Daily American telegraph. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1851-1852, 1852-10-11
The Honorable Robert M. moLane, OF
Baltimore.

We few days since quoted q few words re-
ported to have been uttered by this gentleman in
a speech at Wilmington, Delaware, on Saturday
evening, the I'd instant. These words were, that
he could prove General Scott to be "THIEF,
COWARD, and LrAR!" In quoting them, we in
timated that although we had the fullest conf
dence in the Wilmington Republican, in which we
found them reported, yet we hoped that Mr.. No
Lane had been misunderstood that we were re-
luctant to credit any statement in disparagement
of him as gentleman of courtesy and fairness.
We perceive, however, that many other papers
have republished the report of his remarks, and
that its truthfulness is uncontradcted by him
and his friends, personal and political. We regret
this as we fully believe Mr.. McLane will. Some
strange and unusual influence has caused him to
forget his true character, to disregard the sent-
ments by which he has been governed throughout
his life and even to stuafy himself in attempt
cd REPUTATION of the words he has in calmer times
uttered respecting General Scott. Lest he may
have altogether forgotten these words, we will
recall brief passage of one of his speeches to
his memory. 1t was delivered in the United
States House Of Representatives, on the 21st of
March, l84S, on the proposition to print certain
correspondence of General Scott. The incidents
of the conquests of General Scott and of his CAP
TIVITY AND TRIAL, were then fresh in the
minds of his countrymen and the pampered pet,
pimp, and toady Of Mr.. Polk, by the use of whom
it was hoped to PROSTATE the noble old hero, was
then in the full tide Of glory and the display of
his "fuss and feathers" Mr.. McLane, though
q Locofoco, partisan of an administration that
had come into power by means Of fraud, and de-
parted in disgrace, was yet an American, O. gen.
tleman, and patriot; and he gave utterance to
the following remarks, as reported in the Appen-
dix to the Congressional Globe, lst session, Both
Congress, page 4Ol:
"The gentleman from North Carolina Mr..
CLIEGMAN1 cannot enlighten me, or this House,
or the country, in regard to General Scott's ex.
cellence as o soldier. Not only do we recognise
in his operations on the City of Mexico-on the
7 whole line, from the Gulf coast to the heart
Of the Mexican Empire-eyery quality which
marks skillful and scientific general, but we
rejoice that these successes are but the fruits of
tree which gave promise in the war of 1872
Mr.. Mel. said it was delicate and difficult task
70 DEFEND the ADMINISTRATOR against such attacks
rs had just been made by the gentleman from
North Carolina, without doing some violence to
the feelings Of the distinguished Generals, ScoTr
and TAYLOR And he very much regretted
that gentlemen on the other Sside of the House
SO often violated the respect due these eminent
soldiers by appropriating their fame and public
service, to the mere party use of the hour"
And yet, without having incumbent upon him
the necessity of performing any such delicate
and dificult task" Mr.. McLane forgets all that
is due to the General whom be so highly praised
four brief years ago, and is prepared to prove
him ga niisf, cowGrd, and har" 1t seems
to us incredible that any possible influence could
so debase, degrade and prostitute the enthusiasm
and talents of an accomplished gentleman Yet
the times are strangely out of joint