Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1848-05-19

mode of proceeding. they were referred TO
court of inquiry. Until you can show that
you enjoy the transcendental privilege to have
your official conduct exempt from all exami-
nation in any form whatever, you have no
cause 10 complain of the course taken IN re-
gard 10 the charges against you.
If your extraordinary prctensions are to de-
rive any support from your distinguished ser
vices in the field, you ought TO be mindful that
the three accused officers put under arrest by
you have like claims for distinguished servi-
ces On the pages of impartial history, their
names and their gallant deeds must appear
with yours; and no monopolizing claims, seek
ing "malIgnani exclusions" at the expense of
the "truth OF history" will be permitted 10
rob them of their fair share of the glory won
by our gallant army while under your COM
nandA
With totr assault Upon the character of
your "erratic BROTHER shall not intermeddle;
but ! must repel your charge that he has been
favored for being political deserter "to the
true .faith"--for signalling his apsstacy by
acceptable denunciations of one ''to whom he
had formerly professed (& not without cause)
the highest obligations. The reasons for not
sending your charges against Brevet Major
forth in my letter of the 18th Of January.
regret that they are so entirely unsatisfactory
to you, but am consoled with the assurance
that they are in other quarters more favorably
received. The errors of your commentary on
my letter have arisen from your misapprehen-
ton Of the text The principle there laid
down is OF vital importance 10 subordinate Of .
fcers, and in no respect impairs the rights or
the authority of those in chief command AS
the principles which you arraign are the cre-
atoms OF your own fancy, and have no coun-
tenance or support from my letter, am in no
way implicated by "the fatal consequences"
you deduce from them. Whether legitimate
or fancful. they do not disturb the positions
laid down in my letter.
cannot, however, but regard your solicit
tude for the support of discipline 10 be more
ostentatious than profound When general
at the head of an army of freemen, who do
not lose their rights as citizens by becoming
soldiers sets up pretenslons to dictatorial pow
| er-when he cOntemns the authority of his
government, and is much more ready to CEN
sure than 10 execute its orders and instructions
when he denounces as an outrage and a
punishment the attempt to submit his acts,
charged 10 be an offence against subordinate
officer, 10 an investigation in the mildest form
| u
his superior, for unfolding the sacred right to
appeal, upon which depend the security and
prote lion of all under his command, such q
general sets an example of insubordinate con-
duct, of wide and whitening influence upon
sound military discipline.
BY extending my comments upon your let
ter, might multiply proofs to show that your
accusations against the head of the War De-
partment are uni ust-that your complaints are
untounded-that the disigns imputed by you
to the government, to embarrass your opera.
tons, impair your righIful authority as COM
mander, and to offer outrage and insult to your
feelings, are all the mere creations of distem-
pered fancy; but to do more than have done,
would, in my judgment, be work of supere-
rogation.
In conclusion, may be permitted to say,
that, as one of the Presidents advisers, had
a full share in the responsibility of the act
which assigned you to the command Of our ar
mics in Mexico. felt interested, even more
than mutually appertained to my official posi-
ton, that success and glory should signalize
your operations. Itewas my duty to bring to
your aid the efficient cooperation of the War
Department. never had feeling that did
not harmonic with the full and fair discharge
of this duty. kno,U 1t has been faithfully
performed. There are some men for whom
enough cannot be done 10 make them CRATE
full, or even just, unless acts of subserviency
and personal devotedness are superadded.-
From you expected bare justice, but have
been disappointed. have found you my ac-
cuser, In my vindication, have endeavored
to maintain defensive line; and if l have
gone beyc2d it at any time,. it has been done
to repel unprovoked aggression. To your
fame have endeavored TO be just | have
been gratfied with the many occasions have
had to bear public testimony to your abilities
and signal services as military commander
in the field. 1t has been, and, under any
change in our personal relations, it will con-
tnue to be, my purpose TO be liberal in my
appreciation of your distinguished military
merits. In respect TO your errors and your
faults, though could not be blind, regret
that you have not permitted me to be silent.
have the honor to be, very respectfully,
your obedient servant,
w. L. MARCY.
Secretary of War.
| Major General WINFIELD SCoTT,