Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1852-06-30
NO. XXXIIL

n South carolina al LllS llIilc was W PISFenI
4 if possible, any direct act of collision, AM
. at The same time enforce the laws of tn
r federal government. Scott's moderation
Q and discretion while at Charleston savei
the country from the horrors of civil war
}, The full history Of his valuable services, OF
: that occasion, cannot now be written, al
e much of it still remains under the seal oi
secrecy. :.
y On the Goth of January, 1886, Gen. Scott
: was ordered to take command in the Flori-
da war. There he did all that the greatest
| military talent could accomplish. But the
malice or envy of brother officer by mis-
representations made to the President, pro.
cured his recall, for the purpose Of having
his official conduct subjected 10 the opinion
of court of inquiry. That court, after full
investigation, pronounced the charges a.
eainst Gen. Scott unsustained; and further,
that che had been jealous and indefatiga7
bic in the discharge of his duties, and that
his plan of campaign was ell devised and
prosecuted with energy, steadiness, and a.
bility." ;, r. .. :"
In 1888 Gen Scott was sent by the Pres.
idens to the Canada frontier, then in state
of fearful excitement on account Of the
burning of the Caroline within the Ameri-
can territory. The whole population of
Northern New York seemed about to march
into Canada to avenge the wrong which had
been done to the national honor, The OBJ
ject Of the administration was to preserve
the peace between the two nations until
pending difficulties could be settled by me-
gotiatioh. For this purpose Scott was sent
to the frontier. There he labored night and
day, passing rapidly from point to point,
experimenting and directing the actions
both of the military and the civil authori-
ties and frequently, along line of eight
hundred miles, addressing immense gath
erings of the excited citizens. He succeed
ed in his mission beyond the expectations
of the most sanguine. The peace of tho
country was preserved.
During the same year he was ordered to
the delicate service OF removing the Cher.
okee nation beyond the Mississippi. Hero
he displayed at once the highest degree Of
energy, sagaclty; and humanity.
The leading journals of the day were til.
led with encomiums upon the conduct OF
Scott in these services. The National In
telligencer of September 9th, 1888, says:
The manner in which this gallant officer
has acquitted himself within the last year
upon our Canada frontier and lately among
the Cherokees, has excited the universal
admiration and gratitude Of the whole ma.
ton."
In 1889 arose the Northeastern Bounda.
ry difficulty. The disputed territory was q:
bout to become the battle-ground between
the troops of Maine and New Brunswick.
War was considered inevitable. In this
crisis General Scott was again deputed by
the government to calm the rising storm
His able services on that occasion showed
him to be possessed of the highest talents
as a statesman and diplomatist. A war
considered inevitable was prevented-the
honor of the country preserved-and Scott
returned with fresh laurels upon his brow /;
and "the hero OF Lundy's Lane" was hailed
on all sides as the "GreM Pacifcator."
The services of General Scott in the Mex.
lean war are Of so recent date, and so fresh
in the recollections Of the American people
and the whole civilized world, that It is
useless to do more than make passing al
lusion.'
On the 10th of March, 1s47 Gen. Scott
arrived before Vera Cruz. On the 18th Of
September, 1847, he planted the stars and
stripes over the national palace in the city
of Mexico. Within these six months San
Juan D'Ulloa-the American Gibralter--
was stormed, and the battles Of Cerro Cor
do, Conlreras, San Antonio, Churubusco,
MoIinos del Rev, and Chepultepec were
fought and won. With less than ten thou
sand fighting men he attacked and routed,
again and again, thirty thousand of the best
troops of Mexico posted behind the strong
est fortifcations, and fighting with the cour-
age of desperation. Nothing of military
achievement recorded in ancient or modern
history can excel the glory OF that march
from Vera Cruz to the city of Mexicol
Such is the brief sketch of one whose life
has been devoted to the service and glory
of his country and whose patriotism is en-
larged enough to extend to the whole coun-
try. Born Southern man, reared and ed.
ucatcd among Southerners, he has fought
and bled alike for the North and South; and
to suppose that he could be willing to do in.
Justice to either, would be to declare the
last forty years of his life but lie.
Much abuse has recently been heaped
upon this gallant patriot because he declines
giving written pledges upon the various
questions which may be involved IN the
approaching Presidential election. We
doubt not that several of the gentlemen now
prominent before the Democratic party
would cheerfully give pledges of any kind
,ohaiersr, provided they could thereby Sc.
cure nomination. tits not difficult to mako
promises. and it is very easy thing to break
them. We could point to an illustricus ex.
ample in the history of the Democratic par.
ty which occurred but very few years
since. A certain Presidential candidate
gave written pledge that he was in favor
Of the protective system, and got tariff votes
thereby but as soon as elected, became
sudden convert to the doctrines of free
trade. :
When citizen has been for nearly half
century in the service of his country, his
past history is the best guaranty for his fu-
ture conduct.
Ants and the Antfllers.
Willis, IN a letter from Martinique (why
not ANTIQUE) makes mention of the follow
ing annoyance
Ioka 1akk II>- -