The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1852-07-14
From the Hartford (COnn.) Courant.
General scott I'm Mexico.


We have been called upon to mention any event
in the life of WINFIELD ScoTr which would indi-
cate the possession of talents for the civil govern
ment Of the United States. We cheerfully and
confidently respond TO this call, and, from among
the numerous examples of this fitness, we select
the Standardization Of General Scott IN Merieo
We pass over the great battles which were
gained, extending from Vera Cruz to the capital,
and we find him at the head of conquering army
In the city of Mexico. The enemy, instigated by
the most intense hatred, were around him. He
was far removed from supplies or reinforcements
He at the head OF victorious army, ready at q
word for plumber Under these difficulties, he
commenced the administration OF the Mexican
affairs, as their conqueror. Here, now, is u field
for the exhibition Of civi as well as military tai.
ents, for triumph as great as that of the field.
We know of no situation where all the elements Of
what constitutes real great man could be SO com.
pletely called out. It was place demanding pru-
dence, frmness, moderation, forbearance, and
ma gnanimity. The conduct of Winfield Scott ex-
hbitcd all these qualities of greatness.
The conqueror entered the city Of Mexico Sep
tember Ia, ls47. One great object was beforc
him-peace-an honorable and profitable peace for
his country. To accomplish this object, his fret
attention directed to the discipline of his own
army, so that no conduct on their part might ex,
asperate the foe lead to the resistance Of despair
On the l7,h Of September he Issues his orders, de
fining the crimes against the conquered which
were to be punished-tbus publishing new written
code of laws which were equally to apply to the
conquerors and the defeated. In this code, the ad
ministraton of justice, both in civil and criminal
matters was left to the courts Of the country and
was not to be interrupted by any officer or soldier
of the American force, except in certain cases Of
importance to our own citizens. Both the rule and
the exception show the judgment of the General.
Wherever military police was kept up in any
city, Mexican police was likewise to be establish.
ed to act in harmony. The capitalize churches
the religious worship-the prosperity and the peace
Of its Inhabitants all placed under the special
safe guard Of the honor and faith of the American
army. As a compensation for this protection,
contribution of 100 900 was ordered to be levied
on the capital, to be collected by the Mexicans
themselves, which contribution was to be employed
in the purchase of extra comforts for the wounded
and sick, and for the purchase OF blankets and
shoes for tho rank and file uf the army. We need
better proof of the civil virtues of hero than
the above general order. Its moderation, forbear-
ance, and magnanimity are apparent on every
line His attention to the preservation of order and
military commander. His thoughtfnness of the
comforts of his own soldiers will be remembered by
them with gratitude.
As soon as his troops were settled in their quar-
ters, and the internal police regulations OF Mexico
and the other conquered cities were arranged,
General Scott turned his attention to the concerns
of his new. government He made strict inquiries
into the Mexican financial policy; prohibited the
expectation Of bars and ingots of the precious
metal to keep up sufficient circulating medium
among the troops in the country; and collected,
within month after the capture of the city, all
the memoirs and publications concerning the |
finances of the country and the expectation Of spc
Gle which he could find, and transmitted them TO
our Government for the basis OF their operation |
As early as December, he sent to Government a |
table of distances of the several cities from Mex.
ico-the best routes to reach them-their trade and
the means Of securing it, and, il the country was
to be permanently annexed, OF rendering such
L. xk. nstAl Stata ThAra
is certainly here manifested some of the traits of
the practical statesmdN.
On the 25th Of December, General Scott details
to Government his plans for the management OF
the finances of the conquered territory. His in |
tention was, he says, not to medde with the State
city revenues lest the people should be too much
excited against their conquerors, but to seize the |
revenues Of the Federal Government wherever they
could be found more particularly the ordinary in.
ternal dues on the precious metals. In the same |
despatch he treats of the subject of the entire an
nexaton of the country with statesmanlike views;
but remarks that IL ia his duty only to offer such
suggestions as his local knowledge would furnish |
him.
In the general orders alluded to in the above de.
spatch of December 25. we find that the internal
dues referred to direct taxes; duties
the production of gold and silver; melting and as
saying dues; the tobacco rent; the rent of stamped
paper; the rent on the manufacture OF playing |
he demands. He then prohibits lotteries, and es
tablishes port regulations and rules for levyng |
import and export duties, making such changes
in favor Of the United States as were necessary |
The arrangements for the levying of these duties
the Determinations to be made-the mode Of col.
Letting the Mexican revenues-all indicate mind |
of sound financial capacity and of the grasp of the
statesman.
On this same subject we might allude to the skill |
manifested in laying the assessments on the dif |
ferent cities of the Republic for the maintenance of
the American troops. Much judgment was needed |
here to equalize these assessments; to invent the
haot nf fhpIr IA
ate the conquered people or to rouse them into re-
bclion. The whole OF this subject in all its details
shows the great and comprehensive mind OF the |
comman der in chief.
Such is one of the proofs that can be given in ia
vor of the statesmanship of Winfield Scott The |
difficulties of such situation cannot be properly
appreciated at the present time. Gen. Scott had
an army to control, heated by success and full OF
contempt for the conquered enemy. His subordi |
nate officers were, many of them, jealous Of his |
fame, and envious OF his rank. His own Govern |
ment had been desirous that the fame of his ex |
PLOTS should have rested on another's shoulders,
that they thwarted his operations. neglected his
army, and left him to the resources of his own ge-
MUS. So manifest was that genius and 80 recon |
ciled the enemy to his administration Of their
civil affairs that, when he left the country they
offered him the Presidency of the republic with n
salary Of q million and quarter of dollars. Is
there no proof Of The statesman.hip Of Scott?
In contrast to this exalted picture, we have the
fact that Franklin Pierce has been practising at
torney for twenty years; that he has been in both
Houses of Congress-; that he voted against Internal
that he made speech against |
granting pttance to the widow of Harrison; and |
that he made another against the removal OF his
own party from the emoluments OF office!
Candid reader! Look at these two pictures, and
decide TOR yourself where the craftsmanship lies.
Hon. II, NJ +. McKENNAN. AT Washington,
Pa, on receiving despatch announcing the death
of Mr. McKennan. all business was suspended, the
court. house bell was toed, and a flag drapcd in
was suspended from the steeple. A
town meeting called to express the regret OF |
the people at the oss OF their distinguished towns
man We la,rp frop, the reading TotlrnaL that