Jeffersonian Republican. [volume] (Stroudsburg, Pa.) 1840-1853, 1848-04-20
GEN. SCOTT ON TRIAL.

/ The Court commenced its session Oh the 10th
of. March, in the Hall of the Montezunas'-th
National Palace--in the City of Mexico. The
! long arm of power at home doubtless thought it
appropriate 10 endeavor to disgrace the glorious
old General who conquered 1t, upon the very scene
OF his victory
/ The first day, the 18th of March, was spent in
organizing the Court and in preliminary matters.
On the second day, the 18th, the Court again
. assembled. In answer to an inquiry from Gen.
Scott, the Court made the following decision:
That the conduct of Major Gen Pillow and
Brevet LIT. Col. Duncan, will under the order be
Investigated, as far as their conduct is involved,
/ in the charges preferred against them nv Major
Gen. Scott; and also the Court will examine into
the merits of the complaint of Brevet Major Gen
Worth against Major Gen Scott and no other
parties are before the Court under any order known
70 the Court" ..
The Court also informed Major Gen. Scott that
all the parties to which the order referred would
be present in Court tomorrow morning ~ the reg
ular hour of Meeting.
When being thus informed that he was before
the Coult, a prisoner for triat
Gen. Scott rose and said: That the Court might
we'll conceive how much, how deeply, he had been
wounded by the information just communicated.
UlSldul lTOUt HIS Country, Ills nome dtO HIS
family, he found himself but prisoner at large in
the capital of the Mexican Republic; struck down
by the supreme military power from a high COM
mand-a command of some considerable eleva-
tion, of some considerable glory-the highest, per-
haps, IN view of the numbers, the valor and Prov
ess OF the army, held by an American soldier since
the days Of Washington. Nor was this ALL He
found himself placed as the chief criminal before
the Court, and was Informed thai one of the par
ties against whom specific charge was preferred
by him has been acquitted and rewarded before
hat by the highest constitutional military author
ity of our country. The accused had now become
the accuser, the Judge the criminal. Deeply
wounded as | am, continued the general pause,
but not for ideas--they crowd upon me; not for
want of feeling-my feelings are too deep for Ut
terance; but | wish, Mr.. President, 10 keep in
der-if these remarks are not bow in Difference
10 the decision of the Court.
The President IN reply stated hat the re-
marks were infringing upon the rules OF order.
and Gen. Scott immediately resumed his seat.
Whereapon the President declared he Court
adjourned until Tomorrow morning
On The morn a, 10 O'Clock, the j 9Th or third
day, the Court again mel, and after the usual
prellmlnarles were gone through Cen ScOtt
again arose and said that he was present for
the purpose Of hearing anything hat could be
said against him, regarding the appeal He
stood there ready 10 meet any accusation. The
Court here inlerposed and read letter from
Gen. WORTH in " hlch the petulent officer in
suinngly wllhdiaws his unfonnded accusations,
alledglng as reason for dong so. that the
President had done HIM Worth fill justice -
and conveying tie inference that he could
therefore well afford, for the sake Of The SER
vice" to spare General Scott
No wonder that under such a fresh insult,
the veteran Generals Indignation boiled over,
and vented itself In the following nervous re-
marks:
8 Mr.. President and Gentlemen ofhe Court
Here in the Capital of Mexico, conquered by
the American arms under my command. / find
myself but prisoner at large-a chief criminal
before this court. Deeply wounded. my mill
laIy pride is cast down Into The du>t-nol by
The public enemy, but by the long arm OF pow
er from home. All that could be done in that
quarter TO snjure, TO degrade and humble me. here
and elsewhere, has been accomplished. But,
sustained by The Almighty arm-leeing myself
strong in conscious TectIude, strong III mind
and body. strong in all The means of self de-
lence-l bid defiance TO my accusers. shall
not plead the letter Withdrawing the appeal
against me in bar Of trial Nay, challenge
the writer of that letter to come forward and do
his worst. But, no doubt. he thinks and with
reason--ha, he has done has worSt. Here, in
view Of The enemy, he caused me TO be struck
down from the high and honorable command of
a most triumphant army. He has caused me.
first 10 be preudged and punished at home, and
then to be brought forward 10 be tried again,
while he my junior has been pre-acquiHed and
rewarded. The President has, we are exull-
ingly told done him full and ample justice"
Yes, sir, IN double measure; Justice 10 his
pride, and justice to his vengeance. Let him,
Mr.. President, 60 forth rejoicing. in the plenl
lude of Executive favor. Without envying him
his honors. shall al the end of this court have
done with him forever. Again Mr.. President,
repeat, my attitude. is that of Defiance"
Rightly aud glorlously answered, gallant old
Chief Bruised in spIrii, bat not crushed, he
Is like a Lion a, bay---as able 10 defend himself
from foes " in the rear" as he has shown him
self. TO conquer those who meet hm face TO
face Ard yet there are ungenerous spirits
who would have him crouch uncompainngly
under the lash and ~ho talk OF his :" arro-
gance" because he will n0r amely suffer The
lnsul;ing " arrogance" of triumphant persecu-
Irr-. without bidding defiance TO their malace.
On The subs >equen day, Gen. Scolt, under an
ord.r nf The cont .uhmlIled The ahovs ramarE KS