The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1852-09-07
rnpsrtant Piece Of Pslltlsal Misery.

Enpsrtant Piece Of Pslltlsal A&sry.
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RECALL OF GEN. SCOTT FROM FLORIDA.
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The following i the official document in relation
to the recall Of Cen Scott from tho command Of the
army in Florida, in 1886, "and an inquiry into his
conduct, with the endorsement of tho President
The letter was communicated from Gen. ThonasS s.
Jesup, Of the War Office, tolMr. Poinsett, the Sc.
retary Of War, in compliance with call Of the
House Of Representatives Col. Joseph M. White,
was Al that time the territorial delegate in Congress
from Florida
FROM Ex DOC, H. r., NO. 2Sl-24rH CONGRESS-.
I0r WASHINGTON, May %, 1886
Sir-By orders recently issued from the War De-
partment it is directed that, should Major General
Scott leave the headquarters Of the army in Florida
and retire from that command, it will devolve on
Brigadier General Cineh. This order leaves to the
discretion Of General Scott the period Of his depar
ture. II is with the greatest pain that feel my
se constrained by Of duty to my constituents,
respectfully to ask that Gen. Scott DO Immediately
relieved frsm the command No man has more ad-
mration for the gallantry, respect for the militia
~ ACHIEVEMENTS Of Gen. Scott, than have.
From the present attitude of affairs, and unfortu-
nate sad disagreeable occurrences which have hap
pened in that quarter the public interest, as well ~
uV04,
impe.iously require the order have recommended.
There is NO harmony between him and the public
authorities Of the territory and il is evident that
10 Is in the highest state Of exacerbated feeling,
account Of an atrocious outrage on all decency and
propriety, in burning him in efigy at Tallahassee
hisinfamOus proceeding, which ought to have been
arrested and punished by the authorities at the seat
Of government, does not justify Gen Scott for the
degrading epithets and insults he has offered ton
whole population. In his published orders, be re-
presents the conduct Of the people Of Middle Flo
ida as g infinitely Illuminating = and the people
wild with fear, possessed Of "a disease SO gene
ral and so degrading"
This is not the usual language of major general
commanding on our frontiers, and should not under
any circumstances, be resorted to, Whatever may
have been tbe disappointments and wounded aensi.
bilities OF commanding general ask upon what
authority be says there were just g five Indians
who have produced that CONSERVATION, penc, and
fight, Of which he has drawn picture derogato-
ry TO the whole population! II is well known that
she Indians never show their whole force; and it
ave have penetrated into the country from the In
dian boundary, to within few miles Of the seat OF
government, amuch larger number will soon follow
As Gen. Scott did not succeed with five thousand
menin destroying five Indians, he might have spared
the inhabitants he has left defenceless such degra
ding denunciations As that, however, is an affair
between him and the Governor, as to the number of
the enemy, and the defence of Middle Florida, |
shall proceed to what is the object OF this comma
nicati0n.
My purpose is, most respectfully to request an in
quiry into the manner of conducting the late cam
paign in FLORIDA, and into the conduct Of the major
general commanding, for having gone into summer
quarters the last Of April leaving the country with
out defence, and the inhabitants at the mercy Of the
Indians.
Major General Scott had power to call upon the
Governors of South Carolina, Georgia, and Alaba-
ma, for any number Of men that he might consider
necessary 10 put an end to the war Congress, by
law, had provided ample means; and whilst he was
in command, the Governor Of Florida had no power
to call for troops Gen Scott, after one unsuc-
cessful campaign, ldisbanded the whole militia force
but the term of service Of portion of it had EXPIRED
ard be has neither called, by draught or for vo-
lunteers for any other further military force. He
has, the contrary, refused the acceptance Of
that was offered, and has disarmed the militia Of
East Florida.
When called upon, now, to furnish adequate force
for the protection of that frontier, he complains of
his limited means; when it is apparent, from the
above statement, that his means are only limited
by his discretion, and that he has power at any mo.
ment to order any number from Georgia or South
Carolina. He admits that 5000 men are necessary
to subdue these Indians, and that he has but 900
under his command Now, ask why it is that he
has rot these 600 men in the field that he deems
necessary!
He, and he alone, is responsible for all the lives
and property Of the inhabitants that may be des-
Ioyed for the want Of that protection and securisy
which every citizen Of the repubic has right TO
look for from his government, Added to this, the
feelings Of the people are outraged by representa-
tions calculated TO degrade and expose them TO ri
dicule throughout the United States
These people, you are aware, spSrsely settled
over an extensive territory, in detached neignoor
hoods, without any dense population to fa! ba *
upon, or without any fortified places in which to
place their wives and children for safety. II, upon
the first sound Of an alarm, some small neighbor-
hood should 60 in pursuit Of FIVE Indians, they
might, as they did with Gen. SCOTS grand army,
Dodge out of the way, and fall back upon the wo-
men and children in the rear 1t is unnecessary,
however, to detain you with these details: the
plant make is, that Major General Scott has left
that country without adequate protection, an has
not sufficient force either for offensive or defensive
operations. Hehas produced state Of feeling that
forbids all harmony or concert with the local au-
thorities or people of the country and the public
interests imperiously require his immediate with
drawal
have the honor to be- with high considerations
Of respect. sir, yourmost obedient servant.
Jos. NJ WHITE.
To ANDREW JACKSON,
President Of the United States.
Endorsement on the back of the above letter -
Col Joseph M. White, Of Florida, requests the
withdrawal Of General Scott from the command in
Florida.
A copy of this letter to be sent to General Scott,
with an order to withdraw from the command in
Florida. Al
True copy: r. JONES, Adjutant General,
July l6, 1910.
Our West Point Correspondence,