The Mississippi Creole. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1841-1851, 1847-07-31
cen. scott and M. rrist.


The following extract from an article in the
Courier and Enquirer, states so definitely the
grounds of difference between Mr. Trist and
Gen. Scott, that we cannot but suppose that it
is nearly accurate in its details, Without
founding any complaints against any person
upon charges stated in this manner, we lay the
allegations before our readers as entitled to
that credit which their form and particularly
give to them.-Nat. Int.
? sunless WI have been entirely misled by our
Southern correspondents, Mr.. Trist's first step
on his arrival at Jalapa, was to request Gen.
Scott to transmit to its destination a sealed
packet, addressed to the Mexican Secretary of
State, which he enclosed to the General, and Of
the contents of which hegaye him no account.
Gen. Scott promptly informed him that he de-
clined to do so but that he should retain, the
letter, subject to Mr.. Trist's order. His reply
to Mr.. Trist was of course in writing, and was
so emphatic and explicit as to leave no room
for mIsapprehension. This letter we know, is
now on file in Washington and if the report
that has reached us Of its contents is incorrect,
the Union by procurin a copy of it can set us
right.
Mr.. Trist, or more properly the Executive,
in which in all this he is simply the tool, was
thus bafiied in his first attempt to throw upon
Gen. Scott the responsibility of whatever prop
ositiop to the Mexican Government his scaled
packet contained. He then informedGen. S. he
had come to Mexico with full authority to con-
clude an armistice with the government Of
Mexico to suspend all military operations; and
to make all necessary arrangements prelimina-
ry to the negotiations Of q treaty Of peace,
This fact has already been asserted in letters
from Mexico, published in New Orleans and
elsewhere; and we are assured by private adj
vices that it is strictly true, Mr.. Trist more
over submitted to Gen. Scott a letter from the
Secretary ofState or of War, confirming in eve
ry respectthe Statement he had made, and d.
rected him to recognize, in its fullest extent,
Mr.. Trist's plenary authority.
Gen. Scott thus found himself under the or
ders of the department, virtually though not
formally, deprived of his command, and made
subordinate to a clerk in the State Department
He at once informed Mr.. Trist that he SHOULD
not permit him to interfere with the operations
of the army which was under his command
that under the circumstance IS in which that ar
my was placed, an armistlce was strictly a mat-
ter of military policy and II at he should rocog-
nize no suspension of hostilities to which his
assent, as commander-in-chief of the forces in
the field, should not he previously given. AT
the same time he wrote to the Secretary Of War
repeating his declarations to MI. Trist; and
assuring the Department that he should retain
the actual command of the army until formally
recalled.
"This correspondence is on file at Washing.
ton, and although we do not pretend to give
the language used by either party, we appeal
with confidence to the documents for full con.
frmation of this statement of their purport.
"This is the difference which has been char
acterized by the apologists of the Executive
as simply a disagreement upon a point Of eti-
quette. II involves, as will be seen from this
statement of facts, a direct attempt to degrade
Gen. Scott from his position as commander-in,
Chief to that of subordinate to a clerk in the
State Department, and that too, upon questions
belonging exclusively to the military authori'
Nv,