Wheeling times and advertiser. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1839-1849, 1848-05-02
C0NGRESS.
The Hon. Secretary OF War, Washinsto
d. G.

CONGRESS.
We copy from Potoulac's letters, 10 the Bal
timore Patriot, the following stale OF the de-
senIaIives, upon the printing of the Scott and
Marcy correspondence. Ii shows up oecreta-
ry Marcy pretty thoroughly, as triiling par
tizin more than Secretary al war.
Mr.. C'ingman opened the ball. and handled
the Secretary OF War with great severity for
sarbiing and suppressiag correspondence
which The House hal call ed Tor. He charged
tnat Gov. Marcy had PANIED upon the House
and the countrya deliberate talsehoodi He
said there was no mistake abouti;-he would
prove the fact from the correspondence now
furnished to the House. When the Secretary's
reply to the first cali of the House for this
| correspondence was made, be had charged
that some letters had been CARRIED and others
withheld. This was denied, he said, by Mr..
Henley and MIR. McLane, and Gov. Marcy
had furnished MIR. henley with certain letters,
four in all. OF no material consequence, and
mad induced that gentleman to inform the
House tina with the exception oil these four
letters, all the correspondence called for by
the House had been furnished. He did not
blame Mr. Henley in the matter. The Secre-
tary of War had imposed upon that gentle
man as well as upon the House and the coun-
try.
The subsequent call of the House had
brough, forth the correspondence first called
| tor--dnd in it were the very letters. the exis-
ence of which had been so stoutly denied by
Messrs. Henley and McLane!
But more than tbis--it contained long
letter never called for by the House-a letter
framed by the Secretary of War for the occa-
sion four days after the resolution, calling for
the correspondence which had taken place,
was adopted
Messrs. Henley and McLane attempted TO
relieve themselves aud the willy Secretary,
upon the ground, that the resolution, calling
| Tor the correspondence, meant the letters of
General Scott to the War Department and the
replies to the same-no matter when those
replies might be written! But this would not
answer. The War Department in answer to
General SCOTS complaints, asked him to
make his specifications. This he did, in let
ter dated the 9th of February last. Here
was a natural pause ia. if not All end to, the
correspondence which the House called for on
the l7th instant. But Gov. Marcy thought
he would do II little more than was asked of
him by the House. The instructions to Sill
del, called for by the House, had been with
heid--the correspondence OF TYist with our
Government had been kept back from Con-
sress, for fear il would get into Mexico aud do
nishe. although portion OF il had been
secrecy sent to Gen'l. Pillow and by him ex-
posed IN open Court IN the city OF Mexico
aud, therefore. Governor Marcy, no doubt,
thought ne w0uld make up Tor all this remiss-
ness BY sending to The House document
which had not been called Tor. And 50 he
took four days and wrote an epstie oi As pa
yes, Us Il smart reJOnd 10 General SCOTS
Dill of specifications, which the Department
had solicited him TO furnish ii with.
Messrs. Stephens and billiard handled this
audaclous conduct on the part Of the Secreta-
ry of War. like statesmen and patriots, who
scorn all mean tricks, oil irouds, all dishonor-
able conduct. They were both very aninla-
ted and very eloquent. had never before
seen Mr.. Hilliard so much excited aud SO III
dignant He said he could not and would
not countenance such high handed fraud. as
the Secretary of War had attempted 10 palm
upon the House and the country in this mat
ter. The letter OF the Secretary might go to
the country by itself. 10 this he had no OBJ
lection. Indeed, when General SCOTS reply
10 it should come to hand, he would vote 10
pint $4,000 copies OF both letters, or as many
as gentleman on the other side might propose.
Bat, as for voting 10 print this 'Hode-up letter
OF tn. 2lst instant, as part OF the correspol-
dence called for on the l7th instont, be would
not. He therefore offered AN amendment,
with view TO exclude this letter. His a.
mendment, however, was not agreed to-
many members believing, that. as the letter
complained OF had been prepared and sent 10
the House as II part OF the correspondence cal
lat h, u, a.,
the rest, than 10 exclude it. The people would
understand the whole merits OF the Gaze, aud
render credit where and TO whom it was due.
They would comp re the date of the letter
with the date of the call made by the House,
aud draw the proper conclusions thereirom!
Mr.. Houston, OF Alabama, attempted lit
tie bit o! special pleading on the occasion, by
lntimatlng that d part oil Gov. Marcy's letter
was written before the House made the call
tor the cores pondence, and he asked, with
deal oil mock gravity, ii gentlemen would not
allow the Secretlry OF War 10 complete the
answer which ha had commenced to General
SCOTS letter when the call was made Tor the
correspondents by the House. Bat Mr. Hill
lizard instantly set this sophistry ailying into
thin air, by saying that hen a man commenc-
ed writing letter, with the date at the top
OF 1t, The date was the first part OF the docu-
nent penned. This letter was dated four
days after the House had called Tor the corres-
pondence! He presumed there could be 10
motive for qfter-dating ii!
Mr. Stephens, in the course of his wither-
ing renarks, rang out the changes upon the
Insult paid by Mr. Polk, in refusing cores
pondence To The peoples representatives. who
had called for it, because they could not be
trusted with it, and sending it to his friend
General Pillow, in Mexico, who could of
course, be trusted with il, and who had ex-
posed there III open court, and he asked how
II happened that the nomination OF this Pill
low, as Major General, made near year ago
by Mr Polk, had not yet been sent to the Sea-
ate? Why WAS this nomination withheld
from that bojy! He asked any defender OF
the Administration to answer, if he coald.-
No one did answer-no, not even Mr. Me
Lane, although he Was up, by way of expla-
nation, very often during he debate!
The committees resolution Tor printing
10000 copies was finally amended. on Mr.
Stephens motion, 50 as to include all the cor
res pondence between the Government and
the Generals, in relation 10 the war VITA Mex
leo, aud then passed. After which the House
adjourned.
ANTICIPATING THlNGS-The Boston