New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1847-01-09
The Lieutenant General.

Our readers win have noticed that the House Of
Representatives, rceonsdered its vote laying the
table the Recommendation Of the President to Gre
ate the Office Of Lieutenant General and that that
subject is now before the House for its final action
This act If consammaied, will be considered equiv.
aent to a declaration of want Of confidence in the
Generals now commanding in the field
From the first step in the Mexican war TO very
late period. the advice and counsel of the command
ing General have been unheeded By the Executive
and the Secretary of War, under the direction Of
the President, has assumed the difficult task Of
planning and directing campaigns and even Of con
trolling the subordinate details Of the field opera
tons The country knows how bravely the troops
have taught in the embarrassing and difficult po
sitions in which they have been placed though put
there against the earnest remonstrance OF those
whose couusels ought TO have been listenedto Now
it is proposed to overslaugh Generals Scott and Tay
lor aud send TO the seat Of war an officer Of higher
grade The services Of Gen. Taylor are SO recent
and his brilliant victories so fresh in the minds Of
the people that no injustice can be done him with
out awakening n feeling OF deep indignation in the
public mind
Gen Scorr's military achievements are OF an
earlier date. They began with the first battles of
the War OF 1912 and are fully recorded in the his
tory Of that struggle His Life, by Mansfield,
forms important part OF the history OF this
Country during that period.
A few years since, a proposition was made IN
the House of Representatives, to abolish the office
of Major General then, as now. filed by Gen.
ScoTT Pending the debate on this question, as
reported in the 3od volume OF the National Inteli-
gencer, Mr. ADAMS. smong other things, said
As to the effect OF the proposed amendment; for the
abolition of this Office 10 the person who now occupied
the place he felt bound land the more since he bad
voted for inquiry TO the exercise OF authority 10y
Gen Scorr in particular case) TO declare that he did
think il very III reward for the great and eminent
vices of that officer during period OF twentytv or
thirty years, among which were some as gallant ex
plcs ANY our history could show, and in which he
had not spared 10 shed his blood well for more
recent services Of great importance in time Of peace
services of great difficulty and great dehcacy-to turn
bin out snd declare that his Office in this Government
was utterly useless
If itwere unjust simply to discharge him would
it not be the hight cruelty to degrade him in the
eyes OF the world, by taking from him the command
of the army, in the presence of an enemy when in
times of much greater peril and trials ScoTT and
VICTORY have ever been Synonymous At that
time, when there was party motive for assailing
Z wounded and gallant soldier Charles J. lngersoll
felt called upon in justice to say that he
wished TO add but single word Perhaps he the
only Member present who could recolect the day hen
this General Scott had been the first to show
that the disciplined sodiery Of our country were
fully able 10 cope with the trained troops OF foreign
nation. When gentlemen about 90 iegislste Gen.
Scott out OF Office be must be permitted TO add one con
sderson 10 those which had properly been stated by
the venerable gentleman from Massachusetts, (Mr.
Adsins) and IL was this that While we we've sitting
here very cody giving votes 90 esste General Scott
OF offce Ought rot qEf O. fsv90 that . rds By
rfss Of las brace achievements possessed ne opportunity
Of roetns here 0N II was easy for gentlemen 10 call
those csterpsrs who in the hour OF peril had been
the pillars" Of the public trust He should be sorry
indeed II this blow should fall upon the man who had
struck the arst blow in that struggle through which
alone this Government had been preserved in being
down ~ tls hour"
! VIII tins gentleman now acquiese in the degra.
dalton of the high public functionary Of whom he
has thus truly spoken We shall see.