The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1852-03-13
Attempt 10 Dribe Gen. Scott.

A statement 10 going the rounds oi the WING
papers, taken from letter in the N. O. Delta,
from one of its correspondents in the city OF Mex
ico that after en-. Scott had entered the Next
can capital he had offered him the presidency
of that gioriou, Repnblic, and the command Of
her army, with a salary of twelve hundred thou
sand dollars per annum" that he should accept
all the American soldiers who should wish TO en-
list under him, and should commence expelling
the brave army which had so VIGOROUSLY cut its
way fro Vera Cruz to that city under his com
mard; but that Gen Scott had unhestatingly
declined this tempting oiTer'
What object the wing press may desire to ac-
complsh by parading this silly story before
the American people at this time We are unable
to divine, unless they wish to hold itup as some
thing extraordinary that so prominent a wing
should be proof against bribery. Or, do they wish
to give it rs an evidence that, because Don Jose
Maria DidJlo and Don Sdeho Fernando Cdrumjo
had considered him competent for the presidency
Of Mexico, that, therefore, he was fl, TO be presi
dent Of the United Statesl
The fact that Gen. Scott refused bribe,
considering the circumstances in which he was
placed is certainly nothing remarkable. 1t does
not even prove that lie would not accept one IN.
der more favorabse state Of things. The state
Of affairs in Mexico at that time was such as to
force them TO adopt desperate measures. Their
country was invaded on all sides. All their
strongholds had been seized, and their capital
stormed by the invaders their armies were fast
disappearing before the superior courage ard skill
Of their enemies and from daily assertions; over
forty battles had beer fought, and although they,
invariably, had greatly superior number Of
troops and the advantage of position, they could
not even yet claim single victory. Public spi-
rit, all over the country had sunk to its lowest
ebb, cloud of gloom and despair had settled
upon the people. The cry pf"AmrieanOs" had
become the signal Of retreat among their soldiery,
and for the Americans to gain victories no more
required the shedding of blood--their name had
become a conqueror. Such was the condition Of
Mexico at the time the above offer is said to have
been made to Gen Scott. To have accepted it,
would have been inevitable ruin and disgrace,
his person would have been hunted as that ola
traitor-and the very name Of Scott" would
have become q byeword and reproach for all fu.
ture ages, vastly more infamous than that Of
Benedict Arnold
In view Of such fate-and Gen. Scott must
have known what his fate would have been--is
it to be wondered at that he did not accept the
offer made by a few Mexican merchants, who had
no, even tho power to fulfill what they promised,
and who, he well knew, would have been the first
to assassinate him as soon rs they no longer had
use for bis servicesl Does 1t even prove that had
he been placed in Arnolds situation with such
catalogue Of wrongs lingering in his mind and
morti6yng his pride, as Arnold supposed he had
suffered from his country, that no would not
have eagerly embraced the Offering temptsri
No, it proves nothing. The meanest private 10
the American army would not have accepted the
offer at that time, much less Gen. Scott, who had
the eyes Of the world resting upon him.
The wings are welcome to all the political
thunder they can make out Of such fabrications
We presume il Webster should obtain the no
mination Of the Wing National Convention, some
wise correspondent would discover that he had
been offered the Captain Generalship Of Cuba or
ifFlmore that he had refused at the hands Of
Austria, the Goyernorship Of Hungary.