The northern tribune. [volume] (Bath, Me.) 1847-1855, 1848-04-21
From the New Orleans Picayune of April 9.
The Court of Inquiry.
MEXIco. March %

|
questions, Gen. Scott came to the subject under
debate, as follows
| Q-Nhat knowledge has the witness, if any, d-
rect or crcumst antia. respecting the time, the
manner, and the channel in which the letter in
question: the Leondas letter. was transmitted to
the United States, and by whom
A-Fhe knowledge was purely circumstantial.
viii state the facts b the President Of the
United States, or by the person occupying that post
for it was not in his official capacity-I waa
placed upon very intimate personal relations with
Gen. Pillow, and formed very favorable opinion OF
him-had great confidence in him-from that cause
did not hesitate to comply with his request to
transmit letters for him BY the channel through
| which transmitted my dispatches. That channel
was chiefly James l.. Freaner, correspondent Of the
n. o. Delta having good reason 70 believe it was
the safest could possibly command. The mode
used by me in transmitting letters by him will de-
scribe it is fact which connects itself with 9TH
ers Knowing that parcel directed to the editors
of the Delta would pass through Mexican hands,
where anything else would have been opened, that
fell into the same hands, got Mr. f-eaner to call
on me always during the last moments previous to
the departure Of his courier and then everything
had to send by him was put up within his own
packase-in his own rough printers way. In that
way chiefly, did send whatever letters have sent
the United States, and every letter ever put into
my hands by Gen. Pillow, either by his own hands
or by messenger, was forwarded BIZ me on the first
opportunity, except III one single instance, which
happened at Tacubaya On that occasion l re-
ceiyed from Gen. Pillow several letters, which
were returned to him in consequence of my notbe.
ing able to send them by the means he wished them
to go among the letters received By me from Gen.
Pillow recollect distinctly one or more letters ad-
dressed to the editors Of the Delta one more 10
the editors of the Union, Washington; and one or
more addressed to two other newspapers in tie
United States one think was in Tennessee, and
| the other in Alabama
Gen. Pillow here raised point of order.
The Court directed the witness to confne his
answer strictly to the question propounded.
Answer continued-lt the 3lst of August,
lG47, that received from Gen. Pillow the note re-
ferred to in my reply to the first question. which
note will read. The note is marked on the back
"Private,' with hand pointing to that word and
reads follows:
Endorsed on outside--"Priyat8. Mr. Trist Ia
cobaya."
On the nside-@Miscoac, August 81, 1871"
Private-Will Mr. Trist do me the favor OF
having the enclosed letters 70 by the morows cou-
rier. have a direct interest in their going, If
they cannot go return them to me.
GID. J. PILLOW
:" But do send them L possible. They are all for
my benefit. g. J. p
10 the best Of my recollection the package re-
fered to in that notice contained addressed to
the editors Of tae Delta, and addressed to the
Union and those letters, so far as recollect and
believe, were forwarded in thc manner above men,
tIoned-through Mir. Freaner. Sometime after the
appearance of.Leondas, read letter addressed
to Mr.. Freaner, from the principal editor of the
Delta.
After some farther examination lay the prosecu-
ton, 4 number of questions asked ny the de-
fence, which elected the following interesting dis
closures:
Q-Do you entertain feelings Of hostility and
prejudice against Gen. Pillow
The witness inquired if the Court wished that
question answered. The Court replied in the at-
frmatiye.
A-With regard to prejudice, the only prejudice
that existed in my mind with regard to the per-
son who puts the question: was prejudice in his IA
vor The only feelings of hostility which | enter
tain, are those arising from studied attempt on his
part to avail himself of the position in which had
been placed toward him by hi. friend, Mr.. Polk, to
make me the accomplish and tool in scheme Of
vlany and imposture-of imposture towards our
whole country, and yillany towards individual Off
GERS of this army, the most audacious, by far, that
l have any knowledge Of
Gen. Pillow desired his question answered; the