Fremont weekly freeman. [volume] (Fremont, Sandusky County, Ohio) 1850-1853, 1852-10-02
More slanders Against Gen. Scott Ex-


this region and other regions a publication un-
der the head of f"IMPoRTANT PIECE OF PoLITI-
cal HIsToRY," consisting Of a letter ofthe Hon.
JOS. NJ. White, Territorial delegate in Con-
gress from Florida, dated Washington, May,
18th, 1886, complaining of Gen. Scott's man
agement of the Florida Campaign and asking
for his recall, the letter being endorsed by
President Jackson-"a copy Of this to be sent
to Gen. Scott with an order to withdraw from
the command in Florida.
We have no doubt in the world that most
of those editors, who have given this publica-
ton in thei5 columns, have done SO without a
full knowledge of the gross and hagrantinjus-
tice and wrong they were doing to Gen. Scott
They know, at least some ofthem do, though
we believe that not one of them has yet in
formed his readers Of the fact, that the Hon.
j. NJ. White, shortly after the writing of his
letter to the Government, made full and am
pie retraction of it. The letter was dated
May 18th, 1885, and Mr.. White, on the 18th
of the following December, wrote another,
from which we make the annexed extract:
Since the publication of that letter (of 28th
May,) | have, in the National Intelligenccr,
over my own name, as an act of justice to Gen.
Scott, corrected, upon better information, the
complaints which deemed it my duty, as the
representative of the people of Florida, to
make against him. / am unwilling that the
first letter should be laid before the Court
without the second; and, as / have no copy of
it with me at present, take this occasion to
say that am satisfied upon full and impair
tial review, of the facts and circumstances
connected with the Florida campaign, and
upon evidences not then before me, that the
failure is not to be attributed to Major Gene
raj Winfield Scot:, nor to causes which it was
lin his power to control or remove.
Let the public judge of the honor and fair
ness and truth Of those editors that published
the Hon. j. M. Whites letter to injure Gen.
Scott and refuse or omit to publish that gen
tleman's ample retraction. We have no COM
menls to make upon the subject of the politi-
cal morals of such editors
Although President Jackson's endorsement
requiring Gen Scott's withdrawal from Flori-
da was written upon the back of Col Whites
letter, Gen. s. was not recalled on that letter
but in consequence of that notorious private
letter which Gen. Jesup, to his lasting dis
credit as an officer, addressed to +. P, Blair,
then editor of the Globe, with request that
lit should be privately shoEn to the Presi-
dent. 1t appears from the proceedings of the
court of inquiry, published III the Richmond
Enquirer of FEBRUARY 18th, 1927, that the re.
call was on the account Of the private letter
to Mr. Blair, and the committee reccommen-
ded an investigation of such an extraordinary
and unmilitary proceeding on the part Of Gen
Jesup The court was held at Gen. Scott's
especial demand in order that his conduct in
Florida might be subjected to the severesI
possible scrutiny, and the court found in favor
of Gen. 8. in every particular-approved bis
| plan Of the campaign throughout, and acquit
ted him of all blame for the delay in the ope
tions of the army. The following is the find
ing of the court:
Upon a careful examination of the sbund-
ant testimony taken in the foregoing case, the
court is of opinion that no delay, which it was
practicable to have avoided, was made BY
Maj. Gen. Scott in opening the campaign
against the Greek Indians On the contrary
ii appears that he took the earliest measures
to provide arms, municians, and provisions fol
his forces, who were found almost totally des
ttute; and as soon as arms could be put int
the hands of the volunteers, they were, in sue
eession, detached and placed in position tc
prevent the enemy from retiring upon Flori
da, and whence they could move against ths
main body Of the enemy, as soon as equipped
for offensive operations.
From the testimony of the Governor Of Geor
gia, Of Maj. Gen. Sandford, commander of the
Georgia volunteers, and many other witnesses
of high rsnk snd standing, who we've acquain
ted with the topography of the country anc
the position and strength of the enemy, tn,
court is of opinion, that the plan of campaign
adopted by Maj. Gen. Scott was welt calcula
ted to lead to successful results; and that
was prosecuted by him, as far al practicable
with zeal and ability, unit recalled fIom th,
command upon the representations made b.
Mai. Gen. Jesup, his second in command, from
lFort Mitchell, in letter bearing date 2Otl
: June, 1886, addressed to F. p Blair at Wash
Iington, marked 'prirate," containing rsques
that it should be shown to the President
which letter was exposed and brought to ligh
lby the dignifed and magnanimous act of tn
President in causing il to be placed on file il
the Department of War, as an official docu
ment and which forms part ofthese proceed
lings. Conduct SO extraordinary and inexpli
cable on the part of Maj. Gen. Jesup, in refer
ehcs to the character of the said letter, should
in the opinion of the court, be investigated.
Gen. jackson refused to sanction the find
ling, because the court had not given al tn
faets-had omitted to say who WAS to blam
for the delay, and because Gen. Jesup's con
duct was censured-he not having been not
fed and given an opportunity of defence
The court was required to make its 6ndin
: according to these directions. Before tha
was done, Gen. Jackson's term expired.
Upon this state of case. Mr.. Thomas Ritct
lie, who was then the most influential Demo
cratic editor in the country, made the follow
: ing remarks in his Richmond Enquirer {
5 Eob,,orv 10 1917.