The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1848-07-26

eh' uie discharge OF his dulles as commissioned, as
wen as his private correspondence with Senator Dix in
wSh he anlests the greatest possible socItude that
he senate snail not plunge themselves and the country
ueep, danning, inefabe disgrace. by hastily con
before tins court
HIS testimony having been utterly demolished and
hroWh on the only three important points which he
had previously spoken, he calls into play that abiitY
Gen. Scott SO justly commends and ngenousy laws the
scene IN private so that there possibility OF dsprov
ing his statement The substance and spirit of his test-
mony as follow:
After everybody had left Gen SCOTS quarters, except
Inst and myself he (Trsp went to bed; after he had
retired, cautiously entered his sleeping Chamber shut
the door after and locked it then, after looking un
der the bed into the closets, behind the trunks-and no
to R that h b be had
houses have chimneys-atter taking all these precau
tons TO myself that nobody could possibly hear
.strct Confidence" said to him: "Ths is going to be
failure, and knowing you to be discreet man, and OF
strong memory, call on you to bear witness in future
that wash my hands of it,"
The ex-commssioner understood this TO be the dung
speech and confession of man who expected to be shot
by the Mexcans next day. though he was not going into
battle
1t is very remarkable that of so much liability
OF certain kind should be deficient in sagacy
TO have discovered that | not responsible for The
particular operations determined upon for the following
morning. for, according to Trists own account Genera
Scott had in the presence of many officers, just approves
and ordered them. In Of failure, had only to
swer, Thou canst not say did it," Then why this
desire to hedge, which Trst puts prominently forth
That had the responsibility resting my shoulders
of having given the orders for similar movement the
day before, is fact easily proven as that Gen Scott
was responsible for this.
From the very nature Of the case, Trsts testimony
cannot be positively disproved this, it has been
the only other three points of Importance, which he
has sworn; but even supposng it to be true which is
next to impossible, does not in any way touch the is
sue even if it did, let it be borne in mind that
from who, the record of the court shows, has
determined to devote the wit of his head and the malice
OF his heart to my destruction; and the prosecutor is
welcome TO the full benefit of his testimony.
In connexion with this view of the case, is proper
that should notice the statement in this specification,
that sought by the letter dated Sd October to General
Scott, "from motives purely selfish and dishonest" to
get his sanction to my unjust preensions in regard to the
battle of Conireras.
To vindcate my honor against this beraI and unjust
imputaton, might content myself by simple reference
10 Gen SCOTS written official reports to the government
and TO the conclusion of this very correspondence to
which he takes eXceptOn,-in which he says: :" In
haste, permit to repeat once more that have, from
my first meeting with you, been anxious, from high
opinion of your intelligence, honor, zeal, and uaior, TO
win your and confidence any terms consistent
with justice and honor IN which sentiments reman,
sc.
1t should be borne in mind that this full and ample
testimony to my intelligence" honor" "zeal,' and
" valor and OF his anxiety to win my esteem and con-
dence upon any terms consistent with justice and bQnr
Or, was borne thirty days after my official report
filed in his Office; eighteen days after the army had
entered the city, and long after he had all the
reports of subordinate commanders, and hal actually
made out and forwarded to the government his, own
ohcal report OF the first series OF operations IN the valley
OF Mexico. ~
That ii may not, however, be thought that seek to
shelter myself from the assaults of the prosecutor under
his own former opinions and testimony, will briefly, by
way of explanation touch the correspondence itself, and
show that the construction placed upon is as tortured
as the iHlputaton upon me is unjust and W,berdl.
In his letter of the Sd October speaking OF that part of
my report of the 9th August relating to the movement
against the of the works at San Antonio he says
that ''report in that particular unjust to him. and
that seem to control the whole operations of the army
Again speaking of my report Of the sh September
Pillows report seeming eor-no doubt unintentional-
to leave General Scott entirely out of the operations of
the 18th September" II will thus be seen that both
he
ing OF injustice to himself he was the party who thought
himself dggriered
" unjust 10 himself" said in my letter accompanying
the report Difference to his WShes and past Kindness
to me- and contrary to my conviction of the facts" m
In this part of his letter. calling my attention to the
ders of battle claimed TO have been given in my report
he says 81 think you also in error in stating that the
troops at Contreras on the morning OF the 2oh executed
the precise plans and views laid down by you for their
government the evening before"
In my report had not said that the troops the goth
August did execute the "precise plans and pie,c laid
down by me for their governments nor had said any
Thing equivalent TO it. In that report after recitng the
general orders for the battle on the 10th, | remark:
" During the night Brig Gen Smith disposed the forces
present to renew the action at daylight and complete the
# will thus appear that Gen. Scott Inexperienced
what was in my report upon this subject
Hence, reply to those letters complaining OF injustice
to hmself) say to him: 81 have not changed my report
the last particular indicated in your second note as
do not that that statement in my report can in any
possible degree affect you and knOing that the oUe
ment of the next morning did carry out my original or
ders to Gen. Twiggs and it would place me IN the
awkward position of having gone into battle ithoM any
order Of battle, the forces position of having dise
garded my orders, ask your indulgence IN permitting
my report to stand unaltered as to that statement
will be perceived in this extract (Which Is clear and
unequivoca its meaning) that place my refusal to
alter my report upon two grounds, viz: First that the
point to which he called my attention did not las did the
movement the next morning did carry out my Original
ordersin other words, that | knew my report IN this
particular ,rue and therefore would not alter it.
Notwithstanding however, he expressed his regret that
had made any alterations in my report he nevertheless
sezes the concessions, engras them into his own re-
world his and then turns round and charges me
with attempting to corrupt him. because refused 10 amer
my report in matter which knetc to be true.
This charge thus ''ln his reply the said Plllow'
whilst reiteaiing the said false claim, plainly endeavoS
to induce the said Scott to allow TO stand, uncorectei
through considerations purely selfish ana alshones'' ana
personal to the said Pillow and 10 the said ocou'
Here it is stated that through considerations purely seq
ISL dishonest and personal to the SAID Scott endeavor
to get him to endorse my false claims, &c II under
stand the meaning of this language, IT substantially
CHARGES an effort on my part to corrupt him-to 6rmls
rive his sanction false statement in my official
report.
mont in nv letter, that 81 kne,o the of the
next morning did carry out my ORDERS, &C.. as SAID.
| would not willingly suspect the prosecutor himself OF
"sefStnesS and dishonesty of purpose in this
pondence He first says thai ''had full and most DIS
itngshed participation in all the operations of the army