Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1848-05-12

IS a discrimination with vengeance While
the parties are on trial-if the appealer is to
be tried at all, which seems doubtful-two are
restored to Their corps-one of them with his
breVet rank-and am deprived of nv COM
mand There can be but one step more in
the same direction throw the rules and arti-
cles Of war into the fire, and leave all ranks
in the army free to engage in denunciations
and general scramble for precedence, autho-
rity, and executive favors. The pronuncia-
mento, on the part of my factious Jurors, is
most triumphant
My recali-under the circumstances, a Sc
we're punishment before trial-but TO be follow
ed by trial here, that may run into the au-
tumn-and on matters am but partially per-
mitted TO know by the department and my ac-
cusers-is very ingeniousIy placed on two
grounds: /. My own request, meaning that
of June 4, Quoted above, and there was no
other before the depattment,) which had been
previously July 12) acknowledged and rehu-
kingly declined. 2. The arrest of Brevet Ma
Jor General Worth, for writing TO the depart
ment "under the pretext and form Of an ap-
peal,' an open letter, to be sent through me,
in which | was grossly and falsely accused OF
q" malice and conduct unbecoming an off
Ger and gentleman" in the matter of the gene
eral order No. 349, on the subject of putting
letters for the newspapers al home.
On that second point, the letter from the de-
partment of January g is more than ingeni-
Gus =; it is elaborate, subtle, and profound-a
professional dissertation, which the rare merit
of teaching principles until now wholly un-
known to military codes and treatises, and oil
course 10 I'll mere soldiers, however great theil
experience in the field
have not in this place time 10 DO more thar
hint at the fatal consequences of the move
doctrine in question. According TO the depart
ment, any factous junior may, at his pleasure
in the midst of the enemy-using "the pretex
and form of an appeal - against his comman
der, insult AMI outrage him to the grossest ex
tent-though he be the general-in-chief, anC
charged with the conduct of the most critica
operations; and that commander may not ar
rest the incipient mutneer, until he shall have
first laid down his own authority and submit
ted himself to trial, or wait at least until /;
distant period of leisure for judicial eXami
nation Of the appeal And this is precisely
the case under consideration. The depart
ment, in its eagerness to condemn me, coule
not take time to learn of the experienced, tina
the general in chief who once submits 10 ar
outrage, from junior, must lay his accoun
to suffer the like from all the vicious under
him--at least down to rank that may De sup
posed without influence, in high quarters, be.
yond the army But this would not be the whole
mischief to the public service. Even the grea
mass of the spirited, intelligent, and we'll atfec
ted, among his brothers in arms, would soon
reduce such commander to utter lmbecl!ty, by
holding him in ust scorn and contempt fol-
his recreancy to himself and country. Ano
are discipline and efficiency no uGlue in ht
field?
But it was not my request of June 4, MOI
report No. 80, (of July 25) so largely quoted
from above; nor yet the appeal of one pro
nunciado that has at length brought down up
on me this visitation, SO clearly predicted-
That appeal, no doubt, had its merits con-
siIering it came from an cratic brother-a de-
serter from the other extreme-who having
just made his peace with the true faith, was
bound to signalize apostacy by acceptable de-
nunciations of one for whom, up to Vera
Cruz, he had professed, (and not without
cause,) the highest obligations Qtwas there
he learned from me that | was doomed al
Washington, and straightway the apostate be.
gan TO seek, through quarrel, the means Of
turning that knowledge to his own benefit
No. There was (recently) still another e!e-
ment associated in the work-kept as far as
practicable out of the letter of recail-an infu.
ence proceeding from the other arrested gene
ral-who is quite willing that it should gene
rally be understood (and who shall gansay
his significant acquiescence y that all rewards
and punIshments, in this army, were, from the
first, to follow his recommendations. This
the more powerful of the pronunc1od0S agalns
No. $40, we'll knew, at the time, as | soor
knew, that he was Justly obnoxious, not only
TO the animadversions of that order, but 10 9th
CT censures of yet much graver character.
In respect to this general, the letter of recall
observes, parenthetically, hut with an acumer
worthy of more than 'hasty" notice, tina
some of my specifications of his misconduct
are hardly consistent with "your [myl officia
reports and communications
Seemingly, this is most Just rebuke. But
waiting for the trials, will here briefly state
that, unfortunately, followed that generals
own reports, written and oral that my conf
dence lent him, in advance, had been but very
slightly shaken, as early as the first week ii
October; that up 10 that time, from our en-
trance into this city, had been at the desk
shut out from personal intercourse with my
brother officers. and that it was not till aftel
that confinement, that facts, conduct, and mo
tives began to pour in upon me.
A word as to the 5th article of war. | cal
truly say that, in this and other communica
tons, have not designed the slightest disre
spect to the Communicated OF the army
and navy of the United States. No doubt he
like myself ard all others, may fall into mis-
takes as 10 particular men and cannot, hav'
ing myself been behind the curtain, admit tht
legal fiction that ALL acts of a Secretary arr
the acts Of the President. Yet, in my deten
sive statements, have offered no wanton dis
courtesy to the head of the War Department
although that functionary is not in the emu
meration of the aforementioned article.
Closing my correspondence with the depart
ment, until after the approaching trial,
have the honor to remain, respectfully,
Your most obedient servant,
WINFIELD SCOTT.
The Hon. SECRETARY OF WAR,
Washington, D. c.
Reply Of Mr.. Marcy.
WAR DEPARTMENT,
Washington, April 81, 1913.