The daily national Whig. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1847-1849, 1848-01-04
DAILY NATIONAL WING.
WASHINGTON CITY.
TUESDAY ArTERNooN, JANUARY 4, isls.


Quitman and Shields, it struck us as singular
that the name of General Taylor should
have been merely incidentally introduced,
and almost at the flag end of the feast. Some
guest, whose very name is omitted, had the
boldness and good taste to suggest the pane
of the hero Of Monterey, Buena Vista, and
many hard-fought and bloody fields, as wor-
thy Of the notice Of the company; but no
speech followed, and though received with
cheers, no other honor was bestowed upon
him, 1t is perhaps still more singular that
Gen. Winfield Scott was not toasted at all,
ina regular way. 1t is due to the gallant
Shields, however, to say that he did honor
to himself in doing justice to his superior Of
icer, whose health he gave under another
sentiment. 1t no doubt struck the noble
hearted soldier as extraordinary, if not rep
rehensible, to be thus honoring the inferior,
though gallant officers of the army, while
they passed over the great deeds of Scott in
silence. OF him, we are happy to see, he
spoke in terms of just and spirited praise
He said what must be admitted as truth
i by all, " that in the history Of the world
in the annals OF all military affairs and en-
terprises that have ever read, | find no en-
terprise comparable with the capture Of Vera
Cruz, and the same skill which enabled him
to accomplish that undertaking marked every
movement Of his progress until he entered
the gates of Mexico.n But this is not all
the generous-hearted Shields has said in
praise Of General Scott. He states that he
had gone to Mexico with strong prejudices
against him--which he had imprndently i'm
bibed; but of which he could not rid him
self till he had an opportunity Of witnessing
his superior skill and mastery strategy as
commanding officer, These filled him with
admiration but it was his kindness and hui
mainly that won his heart, While lying
wounded and agonised, and expecting, and
even wishing to be relieved by death, from
his suferings, Gen Scott stood daily by his
bedside, administering comfort and asss-
lance, and even shedding tears over him as
a brother. This shows the true character
Of the man whom the Administration papers
endeavored to render ridiculous, and the Pre-
sident to supersede, by attempting to place
another over him in command What has
been the treatment Gen. Scott has received
from the party, to whose war he has given,
by his matchless conduct as General, such
brilliancy He feels it his duty to assume
the command Of the army in Mexico, has
tens to New Orleans en- route for Vera
Cruz. While in that city, he is charged
with employing Mexican spy as his private
secretary and Interpreter, which turns out to
be talse--arrives near Vera Cruz and lands
his little force in the most mastery style, i'm
nediately bombards and captures that city
and the almost impregnable castle which
protects it, and prepares to advance into the
, heart Of the enemy's country with the hand
iul of men under his command He writes
in vain to the Government for additional
4 force, points out its necessity to secure the
, possession Of Mexico. Unwilling to remain
idle, and seeing no prospect OF speedy in
crease of his army, continues to advance and
TO win victory after victory, till he enters the
capital and revels in the "Halls of the Mon
tezumas." All this was accomplished by his
own superior skill and the gallantry Of his
J officers and indomitable courage Of his men
IA mere handful in comparison with the
force of the enemy. Notwithstanding all
this evidence Of skill and judgment on the
part Of General Scott, the Administration
desires to mortify him, and to deprive him Of
any additional laurels he might acquire by
concluding, as well as conquering peace,
sent out clerk in the Office of the Secreta-
ry OF State, whose conduct as American con-
sui in the Havana should have excluded him
from all public employment, to propose terms
and conclude peace with the Mexican Go
vernment This was not only unusual, but
insulting to the General, who had so signal
> ly distinguished himself during this glorious
campaign, In Europe, it is usual to give to
the commander Of the army the power to
: propose such terms to the enemy as he may
think advantageous and expedent. No UNI
, derstrapper is permitted to interfere, and the
General who conquers, has the right to ne
+ gotiate We are not sure that Gen. Scott
would have acted incorrectly, if he had
swung up this creature of the President, or
placed him under guard, and undertaken to
negotiate the terms Of peace himself. 1t was
certainly insulting to the hero Of SO many
battles to be superseded by mere under
ling Of the State Department; but his pa
triotism led him to pass this new insult over,
and his Excellency Timothy 1'rist has proved
himself a mere cypher, and, as his name
would indicate, sad negotiator.
Fussy.-We are aware that the Wing party has
frequently endeavored to fix upon Mr. Buchanan the
charge Of being at portion Of his life Federal
1st but we are also aware that they have arays sig
naHy ailed.-Wilmngton Journal
Is this ignorance, bliss' We have al
ways supposed the Federalism Of Mr.. B. to
be conceded point, fixed fact, and that
no man was SO utterly ignorant Of Mr.. B. 3
past life as not to know that he was one Of the
uiltras of that party. We presume that he
does not conceive it to be any disadvantage
to him to be called an old Federalist, though
there is certainly an immense difference be-
tween Federalism as it existed and Loco
tocoism as it now exists The former,
however, is no longer in being J. it has pass
ed away with all its virtues and failings,