Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1848-04-21
Court Of Inauiry.

Pillow and add, if possible, to the contempt and
infamy that already attaches to the latter. Pill
low is evidently the pimp as well as protege of
Polk, and has made it his business to malign the
other officers of the army to the Administration,
as well as to puff himself in the newspapers-
Our readers, will see in the following extract
from the testimony of Don Nicholas Trist, Mr.
Folks confidential Commissioner to negotiate
peace, how he came to be on intimate terms
with Pillow. The President of the United
States establishes an unreserved intimacy be-
tween them and Mr. Trist is Immediately made
the medium through which Pillow furnishes let.
tiers for the newspapers, and for Mr. Polk. The
rascality of Pillow was so great that even Mr.
Trist DESTROYS as he was to please the President,
could not endure him, and he boldly denounces
him.
The Court is investigating the charges against
Pillow, for writing the famous "Leonidas" and
other letters. Mr. Trist has testified that one of
the letters contains interlineatons in the hand
writing of Pillow, and he is asked what he knew
about the time, and channel by which. it was sent
home. lie answers as follows:
Answer. The knowledge was purely crcum-
stantial. | will state the facts By the Presi.
dent of the United States or by the person oc-
cupyng that post-for it was not in his official
capacity was placed upon very intimate per-
sonal relations with Gen. Pillow, and formed n
very favorable opinion of him-had great conf
dence in him--from that cause | did not hesi-
tate to comply with his request to transmit let
tiers for him by the same channel through which
transmitted my dispatches That channel was
chiefly .Iamaa /. Eraannr aarrncpnnInnt Of tho
Ne'c Orleans Della; having good reason to be-
lieve that it was the safest could possibly com
mand. The mode used by me in transmitting
letters by him, will describe it is fact which
connects itself with others. Knowing that par
eel directed to the editors of the Delta would
pass through Mexican hands, where any thing
else would have been opened, that fell into the
same hands, got Mr. Freancr to call on me al
ways during the last moments previous to the
departure of his courier, and then every thing
that had to send by him was put UP within his
own package-in his own rough printers way.
In that way, chiefly, did send whatever letters
i have sent to the United States, and every let
ter ever put into my hands by General Pillow,
either by his own hands or by messenger, was
forwarded by me on the first opportunity, except
in one single instance, which happened at Tao
ubaya. On that occasion / received from Cen
eral Pillow several letters, which we're returned
to him in consequence of my not being able TO
send them by the means he wished them to go /;
among the letters received by me from General
Pillow, recollect distinctly one or more letters
addressed to the editors of the Della one or
more to the editors of the Union Washington ;
and one or more addressed to two other news
papers in the United States, one think, was
in Tennessee, and the other in Alabama.
General Pillow here raised point of order
The Court directed the witness to confne his
answer strictly to the question propounded.
Answer continued.-It was on the 3lst of Au-
gust lS47, that received from General Pillow
the note referred to in my reply to the first
question, which note l will read. The note is
marked on the back Private" with hand
pointing to the word, and reads as follows
Endorsed on outsdc--"Private. Mr. Trist,
Tacubaya"
On the "Miscoac, August 3lst, lS47."
"Private-Will Mr. Trist do me the favor of
having the enclosed letters go by the morrow's
courier? i have direct interest in their going.
If they cannot go, return them to me.
GID j. PILLOW"
'But do send them if possible. They are all
for my benefit G. j. r."
To the best of my recollection, the package
referred to in that note contained one addressed
to the editors of the Delta, aud one addressed to
the Union; and those letters, so far as l recol.
lect and believe, were forwarded in the manner
above indicated-through Mr. Freaner. Some
time after the appearance of the "Leonidas,'
read letter addressed to Mr. Freaner, from the
principal editor of the Delta.
Question-Do you entertain feelings of hos
tility and prejudice against General Pillow?
The witness inquired if the court wished that
question answered. The court replied in the
affirmative.
Answer.-With regard to prejudice, the only
prejudice that ever existed in my mind with re
gard to the person who puts the question, was
prejudice in his favor. The only feelings of hos
tility which entertained, are those arising from
studied attempt on his part to avail himself o.
the position in which had been placed towart
him by his friend, Mr. Polk, to make me the &C
complete and tool in scheme of villainy anC
imposture of imposture towards our who'll
country, and vilainy towards individual officer
of this army, the most audacious, by far, that
have any knowledge Of
General Pillow desired his question answered
the witness was wandering from the point.
Answer-I have no personal hostility or pref
udice against him or any body else-my hostili
ty is against villainy
Quest:on.-Snce about what date has tn
hostility alluded to in the previous testimon
been entertained by you?
Answer.-Since his character has been a
most completely revealed to me. The thing wa
of gradual growth; cannot fix day wi
try and fix period. 1t was at Tacubaya, dun
ing the early part Of our stay there, that be
came aware that he had placed me in the altel
native of being m accomplice and tool in vi
lainy, or exposing him to the country if h
should persist in u statement he had made.
hoped, however, at that time, that this necessit
would be avoided. My mind was then made VI
if the necessity presented itself, to meet it
From that time events occurred, darkening tn
shades of his character, and which increased tn
feeling referred to- 1t has increased to tn
day; it may go on increasing forever-as Ion
as live, although that is scarcely possible.
Question.-Did the viainy Of which 20
speak relate to your views about the armistiC
and the course of events under it, and my oppt
sition thereto-if not, to what scheme of villain
do You allude in your answer to the last que
ton
Answer.--I will now state what mean
the scheme of villainy and imposture TO which
allude--
General Pillow here interrupted the witne.
He desired to know to what he was going to {
lude. This did not appear to be in answer
this uupafinn Witness aqka1 for the reading