Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1841-1853, 1852-09-23
sl2.s67.93

During Gen. Scott rendering the services
for which he received extra compensation as mentioned
IN items l. g. 3, and g. amounting TO s. OFF, he was IN
the regular receipt oil the full pay and allowances oil
| brigadier general.
Items A. g. and are for services rendered in transac
tons with Indian troes. They amount S4,7e5 90,
and periods Of time during which Gen. Scott was
in the regular receipt Of his full pay and allowances In
tins point would refer readers the act OF Con-
quoted above and also the fact that officers oil
the army be required by law to act as Indian agents,
when necessary, without other compensation than their
regular pay. We have already stated that Gen. Scott
was allowed at the second auditors ohce IN March,
1882 treble rations for year, amounting to 81 O93,
Of expenses in the Cherokee country and
the northern and frontier and the last item
mentioned above is further allowance OF eight dollars
day for services connected with the Cherokee Indians
IN 1888. This latter item was we understand present
ed when Mr. Poinsett Secretary OF War, and dlsa
lowed; again, when Mr.. Bell was Secretary OF War,
and again disaowed; finally allowed and paid by
clerk, in the absence of the Secretary Of War.
The third auditors statement Of extra allowances
mentions charge of $500 for house rent here IN Wash
ngton while Gen. Scott absent in Mexico. When
it presented to the third auditor that officer sad
Was Gen. Scott in the field and furnished with
quarters at public expense Tor the period chargedf Ii
So he is not entitled to communication at his regular sta
ton." The charge was before the second comptroller
Of the treasury the sixth OF August last, when that
officer remarked, according the third auditors state
ment, Neither law nor regulation makes distinction
between the Commander n-chief and any other officer
He is entitled his regulated allowance for commuta
ton of quarters when furnished with public quarters
tents, nd to nothing During portion of the
period charged for General Scott received his commute
ton of quarters elsewhere and during the remainder he
appears 10 have been provided with public quarters IN
Mexico. During part of the time, also, an order OF
his in force that public quarters should be
pied in Mexico, and that rents Communication
therefor should be allowed"
The of s2 S73 03, reported by the third auditor
as money received and unaccounted for by Gen. Scott
balance Of thirty thousand dollars received by Gen.
Scott about Ave years ago, during the Mexican war.
The auditor states that Gen. Scott claims to have
pended it for secret services" during the war. The
auditor also that vouchers presented in 1884,
but that they have not been received at his Office
The only remaining item to be considered is the sum
OF 81 1885 10 mentioned in the letter of the Secretary OF
War. 1t was a commission of three and half per cent
which Gen. Scott charged reeompense Tor losses,
trouble and responsibilities on the sum Of S25 29l 10
which into his hands from contributions, sales OF
captured tobacco, taxes from gamblers licenses, &C.,
while in Mexico.
During war duties were levied goods imported
into Mexico, and officers of the army detailed to
act as custom.hosse officers. They retained in their
hands payment for such services and Congress- by the
act approved March g. 1919, allowed them compensation
Tor the customhouse services performed by them in the
settlement of their Contributions sales OF
tobacco, proceeds of gamblers licenses, &c, did not
come under the law and the services rendered by Gen.
Scott with regard to them not such the govern
ment has consented to pay for: consequently General
Scott retains the sum mentioned above Isl $3.50 49,
without authority Of law. To avoid the suspicion OF
undue bias, submit the following extract from the
letter Of the Secretary Of War:
In applying this act rthe act Of March g. 1849, to
particular cases, doubts whether the clause allow
ing compensation applied contributions levied else
where thaa at ports and in the form of duties i'm.
ports The opinion Of the Attorney General solicit
ted this question: and the 18th day of March last
that officer gave opinion in the negative. According
this Interpretation of the Of March g. 1849 Gen
Scott not authorized by that act to retain the above
sum OF 81 1885 l9, the collections contributions
which the charge based not made at seaport,
bat in the interior"
We have thus made fair statement of the case, ma
king specification Of the large which Gen. |
Scott has received Major General while holding a
Brgadiers commission They are included ilthe grand
aught in malice have sought give the facts
and figures undue effect by unfair criticism harsh |
comments. We present Them and leave the public to |
draw its own inerences and form its own opinion from
the large Of allowances which General Scott
has demanded and received while drawing regularly the
pay and emoluments Of his Office in the army Of the
United States. Without attempting foresta public |
opinion, and without wishing to produce erroneous i'm
pressions may allude to the extravagant expcbdl
ture which must follow the elevation TO the Presidency
oil one who has, like General Scott shown disposition
70 make demands upon the treasury the slightest pre-
texts. The expenses Of the Government already ex.
ceed nifty millions OF dollars year time OF pro-
found peace The election Of General Scott would in
crease the evil under which the country suffers from
travagant expenditures, which must OF necessity be
met oy taxes In one form another. The reign OF
loose construction would be confirmed and the treasury
would be surrounded by greedy for extra aIlowan.
ces pointing TO the example and appealing 20 the preee
dents set by General Scott himself The laborer is
worthy oil his hlre but il is great wrong 10 the peo
pie TO increase taxation without stringent necessity
corrups the public virtue witness extravacant expen
iture, while industry is dsheartened and d1oriazed
the spectacle Of sot and dleness pampered from the
public treasury