The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1852-09-24
n = MOlR OF
GE N E n AL S G OFT,
Bsssrh COismpsranssas with tho Events.


isasstion, consented to take on himself the submis
ave paSt, and denied his own meaning to atter one
wAsn h meant 70 intimidats,--
t0>>eral Scott 70 the Secretary Of WE.J
HrAp-ouAarEAs OF TN. Aasy
WAsHIvGros, May 70, 1890
- at down 70 take hssty plate soup, demands
prompt reply You have taken four days days TO reflect
to yso g sns sls
a commando q chief Of the army and navy Of the Uni
- ssss lyon have succeeded in impartins that i'm,
ycrr letter written in mis- behalf placed uadsr very
III ohIgssions for his magnanimsy -msy not add,
md before general court martial may then hope that
~ President such intended disrespect and
AVE- and constitution Of my country 60 oer or to design
yndenty 70 Chief Magistrate The strongest pas
sages in my condemned letter are think hypothetical
In il spoke OF "iDpationce,n perhaps in high
saarters,' Of perhaps, utter condemnation in the
quarters alluded to =; Of the infinite Importance OF
securing myself against danger W will or preconiem-
AL positons,' 10 anv commander-"a fire upon [hisl
Yssr nom washington and the fire in.front from the
Nexeans And spoke Of the necessity OF the ac-
Eve candid and steady support Of lsuch commanders
government in the hope OF conciating It, Now, II there
- offence TO the President in these pas agssthe
esDtion OF committing which utterly dsclam-it
- ssndeI Be- found in the meaning OF the high
4uarters and the quarters alluded to- which qualify
III the Others quoted by you will be perceived
spoke Of the highest quarter in the plural high
uarters and tbeg set Of justice less 10 myself
tban the Presdent 10 say meant patience and even
Pre- condemnation your part. snd the known open
aid violent condemnation the 81
HEADING repds and Supposed eonhdents Of the presidea
IN the Houses OF Congress (bgh quarters because
intima,ian--not an order-f did not ny TO the Ri,
GYsnde without waiting for the invading army yet
paifednay abandoning 10 get 20 that river il could
and without the least regard the honorable pride
cisnetsn OF the gallant general already in and
that river who. We know had done we'll doing we'll
and who, was quite and his little army would il
the occasion offered cover them selves with glory NV
1ssction in this respect has been fully aceompl sued
WAethsr il shall be the pleasure of the President to
IN anIa luhfa 1hr
retain here can only say equally ready do my
duty in either position with all my ali my aoli
~. In great haste, have The honor 10 remain &c,
Ecn w L. NANCY, Secretary OF Wac
THE Secretary of War to Gen Scott
WAR DErARTMENT, June 2 1876
su-when received your letter OF the 9th ultimo
d was my intention to answer il length, and to
Dsts the under which you are st Ia
boring: but on account OF INV official enesrements At
fhis particular juncture and not wishing pr0rast
mis- correspondence which can end in practical good
haVs changed purpose preferrng point out those
Dbapprehensions in personal interview, If you should
PIeedenf but have received instructions change
81 modify the directions contained in the closing para
~. your obedient servant. w L. MARCY
Major General w. Scorr.
Scott tells Mr. Marcy that his letter. received just
~ 81 sat down to basty plate of soup, demands
prompt reply" Then he denies altogether Mr..
Aarcys Interpretation Of his letter. and says if the
President entertains IT'D II am placed under very
high obligations to bis magnanimity, may not add
hndness, IN not placing me instantly in arrest, and
before court martial. | may then hope that the
President saw no such intended disrespect, and
can assure you both that feel too great Difference
10 the tuition and laws of the country to offer
Or design an indignity to our Chief Magistrate"
The strongest passages in my condemned letter are
think hypothetical In it spoke of imp silence per-
hsps in high quarers-of perhaps utt.r condemnation
N the Quarters alluded to-of the infinite Importance Of
securing myself against danger Ql will pre- condem-
nation in my rear, and of that most perilous po
sitions to any commander. "a fire In his rear from
Washington, and the fire in trent from the Mexicans
And also spoke of the necessity of the active candid
and steady support Of such commanders government
HE hope OF copciliating itn
After denying that in this he intended any Of
Hence TO the President, he puts in this special plea
to prove it. He says
at will be perceived thst spoke not Of the highest
quarter, but in the plural high quarters and beg
act of justice less TO yef than the Presidep
20 say meant impotence aud pre-. condemnation
your part and the known open and violent deDuncia
tep OF me the part OF several leading friends and sup
posed condaDts OF the President in the Houses of
Congress-(high quarters J because intimation-
not an order-I did not fly 10 the Rio Grande without
waking for the invading army yet be raised-nay,
abandoning IL to get to that river 1t could
the least regard to the honorable pride and distinction of
1he gallant general already in command that
who knew had done well, doing well and who,
was quite sure and his little would If the occasion
offered covered themselves with glory My prediction in
tbis respect has been fully accomplished
After this special pleading this version of his at
tack upon the President and Secretary, he tries to
make oil 60 smooth by pouring out this JUNCTION in
eonclusion:-"lou speak of my interview with the
President on the hject of the intended formidable
invasion of Mexico | wish had time to do Justice
to my recollection Of the Presidents excellent sense
military comprehension, patience and courteses in
these interviews. ] have since spoke Of the admit
Iable qualities displayed these occasions, with
honor as far as twos in my power TO do him honor"
And then be turns to Mr.. Marcy:-''And to you, sir
allow me to say that have not accused you, and
that do not mean TO accuse you, o. set purpose
TO dlscredt me as the commander at first designed
for the new army that is to invade Mexico. bear
IN mind With pleasure the many personal courteses
that have for long years received at your hands.
But have for many days believed that you have
allowed yourself to be influenced against me by the
clamor of some of the friends to whom have al
laded."
All this after thought, putting his insinuatiops
against the government, to the account CT several
Leading friends and supposed confdants Of the Pre-
sident In both houses of Congress- is contradicted
not only by the whole scope Of the first letter. bat
by its words He says, expressly, after alluding
. to the condemnation Of all other persons," that
the person in command can have " no other rei-
ance Gin his absence) than the active, candid and
steady support Of his government" And ii was
simply because he had no confidence in the support
of bis government that he refused to 60 to Mexico
until he bad sent all the troops and supplies he
wanted before him to Mexico. it is apparent then,
that II was not the condemnation of /" leading
friends and supposed confdsnts that he cared for.
1t was because he would have no reliance on the
support OF government, the departments. the
hlgn quarters, where the power resided to
support him, that lie felt himself at lber-
~ TO say 81 too old soldier, and
lave too much special experience, not to feel the in
nnite Importance Of securing myselfagainst danger
M-will, or pre- condemnation, Ia my rear, before ad
vancing upon the public enemy With this ex-
phclt declaration TO the Secretary, that he meant
70 secure himself and not trust the administration
how poor is the of, that he alluded to ''frsnds
and eonddants" but did not mean TO insnuate that
it was from such high quarters as headquarters it.
self, that be expected . the fire in his rear from
Washington" and yet with its support he feared
nothing
Mr.. Marcy answered this letter of adulation as
eoolly the other, and in effect says without say
ing i, = ADMIT what the gentleman says, out of
compliment; however, do not believe him"
General Scott has another elaborate reply to this
Tote Of Mr. Marcy, IN which is this begging pas
sage
still hope when the President shall have read that
explanatory letter Che hssy plate Of soup letter. and