The Hillsdale standard. [volume] (Hillsdale, Mich.) 1851-1909, 1852-10-05
From the Ohio State Journal.
A Vile slander Rspsllsd---Brilliant Speech Of Cen
Scott to the Germans

Scott to the Germans.
Judge Hevl waited upon General Scott, and
on behalf Of some of our German citizens re.
fcrred to a paragraph from the Westbote a
German paper published in This city. and con-
tanning the statement that General Scott. tied
to trae and logged ffteen Germans, while
in Mexico.
Oher charges. Of his having hanged others,
cruelty and unjus,ly, were also referredto.
Never have we witnessed scene more inn
posing than when the old chieftain, with quick
and indignant response, repelled the false and
malignant charge Lofty in stature, and
standing at least four inches above the talest
of those among whom he stood. his form SEEM
ed gigantic as with heightened color and with
flashing eve, and wave of his hand that ex-
pressed calm defiance of all such assailants,
he uttered his emphatic protest against such
assaults as that paragraph presented.
"New, and before unkno wn to me, arc such
things as have been told me- They surprise
and thew pain me. They at once concern all
that value personally. and aim blow at all
that. wherein. IL know myself, l have the
highest pride. They attack nv own identityl
The principles for which, had believed, need
never search my own bosom in vain, are here
undermined or denied me! am met with
charges Of Injustice and cruolty--while lead
inc an American Armv through Mexico. and
while participating alike in its trials and tri-
umphs!
"Gentlemen. it was nv lot To lead an Amer
ican armv upon foreign field. went. re-
solved to sustain. in the for front Of my pro-
gress. the hirhtide- water-mark of our own
American civilization in all its moral and civil
virtne. The STANDARD Of our own and not the
practises of that foreign country, was the stan
dard which I sought for the government of
mems mas ions and the control Of the license
and oxcesscs of war. Alike to Americans
whether native or IF foreign birth. and TO
Mexicans. I declared nv purpose. and exhib-
tied my principles of action.
az promulgated the martial code. Doubtless
you all have heard il. deemed IL necessary
could do nothing without it. 1t announced
the spri: of our progress. and held amenable
Ito punishment NIL who forgot manhood. and
threatened In bring shame upon our flag
dshonor to our arms-or reproach upon our
virtue Without it. we had not conquered
or If we had conquered. the brightest trophy of
our conquest had been wanting. 1t would have
been physical triumph alone. Humanity void
have disowned us. promulgated that order.
Read it, and read it again. gentlemen, and
then bear me witness, that il was in my heart,
as it was almost hourly on my lips, for
continued months, to carry with American
arms, and under the American flag, even into
an enemy's country, all the elements of social
order. and that regard for personal right, that
belonged to our own free institutions in the
United States.
ayes, sought to carry with me, and resolv-
ed to maintain, at all hazar IS among my own
command. and also that people among whom
we should be thrown. that high standard of
virtue. and honor. which we boast at home;
Had not been less than an American. and re-
croant to the highest interests of humanity. and
the age rejoice in, if had done less? They
say hanged some Germans, and tied mp and
flogged others Gentlemen, some persons
,oere hanged in Mexico. The names Of all of
them do not now recolleci: whether any were
Germans or not, I know not. But for ,phat
yes, for what wcre they hanged? | hanged
one for murder, gentlemen; hanged one for
rape upon nm innocent young female. and for
profane and wicked Church robbery. Al kne,c
The la,c that was over them. Every man of
them knew he would be held az answerable
for vile misdceds against the laws Of God and
man. as If he w'rc upon American soil!
"For such crimes they sn6ered-for such
crimes az here, in your own Ohio-a land of
law-wonld have brought down upon them
severe penalties. and with equal justice. Some
did suffer death, Bnt their trial was fair. i'm
partial and upon the ssme principles of solid
law npon which they would have been adjudged
guilty. here, among you. Do some say that
hanged Is Germans, and that Others were ar
raigDed and 1ogged without cause or trial.
Gentlemen. know nothing oft. II is false
it is Ee-sn invention gcntlemen-a LIE.
see aged citizens before mo. I see eminent
lnwvers here. And. gentlemen, you see me
much ercited. But is il not for cause9-For
one. uho. for ffty vedrs has scarcely euer ioatk
ed, rose. slept or eaten, or euen taken a cup Of
cold wnter in the ffld. The to,on ar the camp,
but that his thoughts ,oere Of his country-her
Uirtues--her renoicn her honor; 10 he thus
dssaited is is MoNsTRoUs-it il INToLERABLEl
Gentlemen I did, with high hand. sustain the
law, which with uprightness in nv heart. de-
terp,ined to sustain. did hang for murder,
I did hang for rape! did hang for treason!
and hoggei thieves and pickpockets! For.
gentlemen let me again say, not only carried
with me, but resolved with every resource I
could command tn sustain fe0ricssly and eff
fectually in its virtue and ts choicest blessings
not only tn my own command but to defence
less and pcaceable Mexicans. that civilization
yes. that Chrfian civilization of which was
proud to believe that army might appear a
worthy representative.
"But. gentlemed, was no respeoter Of per-
sons, american or .Merican-natip born or
yOFefgn OOTn-tohOepeT hHeto He tnW uHu ooey
ed IL not-,choever, reckless of his own respon-
sibilities, and the rights Of others. frampled
under foot and set at nnught the law that was
over all. did hang for the crimes stated. and
would have hung an hundred seekers of in
noccnt blood, and violators Of female chastity
if So many had been the offen9crsl And for
this perverted and misshaped, am made an
swerable to a charge against which every feel
ing rovolts, and which my whole nature and
my whole life repel. No, gentlemen, it is lie
(the charge as made. or that any were wrong
fully punished.) } false and eRoUNDLEss lie. /
am not unthankful to my good friends who has
told me of these thingsl 1t was right. But
gentlemen. 'tand here before YOU, and de-
clare as have already declared, and again
declare. that the principles that governed my
G ,mmsnd in Mexico. are those of my life. To
1ai life in my coun'ry's service, need not
appeal in vain for an answer now. With equal