Iowa capitol reporter. [volume] (Iowa City, Iowa) 1841-1855, 1848-04-26

EXTRAORDINARY SCENES IN MEXICO

New Orleans papers up to the 3lst ul1
The steamer New Orleans had arrive
. from Vera Cruz, bringing, among othe
news, several days report Of the Coul
Of Inquiry, which commenced its session
at the National Palace, on the 18th ul1
BY reason Of the great length Of the pro
ceedings, we are compelled to restric
ourselves to the bare publication of
synopsis of the opening proceedings only
The members of the court were, Brig
Gen. Nathan Townson, President; Brig
Gen. Caleb Gushing, Col. w. G.. Belknap
and Capt. j. o. Ridgely, Judge Advocate
! With regard to inquiries made by Gen
Scott on the opening Of the court, thu
court decided that Gen. SCOTS charge
against Gen. Worth were not to be bro
up; that no other charges than thos'
preferred by Gen. Scott against Gen. Pill
low and Col. Duncan, and the charges
against Gen. Scott, preferred by Gen
Worth, would be entertained or made thu
subject Of inquiry.
| Gen. Scott arose and addressed thu
court to the following effect:
The court could scarcely conceive how
deeply he had been wounded regarding
the meter now before it. He felt mos
anxious to reply promptly to the charges
now under investigation. Any delay il
this matter, he regarded as injurious in the
extreme, as he considered himself, pend
ing the investigation, but a prisoner al
large, prisoner and an accused individ-
ual in the Capital of Mexico. Stricken
down from high communication high
military position---the highest, perhaps.
ever occupied BY any citizen since the
days of the "Father Of his Country" the
immortal Washington. Deeply, there
fore, did he feel all this, and much more
so if any cause of delay should arise in
this inquiry.
Nor is this all, Mr.. President l find
myself placed as the chief criminal, and
am now informed that one Of the parties,
against whom specific charge has been
made by me, is acquitted, before trial, by
the highest constituted authority of our
country. The accuser in this case has
now become the accused-the judge the
criminal. pause, not for want of words.
Mr.. President, nor for the lack of ideas:
they crowd upon me too fast; neither for
the want Of feeling; my feelings are toe
deep for utterance. II these remarks are
not in order, Mr.. President, bow in ODE
dience to the court.
On the second day the case OF Col. Dun
can was called up, and after considerable
debate, with regard to that officers I'M
Outstanding Of facts when he wrote the
"Tampico Letter. and some technical
placings of the matter, Gen. Scott with
drew his charge, and the case was sc,
aside for the present.
CASE OF MAI. GEN. PILLOW.
After the members had been qualified
in this case, Gen. Scott rose and read a
paper, setting forth at length the nature
OF the charges brought against Gen. Pill
low, complaining of the "reease before
trial. of an officer arrested by him, and
finally giving his reasons for Withdrawing,
as he therein did, his charges against Gen
Pillow.
Gen. Pillow took exceptions to the spir.
it of the paper, protested against the with
drawal Of the charges, and signifed his
intention to reply to the paper submitted
by Gen. Scott on tomorrow, to which the
court assented.
Gen. Worth then rose and informed the
court that he should ask to place upon the
record paper relative to the one JUS
read. He could prepare it in an hour, OF
by tomorrow morning.
Gen. Scott here raised a question O
order, as to the right of Gen. Worth t.
address the court. The question became
the subject Of some exciting conversation
between the President Of the court anc
Gen. Worth, and Was not disposed of.
Gen. Scott called for the reading of two
letters, acc mpanying his paper, regarding
Gen. Pillow. After some conversation
the letters were read and the court adj
journcd.
On the doors being again opened, Gen
scott submitted to the court the following
document:
Gin reference to the construction pu
by the court upon the orders of the Pres
i;ident Of the United states, under which i
is assembled only the conduct o
Maj. Gen. Scott, Maj. Gen Pillow, an,
Brevet 1t. Col. Duncan, as set forth il
the written accusations against them, res
pectively, is to be inquired into, and no
that of Brevet Maj. Gen. Worth, agains
whom there was also written charg
laid before the President Of the Unite,
States. And in reference, also, to the let
ter of Brevet Maj. Gen. Worth to tn
court, Withdrawing his appeal or accuse
ton against the said Scott, but leaving it
venom, mainly onthe ground that the Pres
ident' did him, the said Worth, ''full an,
ample justice"
I The said Scott several times essaye,
to address the court, but was as Otter
stopped and requested to reduce his re
. marks to writing; with that decision O
request of the court, he now succiently
complies, as follows:
".M. President and Gentlemen of til
Couri:---Here, in the Capital of Mexico
conquered by the American troops unde
my command, I find myself but a pris
oner at large, a chief criminal before thi
court. Deeply wounded, my military prid,