Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1852-10-23

and unmitgated detraction is all that this honore
and distinguished hero receives at the hands of tn
Editor Of that paper.
But we proceed to cite other Democratic authori
ty as to Gen. ScoTT's pre-eminent merits TIL
opinion OF Gen. JOHN A. QUITNAN, of Mississippi
is entitled to some weight. The genuneness of hi
Democracy, and his honest but somewhat misd
rected devotion to the South, have never been ques
toned, Hear what he said, recently, in reply to a
question addressed to him:
"Sr," said he, "the American people have never done
Gen ScorT justice. The that mans character and
claims to distinction are canvassed the higher will be the
stand he Will take in the admiration and gratitude Of his
countrymen.
81 have been surprised and astonished" continued
Gov Qutman, that among the Wing party there should
be found single man unwilling give him cordial and
hearty support AS to his being controlled by Seward,
that Is mere stuff know the man. and he will be con-
troed by contrary to his own convictions of what
IS right And, as TO his being true to the South com
slider him the most unexceptonable that
among all the Wings who have been named in connection
with the Presidency. l am Democrat; and,
quently, differing widely do from Gen. ScoTT
every political question: give him my support
but if there Wing in the Union for whom under any
circumstances could my vote for President that
Wing is WINFIELD ScoTT"
Gen. SHIELDS, now Senator in Congress from
the State OF Illinois, was general of brigade in
the Mexican Let us hear what he has to say
in the face of political hostility towards Gen SCOTT
Read the testimony of high-minded soldier to-
wards brother soldier:
1t is my good fortune to be personally acquainted
with both the distinguished citizens whose names have
been presented by their respective parties candidates
for the highest office in the gift of the American people,
Gen. WINFIELD ScoTT is the candidate of the Wing party
For him entertain the highest personal regard and
teem | admire him as much as do any man living for
his great military talents and consider him as entitled
to the gratitude of his country for his glorious military
services But Gen. SCoTT is Democrat. His political
convictions different from mine He is true to his
convictions, and for this he has my respect mean to
be true to mine and such is my knowledge of his cha
racter that know this will lessen me in his esti-
nation"
Major General BUTLER, of Kentucky, was another
distinguished soldier in the Mexican war Witness
the friendly terms in which, at political meeting
in Kentucky during the present canvass, he spoke
of his senior officer
Gen. SooTT is known to the nation and to the world
and, as it is not my province to paint Wing portraits
would be content to examine his position before the world
without saying any thing of him personally but for the
known positions relatively occupied in the city of
Mexico and for the purpose of saying publicly that
throughout whole intercourse though delicate and
embarrassing, he acquitted himself in such as
to win my esteem and admiration.
Brevet Major ISAAC j. STEVENS, of the u. S.
Army, wrote and published in 1851, a work entitled
" Campaigns of the Rio Grande and of Mexico"
Major STEVENS, like Generals BUTLER, QUIT-
MAN, and SHIELDS, is political opponent of Gen.
ScoTT, and attached to the Democratic party. He
was one of the staff of Gen. WORTH, and was in
the Mexican campaign from its origin to its termi-
nation Some writers having attempted to make
Gen. PILLOW the hero of the battle Of Chepultepec,
Major STEVENS thus disposes of all such preten-
sons, and does no more than strict justice to Gen.
SCOTT The extracts are taken from pages 1884
of his work:
General Scott the master spirit of the operations
about Chepultepec 1t was due under Providence 10
his cool head and steady hand that our little army was
conducted in safety through these of deadly peril
He equally 70 be commended for his resolution in de-
termnng 10 attack Chepultepec against the advice of
majority of his officers and for his dispositions in prose-
cutting that attack All those who had opportunity to
observe him the day of the 18th will remember his re-
markabe cooness steadness, and grasp of the entire
field Of operations.
Gen. Scott in this campaign combined two qualities
in eminent degree-qualities seldom united yet in
dspensabe 10 great commander the quality Of adher
ing to his plans always carefully weighed and thoroughly
dgested with great pertinacy, long the circum
stances remained the and with great facility ncorpo
rating circumstances and changing his plans to
conform thereto. This is exemphed in the battle Of
Churubusco Ii was fought the spur of the moment
without any matured pan yet the dispositions made
no less complete and mastery than the carefully
plan of operations which, commencing with the storming
of Chepuepec resulted the next day in the fall of the
capital The whole campaign characterized by large
ness of view and exactitude Of execution"
On the following page from which the above is
taken QO4) Major STEVENS pursues the tenor of
his observations in these words:
The impression left on the mind of the reader is that
the battles in Mexico fought and simply in con-
sequence Of the good conduct of the subordinate officers
and the men, and that whoever had been in chief COM
mand, the result would doubtless have been the same
This is totally wrong
1t is impossible to conduct large military operations
without the possession Of the civil and admnstra
tive qualities which required to govern State or rule
Empire | unhesitatngy refer to the whole history
Of the world in proof Of this Alexander conquered the
world because in addition to that great soul and that
tended knowledge which enabled him direct his Greeks
with such signal skill and success he was the most con-
summate statesman of his age Without the possession
Of the qualities Wellington would early have been
driven from SPAIN and the famous Italian campaigns Of
Napoleon would yet have TO be written Washington
eminenty fitted to conduct his countrymen through the
war Of Independence from his happy blending Of civil
and military qualities. And this is the secret Of the
miserable failure Of many military men, whose reputa-
TONS almost colossal have long since departed
They have been able to shine on battlefield and
hbit constancy and conduct in the vicsstudes Of
pagn, but when risen to high command they have failed
because they knew not how to pachcate State to i'm
press law and order upon people that had succumbed to
their arms.
II the exceeding good fortune Of the American
people that their chiefs in Mexico remarkable
for their qualities Of administration Indeed regards
both Scott and Tauor coud seem that The secret Of all