Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1848-01-07
Mos, harmonious Whigaery!
.scoTT AND HIS GENERALs.n

Until more light is shed upon The suljec', il
woulu he improper TO express any opinion as 10
the merits of The unfortunate discussions between
Gen. Scot, and three Of his highest officers. But,
however great the proyocalion may have been,
nothing can justify the acerbi,y and violent Ian
euase Of his late famous order. The country
will resre, that a gallant officer, whose military
skill and Judgment have placed him on The top
mos, round of fame, should have third time ST.
ven way 10 The ''hasty" impulses Of passion.
Some months since we were informed OF dt-
fculty in May last between Gen. Scott and Gen.
Worth, who, with his advanced division, held &C.
cupa,ion of Puebla. Gen. Scott complained Of
the too favorable terms and conditions OF the ca
piulalion which led 10 said military occupation
Gen. Worth took offence al such en- expression
ofdisapprobation.
Again: Gen. Scott censrred division order
issued by Gen. Worth 10 his division only, cau'
,ioninc The officers and men against an alleged
plot OF the Me1icans al Puebla 10 poison The
wells, and thus destroy The Americans. Again
offended by Gen. SCOTS remarks, 1t appears from
a letter in The 81. Louis Republican that Gen.
Worth demanded a Court Of Inquiry, which was
ordered-being composed Of Generals Quilman,
Twiggs and Smith. The finding of The Court
was as follows:
OPINION.
That, regarding the remarks Of the seneral-in.
chief. dated June l7b, instant, endorsed uron the
translated copy OF letter flom the Mexican judge
Duran 10 Major General Scott, dated the 10Th o.
June. instant as hypothetical and applicable only
10 claims urged by the Mexican authorities which
the general in chief, al the lime Of his remarks
supposed 10 be awilhout authority" aud which
Brevet Major General Worth insists were not
conceded by any of his official acts, The court can
perceive nothing in the remarks of the general il
chief to which Major General Worth could pro-
perly take exception.
The court is farther OF opinion that the terms
OF stipulaiions granted by Brevet Major Genera
Worth, 10 The functionarics OF The city CT Puebla
upon his entrance with the advanced corps OF the
army into that city on the 18th CT May last, were
unnecessarily yicidsd, improu'dent, and in effect
detrimental 10 The public service. And that the
grant OF these privileges was in contravention Of
ninth and tenth paragraphs Of general orders NO
| 90, published al Tampico on the 18th day OF FEB
ruary last, and pas not warranted by the lelie! o.
instructions of the general in chief TO Gen. Worm
The court, as required, farther declares lis Cpl
nion that the Circular" published by Brevet Ma
| jor General Worth 10 his division, dated Pneb'a
June l6 lS47, was highly improper and extreme
y objectionable in many respects, especially as il
might tend, by eyasperalipg the whole Mexican
nation, TO thwart the well known pacific policy
OF the U. States, and in view of the high source
from which it emanaied, 10 disturb The friendly
relations OF our government with SPAIN or Al
least give occasion TO that power 10 call for ex
panaticns or apologies. The barbarous offence
against which the circular warned the soldiers o.
the first division, il il existed at ALL equally affect
ed The whole army. The information obtained
BY Gen. Worth, il worthy Of notice, should there
fore have been communicated to the general in
chief, that he might have exercised his discretion
on the means to be adopted for correcting the evil
With these views OF the circular alluded to, III
court is of opinion that il called for The emphati
adn,o,ition and Yebukc of the general.in.chef.
In conclusion, this court deems il material I
the case to express The opinion that il is the rist
| and The duty OF The generain-chief and iDdi:
pensabe 10 the preservation of proper dsciplin
in the army, that he should at all times posses
the privilege of freely commenting upon, disaT
proving or censuring, The official acts OF his ST
coordinate officers"
4 II. The general.in.chief approves The proceed
ings and opinions 10 the foregoing case.
Ill. This order will no, be extended beyond II
commanders Of divisions and brigades, and Il
! chiefs Of the general slaf. fa