New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1848-05-26
scott md NnrcN.

a correspondent writes to inquire whether we
did not err IN characterizing Secretary Marcy's
long letter dated 2lst nit TO General scott as
that Of an accomplished blackguard.' His
note Of inquiry discloses the fact that he has
not read tn, document referred TO, Why did he
not seek i out read it, and Judge for himself We
do not use words--especiaily those which may
seem harsh--witllout consideration, and We believe
our language in tins instance was fully justified
We cannot quote all Marcy letter (which covered
20 ioolscap pages IN our own Justification, but the
following passages fairly exemphiy its spirit and
bearing
Il seemed 10 be admitted by you that II direct
ed 70 the gTeeest General Of he recent appointments The
letter would not have been epuOuabe not aware
my duty 10 modify aud graduate my style
gees oh reenness and peness of The Generals 20 nom
directed convey the orders ofe President; and for any
sach defect n my Ohc'a COMMUNICATIONS have no apology
cannot. however. but regard your solicitation
for he support Of discipline % be more Osientaous than
y. You seem 10 have suddenly conceived the
ton Of converting the army Ike COrtez' into soisusian-
ing machine and 10 make the resemblance between your
SET and the Spanish hero complete, you INDUCED
dream Of fancy until you 20 have adopted % a. mat
ter Of belief that yOu were doomed O. Washington ana
you became Ike him. ays afraid that the neal EMP OF
messenger might recall 0r farther cnpp!e you.
Now consider that these taunts are addressed
/ to the man who had just calmly written to the
Secretary the truth. which even a Marcy dare not
deny. that the President AID Secretary had con-
suited him Gen. ScotrI a FREUD aud compatiot
ON the plan Of the coinpaign-had sent HIM down
| to Mexico, with every appearance OF cordiahty
and confidence. to execute that mutually concert
ed plan-had thrown upon him the unpleasant
duty Of taking from Gen. Taylor the flower Of has
admirably disciplined troops to be employed IN
prosecution Of that campaign-and all the time
they had secretly conuived with Col Benton to
make him Lieutenant General over SCOTS head,
and give him Scotts plans TO execute and troops
whercwith 10 execute them, soon rs they could
be fairly ia readiness for decisive operations And
when bafflcd IN this scheme by the frnnsss OF the
Senate they renewed IL m the shape OF n provso
that the President might give the chief command
t. any one Of the new or old Major Generals, re-
CARELESS OF priority OF commission upon the pas
SAGE whereof Benton was 10 be made Major
General and thence sent TO supersede Scott The
whole of the last Session Of Congress was agitated
bv such intrigues as this. Yet Marcy maintains
rigid silence with regard 10 this and other strong
points Of Scoits letter-such as his statement that
he was lett utterly destitute of money during the
crcatcr part OF his advance from Vera Cruz TO
Mexico-tbat his troops suffered aud sckcned for
want Of adequate clothing, Sc. &c.-and IN lieu Of
these We have halt dozen close columns OF such
whatd We call-t as quoted above. Others may
term it what they think proper-we have character
lied it according to cur Judgment Of Its merits
We have not done 50 from partiality 10 Gen
Scott of whom we are by no means an admirer,
but because we deem Msrcy's letter every way
unworthy of the exalted station whence 1t en-
anatcs