Tri-weekly journal. (Evansville, Ia. [i.e. Ind.]) 1847-188?, 1847-12-14
AMBASSADOR TRIST ANDTHE SO, 900 600


fact, that an ENHANCEMENT, as we'll as some
pretty sharp correspondence, had taken place
betweed Gen. Scott and Mr.. Negotiator Trist,
arising from no less singular than gentleman
ly course pursued by the latter towards the for
mer. That difficulty, / am happy to say, has
long since ceased to exist, and Mr.. Trist noa0
regards Gen. Scott as the General-in-C Chief of
the army of the United States, and in that Ca
pacity from time to time consults him in all
diplomatic matters connected with the object
of his mission-peacei speak advisedly when
l assure you, that Mr.. Trists bearing towards
Gen. Scott when he first reached Jalapa, was
not approved at Washington either by the
President or Secretary of War. And Maj. Gen.
Pillow, who arrived here on the 9Th of last
month, was invested not only with the power
OF making peace between these two high func-
tionanes, but bore directions to Mr.. Trist,
that in the future progress of his negotiations
he must, from time to time, consult with Ma
jOrs General Scott and Pillow.
observe, from the papers, that an idea is
prevalent among the more intelligent portions
OF the United States, that Gen. Scott is vested
with high diplomatic powers. Whatever may
have been the case, previous to the arrival of
Mr.. Trist, since then all such powers have been
vested in Mr.. L. alone. He was sent here as
the confidential political friend of the Admin
istratIon, as the disburser of the three million
bribery fund, and with the expectation that
by ajudicious application of it, peace could
be speedily parchasedi from a people oper lchoa,
our standard had foated victorious in euerV
engagement ace had aoih them. | mention this
because believe that the Administration, fear
ing the infamy that will attach to a peace pro-
cured upon such terms have ounningly devils
ed the plan to create, and allow the impression
TO become prevalent, that Gen. Scott possess
ed the diplomatic power, and that upon him
must rest the responsibility Of any. termination
of the war,
A short time since things were in fair way
thus to be ended. The application of this fund
was to have been, upon certain contingencies,
in bringing about the appointment.of commits
sioners 10 treat with US for peace; and those
who had secured this result were to have been
the recipients of certain portions of the fund.
To this Mr.. Trist was committed in full, and
so far as consent went, Gen. Scott in part. A
council OF war was decided upon and called.
1t convened at the headquarters Of the army,
on Saturday evening, the 18th of July last
past. Those who was present at this council,
were the General-in-chief, Major Generals Pill
low and Quitman, Brigadier Generals Twiggs,
Shields and Cadwalader. The Justly distin-
guished Gen. Worth was not present. in CON
sequence OF most unfortunate disruption of
the friendly relations that had existed for 35
years between him and Gen. Scott. But ofthis
more anon.
AT this council of war, two propositions
were presented for the action of its members
The first was, whether the advance ofthe army
upon the city of Mexico should be delayed un-
I'll the arrival of Gen. Pierces command, who
was then known to have left Vera Cruz for this
place. And the second was whether the APP
plication of portion of the three millions in
the manner above specified by me, would be
justifiable under the peculiar circumstances of
the case.
The first proposition was, without much
discussion, unanimously decided in the affir-
native, all concurring in opinion that it was
the part OF both prudence and discretion to-
await the reinforcement of General Pierces
column.
The second proposition presented in its con-
sideFation an entirely different spectacle. All
evidently were sensbly impressed with the i'm
portance OF the contemplated step and the idea
oil great and victorious nation attempting to
bride the leaders ola government over whom
they had triumphed, to make peace upon al
most any terms, was for the first time in a
conflict between civilized nations, about to be
resorted to.
The General-in- Chief, with his usual bland,
impressive, and, l may add, eloquent manner
first went over the whole ground, bringing in
support OF his position every argument to
which tact, much reflection, and strong mind
could give birth. To these considerations, he
added the great and pressing anxiety urged in
all their communications by the Administra-
ton to terminate by any means, if possible,
this war; Upon his concluding, the different
Generals present, were called for according TO
rank. General Pillows was the first gi ven,
and was favorable TO the plan proposed. Gen.
Quitman followed, but objected in toto TO it,
upon the ground that it would infict stain |
upon our national escutcheon, that centuries |
could not wipe out. OF the brigadier generals,
Twiggs was the first to express his views, and |
by regarding 1t to great extent as a political
question he declined giving any opinion
Gen. Shields was next required to give his |
views: he at once rose from his seat; his whole /
countenance lit up with animation. and in that
bold, fearless, uncompromising manner that so |
strikingly illustrates his whole public career,
denounced the whole scheme in the most un-
qualified terms. He insisted that the applica-
ton of this fund for any such purpose, was not
only immoral, but debasing That, while for
purposes OF self defence il was, according to the
usages of modern warfare, justifable In one
nation to employ as spies the subjects of the
other belligerent power, yet there was no state
OF circumstances that ever had, or could exist
that would warrant our bribing the officers or
functionaries of that belligerent power, for
the sake of benefitting US, to cut the threats of
a - IL IL l. IL L