Wisconsin tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1847-1854, 1848-02-18
ARREST AND TRIAL Of GENERAL SCOTT.

HahAo anu ihiAl Uf dEHchhL StUiis
1t is now announced at the seat Of Gov
eminent, as an ascertained fact, that Gen.
Townson is on his way to Mexico, and
that he and General Gushing and General
Butler are TO constitute court of inqui-
~ for the trial of their superior officer,
General Scott, on charges preferred or to
be preferred by the Government Of the u
nited States. We know nothing of Gen.
Townson's politics, but Gushing and But
Ter are Locofocos. Butler Is highly
honorable man, but the selection ofCush-
ing is conclusive evidence that the Ad-
ministration has on hand some dirty work
to be done. He is one of the yilest of all
the tools of power.
tits difficult to conjecture what can be
the motive of the government in this
most extraordinary proceeding. Perhaps
it is TO be found in the fact that Gener-
al Scott is not sufficiently submissive to
the hints and mandates from Washington
city-in the fact that he has refused to
write such letters as the Government wish
es him to write, or that he declines to call
for the carving out Of such measures in
Mexico as the Government expects and
asks him to call form the fact that the
Administration feels the necessity of hav-
ing some one In command of the army
who will be quick to interpret Alright ey-
cry nod from the palace, and TO act in
prompt compliance with the interpreta-
ton in the fact that the Government
functionaries are anxious to have not
mere military but political and partizan
head of the army, one who will take re-
sponsiblity from their shoulders, by ma
king calls and recommendations to order.
The annunciation that the veteran
Scott, after all his brilliant and wonder
full series of victories that seem like mir
acles, after his utter conquest and subju-
CATION of Mexico, is to be arrested and
tried by order of his own government,
tried as criminal by his subordinates in
the heart of the enemy's country, in the
very midst of The people he has conquer
ed, cannot fail to surprise, to startle. to
arouse the whole population of the Uni
ted States. 1t is an outrge, and such an
outrage as has no precedent. no parallel.
In the history of our Republic orof any Of
the monarchIes of the old world. But let
the miscreant-crew at Washington CITY
carry out their malignant and atrocious
designs. Let them, if they choose, strip
the victorious commander-in-chief of his
uniform and carry him in the garb of a
criminal; let them, if such is their will.
load him with chains and letters. let the
clank of his manacles, as he is borne back
from the conquered capital of the enemv's
country to the scene of his rrial, be heard
upon every glorious battle field over which
he won his way to the capital through fire
and blood, let the dismal clank be heard
at Churubusco, at COntreras, at Molno
del Rev, at Cerro Gordo, and wherever
else the thunder of his artillery was heard |
IN his advancing march, and let him, if
such is the official decree, be cashiered. !
and dismissed from the army, bur let the
mvrmidoms at the seat of Government
remember, that, for al this, for all that
they have done. and for alt they may vet
do, they will be held to strict and a ter
rible account. The glory OF Scott. like
the glory of Washington and Jackson
and Taylor, is portion Of the nations
wealth, and the nation will guard and pre-
serve it. Let the Government function
aries be sure that they be thrice armed
in their extraordinary movement against
Scott, let them be sure that they make
out such a case as will Justify IN every
particular the arrest and trial of the com
mander chief, and show that II is a
matter of the most unavoidable necessity,
or else let them prepare themselves 10 en-
coulter such storm of Indignation as
they have never yet heard roring about
their heads.
The conduct Of the Cartha genians 10
ward the great and patriotic leader OF
their armies, the victorious Hannibal and
the conduct Of the Athenians toward The
mistoclcs, has been roprobatcd as thor
oughly unjust and disgracefuI by all the
succeeding generations, giving point to
the old adage, that republics are migrate
full. If Mr.. Polk succeed in gratifying
his political malice future generations wi
mete out 10 our Government as much rep
rotation for such an act as the world has
expressed toward Carthage and Athens
for their ungrateiul policy in sacrificing
those great military chieftains who con-
Quoted their armies 10 victory and world.
wide rcuown.-LOuiSUilc Journal
49,