The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1847-07-17
Gen. Scott and Mr. Trist.

The N. Y. Courier, g. Enquirer gives the
following somewhat positive and circum-
stantial account of the nature of the difficulty
that is reported to have arisen between Gen.
ScoTT and MIR TRIsT, Clerk in the State
Department. 1t will be remembered that
the Union denied, in the outset, that Mr. Trist
Ind been sent TO Mexico in diplomatic
character. Should the statements of the
Courier and Enquirer prove TO be substantial
Untrue, las we see no reason 10 doubO the
government organ will be placed in another
the beautiful predicaments for which that
remarkable paper seems to have decided
."proclivity" The following is the Courier
aud Enqurer's account:
Unless we have been entirely misled by
our Southern correspondents, MIR Irlsts first
step, on his arrival at Jalappa, was to request
Gen. Scott to transmit to its destination a
sealed packet, addressed to the Mexican Secre-
tary Of State, which he enclosed 10 the Gen
eral and of the contents of which he gave
him no account. Gen. Scott promptly in
formed him that he declined TO do so; but
that he should retain the letter, subject to
MIR Trist's order. His reply to Mr. Trlst was
of course in writing, and was so emphatic
ard explicit as to leave no room for miSap-
prehension. This letter we knotc, is now on
file in Washington; and if the report that has
reached us of its contents is incorrect, the u
mon, by procuring copy OF 1t, can set us
right.
MIR Trist, or more properly the Executive,
of which in all this he is simply the tool,
was thus baflled in his frs; attempt to throw
upon Gen. Scott the responsibility of what
ever proposition to the Mexican government
his sealed packet contained. He then inform
ed the General that he had come to Mexico
with full authority TO conclude an armistice
with the Government of MeXico;-to suspend
all military operations; and to make all neces-
sary arrangements preliminary to the nego
tiation ola treaty ofpeace. This fact has al
ready been asserted in letters from Mexico
published in New Orleans and elsewhere
and we are assured by private advices that j
is strictly true. MIR Trist, moreover submit
led to Gen. Scott, a letter from the Secretary
either of State or War; confirming i'll every
respect the statement he had made, and di
recting him to recognize, in its fullest extent
Mr. Trlst's plenary authority
General Scott thus found himselfunde
rhe orders of the Department, virtually
though not formally, deprived of his com
mand, and subordinate to n Clerk in the Stat
Department. He at once informed MIR Iris
that he should not permit him TO interfer
with the operations Of the army, which wa
under his commands; that under tho crcum
stances in which that army was placed, n
armistice was strictly military policy; an
That he should recognize no suspension o
hostlities to which his assent, as Commando
in Chief of the forces in the field, should M
be previously given. At the same time, b
wrote to the Secretary ofWar repeating b
declarations to Mr. Trist, and assuring II
Department, that he should retain the actu
command of the army, until formally recall
ed
This correspondence is on file at Wnshin!
ton; and though we do not pretend TO Civ