Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1852-1859, 1852-10-05
s;en scott at CoIumbu. ohio.
From The Ohio State Journal, September 30,
A VILE ISLANDER NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. SPECIE OF
GES SCOTT TO THE GERMANS.

sicu. scott N Colun, bus ohio.
From the Ohio State Journal, September 80
| A VILE ISLANDER RErELLED-BRiLLIANT srEEcE OF
GES. SCOTT TO THE GERMANS.
Judge Heyl waited upon Gen. Scott, and on be-
half of some of our German citizens referred to a.
paragraph from the Westbote, German paper
published in this city, and containing the state
ment that General Scott tied tn one tree and flog
ped fifteen Germans, while in Mexico. Il
| Other charges of his having hanged others, cru-
ely and unjustly, were also referred to.
Never have we witnessed scene more imposing
than when the old chieftail, with aquick and in
dignant response, repealed the false and malignant
charge. Lofty in stature, and standing at least
four inches above the tallest of those among whom
he stood, his form seemed gigantic, as with hight
ened color and flashing eye; and a wave !ot his
hand that expressed calm defiance of all such as
saianis, he uttered his emphatic protest against
| such assaultsa as that paragraph presented.
"New, and before unknown t. me, are such
things us have now been told me. They surprise
and they pam me. They az once concern all
that enthusiastically, and aim blow at all that,
wherein, if knew myself, have the highest PRIDE.
They attack my own identity! The principles for
which, had believed, Ineed never search my own
bosom in VAN, are here undermined or denied me!
| / am met with charges of injustice and cruelty
while leading an American army through Mexico,
and while participating alike in its trials and lis
| triumphs! 'NF
| "Gentlemen, it tnas my lot to lead an American
army upon foreign field. went, resolved to sus-
,cdter-Didrk of our 0lcn american Civilization, 4l
all its moral civil virtue The standard ofour oirn
and NOT the PRACTICES of that foreign country, was
the standard which sought for the government OIL
mems passions and the control of the license and
| excuses of war. Alike to Americans, whether oil
native OF foreign birth, and to Mexicans, declar-
ed my purpose, and exhibited my principles of &C
| ton. . n S1iTt ~ EF1liELf
al promulgated the martial code. Doubtless you
all have read il. / deemed it necessary. could
no nothing wthoutit it. ltannounced the spirit of
our progress, and held amenable to punishment
all who forgot manhood, and threatened to bring
reproach upon our virtue! Without it, we had
not conquered, or FIVE had conquered, the bright
| est trophie of our conquest had been wanting
| 1t would have been physical triumph, and a
physical triumph alone. humanity would have
| disowned us. promulgated that order. Read it,
| and read it again, gentlemen, and then bear me
witness that it was my heart, us it was almost
hourly on my lips, for continued months, to carry
with American arms, and under the American
flag even into the encmys country, all the ele-
ments OF social order. and that regard for personal
right, that belonged 10 our own free institutions OF
the United States. '-'E'
ayes, sought TO carry with inc, and resolved to
maintain, at all hazards, among my own command,
and also that people among whom we should be
thrown, that high standard OF virtue and honor of
which we boosted at home. Had l no: been less
than an American, and recreant to the highest in
terests of humanity and the age we rejoice in, if
and tied up and logged others. Gentlemen, some
persons were hanged in Mexico. The names Of all
OF them do not NON recollect. Whether any
were Germans or not know not. But for what
yes for whatweIe they hanged ! hanged one
for murder, gentlemen; hanged one Tor rape upon
an innocent young female, and for profanc and
wicked church robbery. All knew the laws that
w over them. Every man OF them knew that he
would be held rs anSweTabie for vile misdeeds
against the laws of God and man, as if he Were
then upon American soil .a I'll AZ.
"For such crimes they Su6ered-for such crimes
as here, in your own Ohio-a land of law-would
have brought down upon them severe penalties
and with equal justice. Some did suffer death =
But their trial was fair, impartial and upon the
same principles OF solid law upon which they
would have been adjudged guilty here among you.
Do some say hanged fifteeu Germans, and that
others arragned and fiogged without cause or
trial Z Gentlemen, iFknow nothing of it 1t is
false-itis fc-an inventions, gentlcmen-a LIE.
see aged citizens before me. see eminent law
yers here. And, gentlemen, you see me much err
cited But is 1t not for cause For one, lcho, for
ffy gears, has scarcely naked, rose, slept or
eaten, taken cup of cold ,rater, in the field,
tie toicn, the camp, but that his thoughts icere OF
his countrY-her- rirtue-her 5renopn--her honor
TO be thus assaiied-it is MoNsrRous-itis INroLER-
ABLE! Gentlemen, / did, with high hand, sus-
tain the the law, which, with uprightness in my
heart, i drttfm med TO sustain. did hang fornlr-
der. did hang for rape! did hang for treason
and logged thieves and pickpockets! For, gen
aSalll S1yS loI oiiiy SaiiiSu "
me, ,bnt | resolved, with every resource could
command To sustain, fearleSsfy and cteetuaiiy, in
its virtue and its choicest blessings not only to
my own command but 10 defenceless and peaceable
Mexicans, that civiliZation-yes, that Christian
civilization of which j was proud to believe that
our army might appear worthy representative.
"But, gentlemen, Twas no respecter oil persons.
4 Americanor MeSican-natireb born or foreign born
whoever knew the law and obeyed it not-who-
ever, reckless of his own responsibilities and the
rights of others, tampled under foot and set n,
naught The law that was over all, ! punished.
did hang for the crimes stated, and l would have
hung hundred seekers of innocent blood, and
violators of female chastity, II so many had been
the offenders And for this, perverted and mis-
shaped, am made answerable to a charge against
which my every feeling reyolts, and winch my
whole nature and my whole life repel. No, gen
temen, it is lie, (the charge as made, or that any
were wrongfully punished,) false and groufidless
lie. am not unthankful to my good fri.nd who
has told me of these things. II was right. But,
gentlemen, l stand here, before you, and declare,
as have already declared, and again declare, that
the principles that governed my command i'll Mex
ico are those OF my life. To that life in my coun-
trys service, need not appeal in vain for an an
swer now. With equal freedom and confidence dc
| throw myself upon the honest verdict OF every
man, who, with me, served his countryin the fields
of Mexico" 81 Tsi dlEfg
lii impossible says the Columbian Journal, to
| convey TO the mind of the reader the manner in
which this magnificent speech was uttered twas
lofy, Spen'lidly eloquent, IN Inc very hghest ac-
ceptaton of the term. The scathins, whitening,
Indignant tone with which the deninl and denun-
citation were enunciated, startled, electrified the
audience. 1t was an entire impromptu affair
Not word had been premeditatcd-not an idea
before conned over. The foul charge was pointed
out to him there, for the first time, and he lost not
moment till he branded it as its wicked eDormity
deserved. There are more eloquent passages i'll
tire English language than he then and there utter
ed Let it be published all the land, that Sian
der and calulnny may hide their vile heads, in dis
grace and shame. tt -
/ .PARAGRAPHICAL.r r..
u'6ss2 migrants arrived at New York on Thurs