Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1852-09-18
GEN. SCOTT AND THE TREASURY.

ter az Congressional investigation and his enemies
took as little by their previous motion as they are
/ likely to take now On the 10Th Of March, 1874,
Mr.. John w DAVIS, then member Of the House
Of Representatives from Indiana, introduced in the
House an amendment to the Army Appropriation
bill, by which he proposed to abolish the office of
major general. 4
Mr.. j. A. BLACK, a Calhoun Democrat from
| South Carolina, opposed this amendment OF Mr.,
Davis, because in fact there were eacer field OFT
GERS than regular organization of the peace esta
blishment would require. regular organization
of our present force would require two majr gene
was now but one major general and two brigadier
generals"
To this Mr.. DAVIS replied that he had no per-
sonal elections" to the Major General. None in the
world, Of course His objects were purely public
and political I" lie sdw no earthly use tort o.
flee as eoas non conducted, and he could MT con-
sent to paying this gentleman $4,000 gear for
Hoing here az Washington, for sc1sdt purposes ne
could not imagine. If the Major General was do
ing duty with the army, or commanding some
military division, he should not object; bat he
must express his disapprobation Of his being ,aced
here as the military adviser Of the Secretry of
War, as some gentlemen suggested.
Here was an imputation sufficiently explici upon
Gen. ScoTT. Mr. DEAN Democrat) of Ohio, rose
at once to repelit He said he was opposed 70 any
act Of legislation which would reflect personally on
Gen Scott "IF ANY MAN HAD ADDED GLORY TO
HIS COUNTRY 1T WAS GEN. SCoTT."f He would
not !" STRIKE" he said with emphasis, at "THE WAR
WORN VETERANS OF THE COUNTRY" This sentl-
ment is more deep and more general than the de-
famers of Gen. Scott imagine The day OF election
will show that there are thousands on thousands OF
H. n f1ca tn
g STRIKE AT THE wAR-woRN VETERANS OF THE
COUNTRY"
Mr.. j. w DAVIS then proceeded to bring out
his idea more distinctly and explicitly He did not
like this residence of Gen. SooTT at Washington,
which was making him familiar with the Legislation
and the public men of tie country. He proceeded
to say with some bitterness, that he wished to re-
lieve the Treasury from the payment of a Major
General for sitting in his parlor here and debating
to Congress what it should do His object was to
get rid of the Office and he had said nothing in
disparagement Of the officer. He did not wish to
see an officer quarterd here on the country, FTLcH-
ING FROM THE TREASURY some eight thousand
dollars per annum WHEN lie WAS WORSE THAN
USELESS"
These and similar remarks reused the indigna-
ton of Mr.. DRoMGodE, Democrat, of Virginia, a
very able and eloquent man, with soul somewhat
above the candle-end and cheese pairing. economy
that is so much affected by gentlemen from Vir-
gnia, in all cases except when Virginia is concerned
Mr. DRoMGooLE burst into the debate with one of
those interrogative passages in which he so for
midable and effective "What," he exclaimed, in
that thrilling tone of his which sank into the heart
of every listener, what did the gentleman
when he talked of money being .flched from the
Treasury, as applied to that officer? Did the gen.
tleman mean to say that Gen. Scott had received
money to which he was not lawfully entitled 7"
Mr.. j. w. DAVIS covered beneath this home
thrust. He wilted under the rebuke of the gener-
Gus and undetermined speaker. Mr.. J. w Davis
explained Mr. J. W. Davis said he had sspoken
with reference to the Office only, and not with
ference TO the gentleman who at present filed the
Office"
Mr.. DRoMGooLE received the apology, There
was no imputation, then, upon Gen. Scott The
gentleman admitted that he received only what
the laW care him and because, in the estimation
of that gentleman, tie lar gave him too much pay,
he called II itching from The Treasury How
was it flchng from the Treasury? 1t was paid
in obedience to law of Congress 1t was Con-
gess, then, which flched from the Treasury. He
would not detain the committee, for he would not
believe for a moment that the amendment would be
adopted"
Mr. J. Q. ADAMS followed with few remarks,
in the course Of which he took occasion to say that
the passage of such an amendment would be an
lreturn" to Gen Scott for his great services both
in time Of war and IN TIME OF PEACE" Let those
who seek to underrate the civil services Of Gen
Scott refer to the testimony of who had every
opportunity of understanding what those services
were, and who never paid insincere or an un-
merited compliment. Mr.. ADAMS spoke with en-
phasis Of the great services of Gen Scott in "TIME
OF PEACE" He added that the General "received
not one dollar more than he deserved from his
country.
Mr. HARRISON Democrat) opposed the amend
ment Of Mr. J. W. Davis because he thought
Washington was the most suitable place for the re-
sidence Of the officer commanding in chief, and the
office itself was necessary.
Mr. G. J. ISGERsoLL (Democrat) observed that it
was owing to the gallantry and achievements Of
Gen Scott that they toere noo enabled ~ SIT there
- safety TO iegislote him ont ofofice. He fatter-
ed himself that there was no danger Of the propo-
sition being adopted but he would entreat those
gentlemen who disposed to favor il to bear in
mind WHAT THE COUNTRY OWED TO THIS DIsTIN-
GUIsHED OFFICER"
The question was then taken on Mr.. j. W.
Daylss amendment, and il toos rejected. Mr.. j. w.
Davis then offeredan amendment to reduce he PAY
Of the Major General TO $3.50 month bit his
amendment ,oas also rejected.
Thus terminated the memorable Congressional at
tack Of 1914 on Gen. ScoTT. We doubt if the Sc
Material attack Of 1852 will be fruitful of more i'm
portant advantages to the DEMOCRATIC party.
[RPsoic.