Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1847-08-17
THE ENQUIRER.
RICHMOND, VA.
Monday Morning, August is, is47.
GENERAL SCOTT AND THE ADMINS
TRATIUN

the New York Courier, followed by The Rich
mischievous effects which they have assumed as
consequent upon the discharge OF the volunteers
after the battle OF Cerro Gordo, have involved
those papers in an inextricable dilemma. NC
voice OF censure had been raised against General
Scou-no murmur Of disapprobation OF his Off.
cial conduct on that occasion had been whispered
abroad. The attack upon the Secretary, there.
fore, was no, made in defence OF General Scott
but was utterly unprovoked and groundless
These Wing Editors lay down theory OF thei'
own. They declare, that had the volunteers not
been discharged-had Scott marched on with his
whole force Instantly, aided BY the prestige OF
victory and the moral effect Of the great battle OF
Cerro Gordo, he could IN t,centy days have
taken possession of The capital, and promptly
made peace They contend further, that The
premature discharge Of The volunteers several
weeks before their Term Of enlistment had
expired, paralyzed our own strength, raised
The dropping spirits Of the Mexcans. and ena.
bed them to raise troops, prepare defences, and
in a word, that it caused delay of three
months in the capture OF the capital and the con-
clusion Of peace, and that whatever bloody bat
ties or rude shock of arms may now happen
previous TO taking possession Of the capital, must
be solely attributed 10 The authors Of that fatal
act, the discharge of the volunteers before their
term had expired. Indeed, in such strong light
did these Wing editors present the circnmslan-
ces, tba, the New York Courier denounced The
decision 10 discharge the troops as "iolly-in-
sanity" and the Richmond Wing declared,
that Gen. Scott could not have been "fool" enough
10 sanction such a measure. This harsh Ian
euage was intended not for Gen. Scott, but for The
Secretary of War, who, they assumed, had been
guilty OF such "blunder" and "iolly." But The
Union came out and denied positively that Mr..
Marcy had expressed any decision TO Gen. Scott
in favor of the discharge, or given him any in
s,ruc,ions 10 that effect. It, moreover, published
the original general order of Gen. Scott, for the
discharge of The volunteers. 1t was entirely the
work of his own judgment and discretion, and
was not only approved by him. but especial pains
taken 10 Justify i, in The eyes Of the world. That
order We have already published; lis plain mean
ing no one can misunderstood. Tits evident, then,
that Gen. Scott and not MIR. Marcy, is eIclu-
sively responsible for the so much abused dis
charge OF The volunteers; and il is, moreover,
undeniable that the denunciaiions by these Wing
papers of the "iolly and insanity" OF the order,
though aimed at MIR. Marcy, really strike the
distinguished Scott whom they oficiously stepped
forward 10 defend. They were far TOO "hasy"
TO attack the administration. Their iavelins have
missed their mark aid fallen upon their own
friend.
Saturdays Times takes, in some particulars,
the same view as ourselves. tnot only acknow-
lodges that Gen. Scott ordered the discharge upon
his own responsibility, but upon grounds which
The public "will consider amply satisfactory
|, proceeds TO show some reasons why this act OF
"lolly and insanity" las commended by the New
York Courier and the Whig) was doubtless based
upon "srave considerations" which the country
will respect and sustain. As The point under
discussion is interesting and important, we feel 1t
our duty TO republieh The whole article OF The
Times:
ave are disposed 10 think that The New York
Courier and Enquirer, and some other very sensI-
Bile Wing journals, take erroneous and unneces-
sary ground, in assailing the administration be-
cause Gen. Scott, soon after the battle OF Csrro
Gordo, dismissed from bis command the twelve
months volunteers whose terms Of service were
about 10 expire, so that they might obtain their
discharge in New Orleans instead OF IN the enc
my's country. II is argued by the papers 10 which
We refer that this measure was The true cause oil
General SCOTS subsequent unfortunate delays,
and il is assumed that the Generaln-Chet acled
under instructions from the wal department, and
moi according TO The dictates Of his own judg-
mept.
"Now. il may turn out that the facts OF this
matter have been materially misapprehended-
that General Scott discharged The rontecTs because
he thought II best TO do so; and Irc are PERSUADED
that aohen the public comes 10 k,~,c has reasons
yM consider them amply satisfactory. Whether
The War Department approved Of his course or
nor. we are not advised, but we DO apprenend
that this very course is 10 be made one OF The
principal excuses which The Department will adj
vance for the inefficiency Of The support which 1t
has extended 10 The Commandcr-in.c Chief The
Union explicitly denies that Mr.. Marcy expressed
10 General Scott decision 10 favor OF the dis
charge. or any instructions of that purpoIt, before
the measure was carried into effect, BY the gene
raj order of May 4lh. The language OF that or
der seems 10 us inconsistent aci the idea mat cnc-
raj Scott did not approve Of ne msasaT'i as
where it reads: .For The General-in.chIet canno',
in humanity and good faith, cause regiments
entitled, in few weeks, 10 an honorable DIS
charee-to advance further from The coast IN
pursuit OF the enemy, and thereby throw mem
upon the necessity Of returning TO embark al
Vera Cruz at the season known 10 be, al mat
place, the mos, fatal 10 life"
"This extract gives one important reason, LOT
The discharge, and one which the coun'rymeh
OF those brave volunteers ought surely 10 res
pecl But, we doubt not, other grave considera-
lions swayed The resolution OF The Commander
in.chief The term OF service OF these youn'
,eers. as he states in the general order, was TO
expire ain four, five, or six weeks" He was at
Jalapa, and had seen something OF the difficult
ties of marching along the Mexican roads. tie
knew that if he should press on TO take The capt.
tai with the aid Of the volunteers, they must
there be discharged at the very moment when 1t
would be most necessary 10 have around him an
imposing force. Besides them he had only 5000
men upon whom he could rely. Alter leaving
a portion OF these to garrison Jaapa, Perole,
and Puebla, he mus, have found himself in The
city Of Mexico with too small number OF troops
10 control its population Of 1000. He deter
mined to send The volunteers back, and await The
renforcements that had been promised HIM. but
in the speedy arrival of these he was sadly disap-
pointed. Here lis the fault of the War DEPART
ment. /. should have known The circumstances
under which Gen. Scot, must be placed, and have
had the renfoIcemenlS al least by The lst Of june,
when the volunteers we've necessarily 10 be DIS
charged. Had the Government performed lis du-
~ in this respect, Gen. Scot, would long since
have entered the capital, and dictated the peace,
which his unhappy delays may now have 'ndeh'
ni,ely postponed"
Hereshe Times comedies all lha! We have con-
tended Mr. viz: tina, Gen. Scott, and not the Sec
relary of War, is the author OF the discharge Of
the volunteers, and that all The consequences,
whatever they may really be, of that movement,
are 10 be laid the feet Of Gen. Scott, and not OF
the Administration. We have not censured tina.
measure, nor have we formed and expressed an
opinion about i,-because we had moi all the facts
before ne necrssary In lead In correct indictment