reply" @szs,.
We are mol skilled in court ceremonies nor
courlly. phrases, bnt we are free TO say that
though such language as the above, may IT,
military, it is neither the language Of common
sense nor common decency IN a Majni General
to the highest authority to which he is respon
sibe ..r. t,
! General Scott would evidently much prefer
revelling in the White House at Washing ton
to "revens in the halls of Monlezuu,a;" and
il will probably be 4 blessing 10 his country.
that such dre his inclinaons. great man,
Il great general would have scorned all petty
intrignes al Washington, and in the I,eart OF
Mexico he W ,uld have raised fire, that n its
bright and glorious blaze, would have extin.
guisIed all lesser fires in his rear.
We have not seen enough Of the correspm.
deslce of. Gen. Gaines, with the wal depart
ment, either tojuslify or to blame wha, he has
done. 1t would be very dangerous for COZ.
rupt Major General to be permitted 10 saise
troops without authority; butno man ought to
be appointed Major General, unless he ia a
man of integrity and honor; for The necessity oil
the case frequently calls upon him to act with.
out orders, and upon his own responsibility
alone.
The New Orleans Picayune contains a d
article purportins 10 be- based on reliable
information, in reference to some of The
future movements of General Taylor. /,
may be proper 10 remark that many Of lhs
letters received az New Orleans, from Ma.
tamoros, declare il as the belief of their re
spective authors, that Geh.' Taylor, will
make no further movements, until advised
by the General Government. As howev-
er the information communicated to the
Pcayuue may be correct, we subjoin the
substance of it. Ii understands that 1.-THE
next demonstration of Gen. Taylor will
be upon the city of Monterey. This place
is about 80 leagues from Matanoros; and
is approached'by difficult road runuing
through an arid and iI-walered couprr
1t is the priccipal city Of The province o!
New Leon, and commands the entrance
of the table lands. or The interior of Mexi.