The Abbeville banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1847-1869, 1848-02-23
1848.
From the ". O. Picayupc.

The blow has at last been struck. After
long and timid hesitation, the President has
summoned courage for the act, and General
Scott has been suspended in his command
oflhe army in Mexico. Upon referring to
the Scnate's proceedings on Tuesday, the
25th, our readers will see the announcement
made by MIR CasS, in reply to question of
Mr. Crlttcnden. For IL month past the
country has known that the blow was mcdi-
ta!cd; we have had rumors that the thing
was done, but the country would not believe
It, Now that 1t has perpetratcd, we feel
that the people will pronounce it an out
rage.
We have no partialites for Gen Scott, but
it is altcctation to deny that he has proved
himself one oil the great captains OF the age.
From the commencement of his active ope
ratlons in the ield-from the landing ut
Vera Cruz 10 the crowning glorics OF Cha
pultcpec and the gates of Bclcn and San
Cosme, his deeds have stamped him con-
summate General. Hc has led the little
army in which the CO untry glorics, from tri-
umph to triumph lie has surmoun,ed diff
culties OF the most numerous, vcXatiOus and
formidable character, and given 10 his coun-
try the consummalion oftheir boast, to plant
the stars and stri pes on the palace OF the
MonteZumas. The whole world is filed
with the fame Of his late exploits, and every
new arrival from Europe brings us fresh ,rii-
0utes to his great genius for the art of war.
That he should be suspended from his com
tnand at the very moment of the completion
OF his labors, when engaged in organizing
and carrying into effect extensive combina-
| tions TO reduce Mixico to military subicction
and bring her to feel that we have an iron
grasp upon her which she cannot relax and
which will crush unless she yield-,nat at
such moment Gen. Scott should be sus-
pended, we feel to be an outrage. Every
generous heart we think must synpathiZe
with this feeling. We care not what the
military offences which may be charged a.
galnst him, he should not at this moment
have been suspended to wait upon q Court
of Inquiry at Perote. If he be guilty of
gross insubordination anddisobediencct to Or
ders, the President knows it and should re-
call him peremptorily. But to suspend him
on the field of his fame, to order him from
the palace he had won, and from which he
is now debating the commands ofhs coun-
try to Mexico, and drag him TO Perote-an
appropriate locality for such humiliation
into squabbles and jeaIousics among his
subordinate officers-this IS dignity un-
worthy of our Republic. That it will in
]ure Gen. Scott no one supposes-it will
make him thousand friends where he had
ten before; but thus to wound the pride of
veteran, in the very presence of the willy
toes who now tremble at his aspect and his
name, this is an outrage.
Nor as meremeasnre Of policy does IT
appear to us that this proceeding can be de-
Tended. AT the very moments Of putting in
execution a complicated system of military
measures of stringent character, calculat.
ed beyond anything we have yet done to
provoke our enemy and unite every element
resistence-certainy this would not seem
TO be the time for Withdrawing our great
commander. And equally impolitic does
1t appear to US to devolve upon another the
execution Of plans conceived at Washington
In the general outline, but of which all the
thousand details must have been entrusted
to Gen Scott, and upon which his mind
must have been engaged for months. Ut
would seem the dictate of bare prudence to
allow him to superintend the execution Of
his plans. We mean no disrespect to Mai
Gen. Butler, upon whom this important
task will now devolve. Of his coura &c con-
duct and capacity. none think more highly
than we do. But the substitution of any,
even an abler soldier for Cen. Scott at this
moment we should pronounce as rash and
imprudent in the conduct of the war, as it is
hagrantly unjust to Gen Scott personally
The point we would make is, that this ar
rest is in every respect more inopportune..
We have not room to argue the matter, nor
even to insist as we would do upon the hid
,eous moral effect Gen. Scott's suspension
must have upon the discipline ofthe army
and thestone offeeling among its officers; !;
but one word as to the author Of all this mis-.
chief
81. We cannot believe that one of the distin.
gnished Generals placed in arrest by Gen.
Scott and who has now been relieved there's
from, has councelied or remotely favored
the present Investigation Of charges against
his Commander.in-Ch Chief On the contrary
we believe we have good enouofl rfsas.