Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1847-10-30
GENERAL SCOTT AND THE ARMY.
TO THE EDITORS.

tnets OF praise or censure so freely and habit
ually used, that the effort to discriminate with pre-
cislon as 10 the merits of any thing, to make the
pnbllc appreciate such praise, is far from easy.
There Is not a book from the press, not speech
from the bar, or sermon from the pulpit, that is
not hypefbolized. Adjectves and adverbs of en-
comium are fairly run TO DEATH The measured
praises of former days are dull by contrast. The
simple eulogy which JOHN MARSHALL pronounced
on GEORGE WASHINGTON is flat alongside of the
obituary praises that every day adorn the columns
of tile press. The consequence, as il seems 10 me,
is, that now that great eyent--for such every re-
fiecung man must pronounce General ScoTT's con-
summation of the Mexican campaign, great in the
chronicle not only of this country but Of the world
occurs, writers seem dumbfounded, and their read
ers-prostituted words of praise being SO thread
bare-6nd little response to the generous sym
pathies of their grateful hearts. My remarks are
of course general, and liable to exception, but, de-
pend on it, they are just The last victories of the
American army have not received here at home the
discriminating and enthusiastic applause they de-
serve.
Other circumstances have their influence 1t SO
happens under our popular institutions that no SOON
er does public servant especially military man,
perform some feat of distinction than he becomes
an object of political favor. The only honors we
have TO bestow are political ones. The American
hey" to tempt him onward, but he may be very sure,
such is the generous impulse of free and a mill
tary people, if he gains victory, that he will be
thought of and talked of President of the United
States. All this is very well. 1t is right it should
be so. Sometimes it happens that rival sentiments
struggle in the peoples heart. That two or more
gallant men, standing in rank on the same high
platform, earning tMsame sort of fame, acting UNI
der the same high sense of duty, attract popular
admiration. II, as in the case to which every one
will see these remarks apply, these gallant men
happen TO entertain the same political opinons-for
SCoTT and TAYLOR are both accredited Wings of
the most conservative school-tle perplexty is not
lessened. Technical Democracy has been rather
unlucky with its peculiar heroes in the late cam
pagning. BE that, however as tmay, the effect of
the political honors thrust by spontaneous move
ment on General TAYLOR has been and is land in
this relation only do | refer 10 it) to check the
praises which otherwise would so freely be bestow-
ed on General ScoTT; and to this cause may no
doubt be attributed some of the moderation alluded
to. In spite of every effort, comparisons suggest
themselves, and the most judicial mnd-such as
seeks to give due and exact praise torach-ismore
less tormented by solicude lest the hearty praise
of one General may be construed or converted into
disparagement of the other. This, il seems to me,
though very natural, is all wrong.
1t will not do 10 say that dsapprobation OF the
war is an element of disparagement or Of modera-
ton in praise. The war was as cordially detesied
and its authors and promoters as sincerely con-
demned when General Tayor's battles were fought
as now. No one regrets It's occurrence more than
the writer Of these remarks. General Scott hap
PLY Tor himself, using Mr.. Buchanan's very Words
does well, looking down on the mangled remains
Of his own heroic soldiers and the slaughtered Mex
cans-for those at least who died at their posts
were brave and worthy of brave mans sympa-
thy-to call it san unnatural war;" But if the
prowess Of the professional soldier-whose fame
is gained in the discharge of precise duty--is to
he disparaged because the war i'm which Govern
ment employs him is wrong one, then indeed is
his function hard and thankless. There is clear
distinction between strong condemnation of the
and earnest and cordial applause of the army which
conducts it.
Another matter must not be lost sight of. While
il would be premature without seeing the Execu-
tive correspondence with the Commander-in-chef,
to form an opinion as to the support actually given
to the latter, no one can doubt that there exists
something kindred to jealousy OF the praise besow-.
ed on Taylor and Scott, and clear disposition to
play one off against the other. General Scott was
never put in command till General Taylor's popu-
larty became uncomfortable at Washington. When
paylor will be pushed forward again will no doubt
depend the amount of praise that the exploits OF
the 2Uln oil August dllraCl. Jealousy, Win It's
root in the hearts of the Executive at the seat of
government, extends itself TO every eaflet Of Fede-
raj influence over the land, and has greater effect
than the casual observer at first supposes. 1t is
perfectly demonstrable that the whole press Of the
Administration "a power Of vast nhuence) has its
cue of faint and measured praise of General Scott
and his really distinguished officers. The Union
has began to hint doubts of General SCOTS good
judgment in the conduct of the negotiation, /" eau
tionng him against falling into trap and has put
forth its authoritative scale of military merit eleva
ing Pillow above Worth and Twiggs and Smith,
and characterizng the Commander-in-chiel with the
poor adjective of g the experienced Scot"
All these things, thus cursorly alluded to, COM
bne to check that ready enthusiasm which other
wise would have been excited by the recent milf
tary Incidents 1t is my hope TO call public atten-
tion to some Of the features Of the campaign, from
the landing at Vera Cruz down to the date of the
capture of Mexico-is peculiarities as affected by
the character Of the country, climate, and popula-
ton through which the invading army has marched,
and the singular merit of every movement of Gen.
Scott, from first to last--mert which deserves and
will receive, by-and-by, when history comes to do
its work. high praise. The writer of this has had
some opportunities Of personal observation, having
wears ago passed some time in Mexico.
NALERIUS.
PHILApEnrH1A, OcTosEn 90, ls47.
PLxasrsc TscinEsrson Tuesday last The children from