Iowa capitol reporter. [volume] (Iowa City, Iowa) 1841-1855, 1848-05-10
The Administration and General
-ttraE{ a@5- Scott.

The Administration and General
i lTaa Scott.
/ We, invite the attention of our readers
Ito the following able and temporarily writ
Item article from the New York Sun. II
threats in Just and discriminating spirit
topics now attracting large share Of the
public. interest. We fully approve its
views Of the cons picuous part borne un-
der the present administration by the en-
Iinent statesman at the War Department.
i To the rare administrative ability, isplay-
ed in the operations Of that department in
a great crisis of our history, the democrat
lie party and policy are in no small mea-
sure indebted for their present pround
and commanding position. We fear that
the facts Of the case abundantly prove that
the distinguished General, late in chief
command in Mexico, has lost no oppor-
tunity to signalize his hostility to the ad-
ministration, by which that high command
was devolved upon him; and it is most
striking testimonial Of the foresight, ener-
gy, and judgment with which the war pol
icy Of the government has been carried
out, that, under circumstances Of such diff
,fculty, the materials of accusation in this
respect against the administration are
found to be SO wholly unsubstantial.--
Washington Union. .... ...... ..
/ THE ScoTT CoRREspoHDENcE.-W
have been examining, with some care, the
yoluminous correspondence of General
,,-.fb M, I Nd
the War Department. 1t is on the part
of the General marked with the hastiness
of which he made confession on a memo
rable occasion, when, anticipating fire in
the rear, he exposed himself to a prandi-
al enemy in front. 1t is indeed pity uiat
so gallant soldier is SO choleric, and that
one whose whole career in the field has
been honorable to his country, should SO
invariably in his official correspondence
draw down SO much animadversion on
himself. -..... .... ...
We regreat, for the honor of the coun-
try and the personal reputation OF Gene
raj Scott, that he has ever put pen to pa
per for any ether purpose than that of
communicating the actual movements of
the corps under his command. His let
tiers to MIR. Trist are written in a most
captious and puerile tone, and in the very
worst taste. II
Mr.. Trist went to HTo--'s'7 f'' g. ~, o'''
onJoo. ~,Iuu the country, as we'll as
the administration, desired to see accom-
plished; and if General Scott had persist
ed in his absurd adherence to technicah-
ties and mere etiquette, peace at this ear
ly day would have been impossible.
In his correspondence with the War
Department, he gives still further evidence
of total want of that respect to his supe-
riors, which he SO vigorously demands
from those who are bound to pay it to him;
and, with childishness and want of Or
binary perception, endeavors to assail the
government, when he should only be
thinking of the enemy. He complains of
the want of clothing for the army, when
it appears most Individually from the Off
cial returns that the supplies at Vera
Cruz were not by any means exhausted,
and when he himself advised the Secreta-
ry of War that no more was required, be-
cause he was getting it made up in the
city Of Mexico! And, above all, he in
sinuates that he is to be torn from his COM
mand out of mere political hatred, when
he himself solicited his recall
No wonder that in the hands of so cool,
rejecting, and able correspondent as the
Secretary of War, Gen. Scott was DOOM
ed to come off with little honor. And
never was correspondence ever conduct
ed with more forbearance than was dis
played in the official replies of the Secre-
tary. Indeed, he seemed throughout to be
actuated by the sincerest desire to dispel
the delusion into which the Gen. had fallen;
and he suffered no opportunity to pass I'M
improved, where he could pay him the
most sincere and cordial wledpments
for his services. What folly General
/ Scott will next commit, no one can pre-
dict. We should not be surprised if he
came out with some inflated assault upon
the whole administration, to be forced up
on the attention of the people, and to Sc
cure their decision, to the effect that the
war in Mexico, the action Of the Presi-
dent, and the conduct of the Secretary of
War, owe their entire origin to the single
object of attacking HMM the rear!
OF the Secretary of War we need say
nothing in praise or vindication. Never
was there such a responsibility thrown
upon his department since we have been
nation as this, which he has so ably met;
and while we know our soldiers are in
vincible, we also know that their oppor-
tunities to cover themselves and their
country with glory were not all of their
own creation. Never before was an A.
merican army SO well supplied, SO well
reinforced, so s'kept in the heart" as this
in Mexico. The action of the department
has been wise, prompt, and decisive. No
material of the camp or the field has been
deficient. The plan of the campaign it.
self was matnred at Washington, and the
main successes obtained of the army have
been obtained in the paths marked out for
1t IN the Department. In the official let
tiers of the Secretary are displayed large
resources of mind, perfect knowledge of
strategy, the greatest familiarity with the
enemys country, the most impertubable