New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1852-09-06
SCOTT AND WAR.

as hllIdTy tLItIidin' SUN NJ VIZ
Wings have denounced as unfit for civil
rule, and hold him bIameworthy in that he
is in the regular service, and did not fight
as a volunteer.
To these cavils we make answer:
/. Gen. Scott was never even accused OF
having done anything TO involve the Coun-
try in War. On the contrary, he has re-
peatedly proved himself Pacifcator when
hostilities seemed imminent. Had ne been
chosen President when Polk was, we
should have had no war with Mexico. All
his instincts, his convictions, his expert
ence, incline him to Peace. Our Military
Presidents, not even excepting Jackson,
have uniformly preserved peace, while
civilians who never smelt gunpowder have
repeatedly plunged US into war.
.. But while Gen. Scott has never done
anything toward getting US into war, but
the contrary, he has done very much to
keep US out, or to get US out Wi h the least
possible waste Of life. We think no other
man living could have conquered peace
with Mexico so quickly and with so little
loss Of life as he did. The fomenters of
the late War with Mexico deserve execra-
ton; not he who had no part in their in
iquity. but only did as he was bound in
honor to do in obeyiDg the orders of our
Government.
8. AS to being n Military Chieftain,'
what we deemed Objectionable in Gen.
Jacksons life and character was his ten
dency to disregard his orders and make
war on his own suthOrity-to exalt the
Military above the Civil Power. He twice
invaded Florida while it was a Spanish
Colony, and overpOwered its authorities,
when he had no warrant for so dOing-when
he ought to have awaited the orders of
his civil superiors. He dissolved the Le-
gislature of Louisiana and imprisoned
Judge Hall at New-Oreans under cir
cumstances exhibiting mixture OF
groundless suspicion and despotic violence
worthy of Caesar or a Napoleon. Hence
we regarded him as a lawless, arbitrary,
tyrannical soldier, unfit to be entrusted
with p0wer-and not simply because he
had fought for his county. Mr.. Clay never
taught that Military service disqualified
for civil office, but simply that it ought
not to blind the popular judgment to the
most glazing defects and disqualiications.
4. As to the regular army, we believe
It ought to be reduced to a School and
Stafi-to West Point and few capable
officers stationed on our exposed frontiers,
with power to employ and lead volun-
teers whenever "A public exigency shall
require them. We hold that this would
be far cheaper, more efficient, less eX-
ctptiouabe than our present wasteiul sys
tenn, with lis enormous charges for forage,
transportation, &C., &c. We hold that
tho Government has already paid, for
merely taking men to California and Ore
eon and stationing them there, more money
than would have sufficed TO pay volunteers
for all the service required there since the
war. But the Country does not yet think
so-or rather, cannot be brought to think
and act on tile subject at all. 1t dozes on
in the pre- sumption that Regulars frank
and fle) are indispensable for frontier ser
vice in peace, when we hold them as unfit
and clumsy a machine as could be in
vented. But officers like Gen. Scott would
be required under any system but that of
absolute Non Resistance. And is it not
most absurd, most senseless, for a people
to require Military service and at the same
time disparage and degrade those who rem
der it Certainly, if there be anything
wrong in the trade of soldier, the Peo-
pie who require and the soldier who rem
ders such service stand on a precisely
equal footing. 1t would be most shameful
for the former TO tell the latter. We
tempted you, urged you, paid you to
fight for us and now because you did it
we hold you unfit for, unworthy of future
trust
5. We DO not support Gen. Scott because
he has fought well for the Country, but be-
cause bis whole career has eyinced deyo-
ton to her welfare and capacity to advance
it. His Military achievements have been
steadily paralleled by his wisdom, energy
and prudence in the various Civil trusts
from time to time deyolyed on him. In
removing the Cherokees, in calming the
Modification asperify, and in dealing with
the troubles on our Northern and North
Eastern Boundaries, he has eyinced the