The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1852-10-14
Movement. OF General scott.
The Dinner at Sandusky-1ns Speeches,
Tpv -

[By rELreRAPRj
SANpUsky, October 1.-THE dinner given to
General Scott at the Exchange Hotel last evening
was very brilliant affair, After the plates were
removed, Hon. E. Cook was called on for a speech.
In responding to the call he made very eloquent
address, reviewing the services of General Scott
throughout his career. During the speech, he
touched upon the fact which has been stated, that
during the Mexican war Scott offered large
sum of money to take the government Of Mexico
into his own hands.
General SooTT replied
My friends and fellow. citiEens-friends I
may well call you-it is impossible for me to sit
| still under the very eloquent words which have
just heard spoken, and under your very emphatic
appreciation of them, without making my acknow-
Judgments tn my honorable friend VINO has pour
ed cot stream Of c..oo4uenee containing so many
aiiusons personal to myself-a illusions highly col
orcd. no doubt but with perhaps some little foun.
dation in truth. l say cannot sit and hear that
address, and the applause with which It has been
received, without rising TO offer my thanks.
at has been my fortune to bear the standard Of
our common country into a foreign land, backed
and supported by our own noble citizens, native
born and adopted. Under the smes OF Providence,
it has been my lot to witness many victories
achieved by our glorious army. 1t has been my
LOT to participate, on many occasions more than
shall recite-in the most Interesting and animated
spectacles which any person can behold-the tear
| ing down Of the standard Of foreign enemy, and
| the raising up Of your own. But, supported as I
was by most Intelligent officers and brave men, II
was almost impossible to avoid this result. The
acts we're periected-they have been recorded to
the honor OF our country. will be pardoned If !
myseIf
my friend has alluded to the dark clouds
which hung over US, and obscurcd the light Of
Heaven from our country, and to the deep dejec-
| ton, amounting almost to despair, which covered
our land in the early part of the war of 1872 The
battle of Chippewa was at hand. To what am
about to say. Major Camp. and many others who
served in that war, will testify [Cheers for Major
Camp] shall have occasion to speak particu-
larly and more emphatically Of that brother SOL
der. Marching into battle, called out to gallant
| oihcer-who was at a considerable distance-loud
enough for the greater part of our to hear me,
| There is dark cloud hanging over the country.
Let US draw our swords and do something that will
gladden. the hearts of the country Let US do some.
| thing which will cause our countrymen to ring the
bells and build bonfres and ilIuminations. The
| thing was done and repeated ON other occasions.
(Applause.l That is the slight piece Of egotsm
to which have been led by the eloquent address
| which we have just heard. l spoke Of another
and who now stands, near me- tie was in 1914
compared with his merit he entered the cam.
paign with the rank Of captain. His rank should
have been tina, that Of Of colonel LAppause You
next in importance to the chief commander OF the
army. Every thing depends upon his energy and
foresight. General Brown said to Majo. Camp. in
one in the city of Buffalo had been burned and oil
the boats belonging to Lake Erie had been collected
and carried of. and when it was absolutely neces-
sary for us to cross over Niagara river. Can
turned to General Brown, and said: 4 know
the thing to DO impossible. Major Camp will do his
best In due season, much to our joy, ample
means were provided by the indefatigable Camp,
md nj FsNnr hnh had hi ~~. Sk.tx
casion, of leading my brigade, and be stood side
by side with me on the quarter deck of that little
boat, which was stranded, under the heavy
fire of the enemy. had to swim for my life and
been drowned. [sensation.l But for Major Camp
there would have ended my little history. He
took me BY the collar while he was strug.
Cling in the stream and pulled me over
| were favored as by an overruling Providence. In
| every instance of necessity we were supplied with
| ample means, which reminded me of Frederick Of
Prussia, who said to the commssary general: i
my army at such point May it please your
majesty he replied, impossibility shall not only
become possibility, but certainty So it proved
with US in every event. [Applause.] cannot re-
has been poorly requed considering the services
rendered, as Major Camp. have said that he en-
tered the campaign with rank far below his merit.
At its close he had earned the rank OF major. 1t
should have been that of major general. ICheers
! for Major Camp
"My honorable friend who has addressed you
in such eloquent terms almost to deter me from
| attempting to speak, has referred to some scenes
that occurred in Mexico, to one or two of which
beg leave to advert. He has spoken of the protec-
ton extended to the churches, he might have add
ed to the persons and property OF all ! had the
! try for the protection given TO the church, and
also those Of his people | bad his affection, his
thanks and his blessing He was an aged man,
| then eighty-hve years of age, and ia now gone to
his long home spoke to him about the pictures
| with which the churches were ornnmented. They
were copies and originals by the first masters Of
| Spain, and the former could not be distinguished
| by connolsseur from the originals. He supposed
| that had fancy for some Of them; and | must
| say had had lurking wish to bring some
home for our public buildings not for private use.
! Infatuated such purpose; and he said if'l chose
to select fifteen or twenty Of them, he would assist
me in selecting duplicates one of which might be
| returned for Mexico.
81 went horne, and though hit on the matter. III
| take these picturcs home, thought !, it would be
| like taking from Peter to pay Paul. If take
twenty, why should not other officers take pictures
| in proportion. So came to the conclusion not to
| take one; nor was there picture taken, i am con
hdent, by any American officer or American sol.
| der They were all left as we found them, I'M
touched aud undamaged [Applause.l
Zone word more about myself, my friends My
friend has adverted to the proposition floating
about in the newspapers have nowhere seen it
| correctly stated that offer was made to me to
remain in that country and govern it. The i'm.
preston which generally prevails, that the propo
| stlon emanated from Congress, 10 an erroneous
one. The overture was made to me by private
| citizens; men of wealth and prominence During
our stay in Mexico, our system OF government and
police was established, which, as the inhabitants
Themselves confessed, gave security-for the first
time perfect and absolute eecurity-to person and
| property. About two fiths of all the branches Of
| government, including nearly majority Of the
members Of Congress and the Executive, were quite
desirous Of having that country annexed to
ours. They knew that upon the ratification
| OF the treaty of peace nineteen out of twenty
| Of the persons belonging to the American
| army would stand disbanded, and would be
absolutely free from all obligations to remain
| in the army another moment. II was entirely
true of all the new regiments called regulars and
eight out Of ten Of the rank and file Of the old regi
| mcuts After the war was over, the Government
| overwhelmed Inc with reinforcemcnts after there
| was no possibility of fighting another battle.
"When the war commenced we had but one
fourth the force which we needed. The Mcxicans
| knew that the men in my army would be entitled
| to their discharge. They supposed, If they could
obtain my services, ] would retain those twelve
fifteen thousand men, and that could easily obtain
one hundred thou,and more from home. The hope
| vas that II would Immediately cause annexation.
| They offered me million dollars a bonus,
with salary of $3.50 900 per annum, and five
| responsible men to become security in any bank
| in New York which I mip hit same IL would be