The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1848-07-20

v,
brought to a conclusion; and seems not TO be improper
now TO allude to the subject with view to correct an
impression which the friends of General Scott
have indusnousy abored to create that he has not been
fairly treated IN this matter by the government
The sole purpose OF remarks will be to point
Out the entire groundlessness of such an imputahon
and to show that the government have only done. in re-
gard to these investigations. what duty required and
have done that, with the most exact mpartaly towards
all parties.
II will be recoected that after the glorious achieve
ments OF our army had carried them to the city OF
Mexico, and when there was no longer an enemy in
the field to contend with, "A feud broke out among
some OF It's principal officers. The unpleasant news
reached that General Scott had put arrest and con-
fined to limits, Generals Worth and Pillow and Colonel
Duncan-the two former next in rank to HIMSELF and the
third equal in public estimation to officer of the high
est rank, account of most gallant services
General Scott sent charges TO the government against
each of these officers and asked for Court Martial TO
try them. AT the same time, complaint was received
by the government, from General Worth in the nature of
charge against General Scott.
The government preferred-for reasons stated in the
public documents already published, and which must by
all farmnded readers, be deemed saiisactory,o refer
all these matters of reciprocal complaint and accusation
TO Court OF Inquiry. which accordingly organ
lied and sent to Mexico for that purpose As Gen
eral SCOTS charge against General Worth was based
on General Worth's charge against him, il was de
cided to be proper TO investigate that charge before
investigating General SCOTS charges and complaints
against General Worth, founded upon it, This order OF
proceeding first complained of as unfair towards
General Scott; but after the publication of the letter Of
the Secretary of War of the 18th OF January. showing
the for the adopted. no, aware that
the complaint has been reiterated Sure that in
fairness il could not be
When the parties appeared in court in Mexico General
Scott, in open court, expressed wish TO withdraw his
charges against Col Duncan; and General Worth ex-
pressed like wish in regard to his charges against Gen
Scott The court suspended all proceedings in these
two until they could receive the direction OF the
government
AS the government had had no agency whatever in
having any of the charges brought forward and as did
believe that the matters involved in them contained
anything affecting the public interest as to demand
an investigation in opposition the wishes of those by
whom they preferred it refused to direct further
proceedings and sanctioned the withdrawal The charges
preferred against Gen. Pillow then the only matter
before the court There long and scrutinizng in
vestgaton by the into these charges, commenced
in Mexico adjourned to the United States and terminated
at Frederick
On this investigation Gen. Pillow was the accused,
and Gen Scott the accuser the prosecutor, and
himself examined as one of the Witnesses and yet,
strange to say, the impression artfuly made many
honest minds that all this time Gen Scott was on trial by
the orders of ungrateu and prosecuting government
After Gen. Worth had Withdrawn his charges against
Gen Scott, the objection to proceeding against Gen
Worth removed and soon as that fact was brought
to the knowledge of the government, General SCOTS
charges against him sent to the for in
vestgaton, and charges which General Pillow had in
the time filed against General Scott were also sent
to the same tribunal The orders of the government in
these latter not received by the until
it had reached the United States.
The investigation OF General SCOTS charges against
General Pillow having Gas he conceived brought up for
investigation most of the matters embraced in his charges
against General Scott he Gen P) communicated to the
government his determination not to prosecute these
charges, considering that he had, in the evidence and
documents produced in the investigation of Gen. Scotts
charges against him. INDICATED his character the
points in which it was assaled and aspersed by General
Scott and other accusers.
General Pillow having thus, in effect withdrawn his
charges in the manner General Scott had with
drawn those he had preferred against Col Duncan the
government felt bound pursue the course in the
latter case that did in the former and discharged the
court from the consideration of these charges against
General Scott
The only remaining cause now before the court is
General SCOTS charges against General Worth, and is
believed the same will be taken in that case as In
the case of.Col Duncan and the others.
Such, we believe, from the best information which we
can obtain the subject, correct history OF the pro-
ceedings of the court Of inquiry, and such the only
agency and participation the has had IN these
matters Ii seems that has felt to be its duty, where
officers of hghthe highestrank have made charges, to
afford the means OF having them fairly investigated
but when fair opportunity has been presented OF putting
an end to the investigations with the consent OF the ac
cusing party it has done 1t does appear to us
thai il evnces strange perverson of mind to see in any
of the acts of the in all these matters any
the slghtestfoundation for accusation OF unrlend
illness or unfairness towards Gen. Scott
In the only case that has been tried and brought to
conclusion he was the accuser and the prosecutor in per-
son he had all the incidental advantages derived from his
hip station and influence in the army-from his talents
and experimentation the extraordinary privilege OF con-
Quoting the investigation in person, and OF summing u
the testimony this latter being privilege very rarely
granted With all these advantages, II ne has faileo