The voice of freedom. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1839-1848, 1848-01-13

Second. A brief statement by Brevet MAJ
Gen. Worth, of the matter in which he con
ceived himself wronged by the General-ln-
Chief, and to which the investigation eAteho-
ed under the order institutng the Court III
the following terms, viz: ,ln,ou
|. In the matter of an interview hau May
is, at Chichapa, Mexico, between cio.eO
Mai. Gen. Worth, commanding lst DIVISION
of the army. and the civil authorities OF Tue
hla at the instance of said Brevet Ma. Cen
the General-in- Chief (verbaly and in wnuhg)
has improperly, in manner and IN mat'er'
characterized the proceedings at said inIer-
view, to the prejudice and wrong OF SAID bre-
vet Major General 49,.
Q. In the matter of a circular, which was
addressed by Brevet Major-Gcneral worth
to the 1st Division, on or about June 1oth'
1s47-the General-in- Chief, verbally and ia
writing, has harshly and injurously charac-
terized said circular, and in a manner uncall-
cd for, and to the undeserved reproach OF SAID
inferior officer.
After an investigation of the above matters,
the Court made the following decision IN the
case:
OPINION.
That, regarding the remarks OF the Gene
ral-in- Chief, dated June, 18th instant, en-
dorsed upon the translated copy OF letter
from the Mexican Judge Duran, to MAJ Oeh'
Scott, dated the 18th of June, instant, as
hypothetical and applicable only to CLAIMS
urged by the Mexican authorities when the
General-in-chief, at the time OF his remarks;
supposed to be "without authority. anu
which Brevet Major-General Worth insists
were not conceded by any Of his official acte
the court can perceive nothing in the re-
II Cbiof to UhIph Rrn-
vet Major General Worth could properly
take exception.
The Court is farther of opinion, that the
terms or stipulations granted by Brevet Maj
Gen. Worth to the functionaries of the city o
Puebla upon his entrance with the advanced
corps of the army into that city on the l5tl
of MAY last. were unneccssdrily yielded, am
provident, and in effect, detrimental to thu
public service. And that the grant of theS
privileges was in contravention Of the mint
and tenth paragraphs Of General Orders NC
20, published at Tampico on the Il 9th day @
February last, and was not ~arrdnted by tn
letter of instructions Of the General-in-Chle
to Gen. Worth.
The Court, as required, declares its oplr
ion that the " circular" published by Breye
Mai Gen. Worth to his Division, dated Pr
ehla. June 16, lS47, was highly improper an
extremely Objectionable in many respects, e.
peciallv, as it might tend by exasPeratlng tn
whole Mexican nation, to thwart the we
known pacific policy of the United State
and in view of the high source from which
emanated, to disturb the friendly relations
our Government with Spain, or, at least, glN
occasion to that power to call for explain
tons or apologies.
The barbarous offence, against which II
circular warned the soldiers of the first dlvl
ion if it existed at all, equally affected t!
whole army. The information obtained
Gen. Worth, if worthy Of notice, should theI
fore have been communicated to the Gener
in-Chief that he might have exercised
discretion ca the means to be adopted
correcting the evil.
With these views of the circular alluded
the Court is of opinion that it called for
en1phatic ddmOnui0n and Tebafe OF the Gef
ral-in-Chief.
Tn conclusion, this Court deems it mater
to the case, to express the opinion that II
the right and the duty of the General-in-Ch
and indispensable TO the preservation OF pro
er discipline in the army, that he should
nil times possess the privilege Of freely co
menting upon, disappearing, or censuring
official acts of his subordinate officers"
II. The General-in- Chief approves
proceedings and opinions in the foregoi
case.
i'll This order will not be extended
vond the commanders of divisions aud bl
AIDES, and the Chiefs of the General Staff.
". The Court of Inquiry, of which Ma
General Ouitman is President, is dissolved
By command of Maj. Gen Scott, .
(SiQned II. L. SCOTT, A. a. A. G