Democratic banner., 1848-08-14
GEN. PILLOWS E

vindication Of every charge made against
hin by Gen. Scott. Indeed; It appears 20
us-and it pains us to make such an ~aliusion|
to the character of Gen. Scott-that these
charges were founded in sheer malice and
tftAmstife bAsest noiistss
Gen. Pillow concludes his defence asfoi-
lows.
Having thus INST these charges Of the
prosecutor, and shown myself innocent of
every accusation brought against me, itre-
names FOR me- to take . glance at the con-
duet ami motives Of my accnser.
That Gen. Scott was o kindly dispes-
ed ia his feelings towards me, | sntertain.
no doubt. I believe Possessed his entire
confidence, and certainly did to some ex-
|tent-possibly, too, in 8 greater degreet than
] had q right to expect: but surely net
greater than was warranted by myzeal and
fidelity. 81
He placed the in positions Of great re-
sponsibility, and dsvolved upon me high
and important duties, wlichI spared ND
effort to discharge faithfully /; and fon a
time I e~nioyedsthe psoad satisfac,ion Of bes
lieving I had fai6ilsd every reasonable
expectation. -
For these acts Of kindness, evincing so
much consideration, It was natural and pro
per that I shoulaf feel grateful to General
Scott, and such were sincerely my feelings.
Hence, the great concession | made lin al
|tering my official reports against nay cons
I%siction Of the facts, to igratify and c%oncili-
ate him.
knew that owing to thu high military
reputation and great weight of character
which Gen. Scott enjoyed, any controver-
sy between him and myself must be very
unequal /, that ; however much I mightbe in
.l,e right, / had nothing to gain and every
tl.isg to-iose; hence by anxiety-to void 8
rupture with him, shown In my effort to Sc
cure the ~interposition Of Gen. Quitman, in
whose high sense Of honor and chivalric
bearing l place much confdencd.
At the end Of the correspondence be-
tween Gen. SEQ, and myself, it was mani
fest that his friendly feelings towards me
had undergone a change. Being confined
to my bed BY recent wound, and General
scott having failed to do me the honor 10
call on me as ! requested, ! could not OBJ
tain a personal interview with him, and not
knowing or snspecting che influence which
was at work, ! sent to. Mr.. Trist, Whose
high official position, and as ! then believed,
friendly relations both with Gen. Scott and
myself pointed him out as the most suitable
person to bring about q reconciliation be-
tween us, and desired his mediation. The
result proved that ] was very unfortunate
in tLe selection Of a mediator, for whatever
/" ability" he may have for diplomacy in ma,
tional Affairs, he certainly has shown very
little in social; at least his art is not in
"pouiing oil upon the troubled wsters,'' for
the developments of this investigation have,
according to his own showing, exhibited on
his part a degree Of per6dy, depravity, and
~wickedness, almost without a parallel.
In Justification of these remarks, | need
only refer to the Misrepresentation Of the
object Of that interview-to his agency ia
the use made Of the private note accomps-
nying the package Of letters. in bringing
about this prose ution-!o his agency IN
procuring the Freanier paper and the use
he made Of it, and Of bis plant tool Frea-'
n-r-to his UNANIMOUSLY false and abusive
letter to Secretary Buchanan, to destroy
me with the Government-to Senator Dix,
to defeat as he says, my nomination before,
the senate-and his nnblushing fa~lseho6ds
voluntarily put forth, and disclosing pre-
tended private conversation, which ] have
showa TO be, in point Of fact, pure fabrica|
ltions Of the basest character I: all Of which
are swurn to with degree Of GOODNESS al