Iowa capitol reporter. [volume] (Iowa City, Iowa) 1841-1855, 1852-10-20

Among the items of the enormous
accounts of Gen Scott, is S7,sS5, 10,
which the Wing accounting officers
report that he retains without the
authority Of law. This is the report
Of the Wing officer rcybatim. Mr.
Crittendcn, the Wing Attorney Gen
eral; and and law officer of the Gov
trnment, decides that General Scott
Is not untitled to retain this sum, yet
he still holds on to it; and the Repub-
lie, his special organ, publishes the
following, which is a note made by
General Scott in justification of his
course:
with the moneys which on the
account Of The army, came into nv
hands in Mexico, viz: special contri
button money Gin lieu of pillage) levi
ed upon the capital of that country,
captured tobacco money, a debt due
the Mexican government collected by
my order, a tax Oh gamblers licenses,
and small sum saved at the hospi
tai of Perote, the Treasury of the
United States has nothing to do
whatever. Not one of those items
fall under the 5Sh article of war. nor
under any other provision of law
Those items were collected under The
laws of war, and are to be accounted
Tor accordingly"
He, here, like a true military chief
tain, bids defiance to the civil laws
and the decisions of Attorney Gen
Crals-throws himself, with high
head, on the laws of war generally.
He claims that the Treasury has
nothing to do with his collections
His gamblers license money he may
keep in his own pocket BY the
way, we do not know Of any law,
either civil or moral, which authorized
him to license gambling houses
Suppose Gen. Pierce had done such
u thing? How the moral sense of
Whiggery would have been shocked.
Gen Scott directed Gen Smith the
Military and Civil Governor of Mex
leo; to Issue gamblers license at the
rate Of one thousand dollars per
month for one table. On this subject
that faithful historian, Major Ripley,
says:
"The speed with whicb-*his tax.
was paid, ss welk,e.s1~:I Ii = - -
licenses grants
told plainly 10 what al eXleal lllIl
vice was INDUCED in. Officers and
soldiers, in great numbers, were at
PENDANTS at the different hells, which
varied in degree as much as the tai
eDts and capital of their keepers.
"A more effective instrument for
the destruction Of any thing like NOR
tally; either with the old army or with
the re- endorsements, could hardly have
been immagined. 1t had its effects,
and did produce something like the
state of things so much dreaded BY
the general in chief.
'From this very cause, thus legal
ly permitted and sanctioned, there
happened an event some little time
subsequently, which in truth did dis
ssrace the army, and, what was inf
nitely worse, the country which en-
played it. allude to an attempt at
robbery, committed by an officer of
the regular army, three OF the Penn
sylvania volunteers, ana organized
band of soldiess and employers of the
quarter-master,ss department. The
event is still so fresh in the memory
OF the army, and, it is feared, of
others, that no further allusion to it
can be required"
On this money, Gen. Scott char
ged 81 per cent. for collection. The
Attorney General, Mr.. Crittenden,
says there is no authority for such
charge. Yet Gen. Scott delies all
law and refuses to pay ii over. THIS
is what the Wings call abusing the
Hero of an hundred battles. Indiana
State Seminal.