Herald of the times. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1849-1856, 1852-10-21

DrMocRkriU MEETING Al NEwroRT.-
On Thursday evening last, IA Democrat
ic me- eiing Was held in Newport, which
was addressed BY Brever 1t. Col. james
l.. Mason, of the y. s.. Engineers. A
letter in he Post giving An account oi
that meeting says Of Colonel Mason's
speech: Is.
lie examined, very critically the
whole Of Ger Scor's military career,
and shew that while. in the war OF 1912
he was only "A subordinate officer. n the
great battle OF Brown, the soriie OF Fort
Erie. who commanded in all the others
on which Scott bases ms reputaiion, he
was al sent. He pointed out iir detail,
the tact not unirequrnrly alluded to.
that had Scott, alter the battle Of Cerro
Gordo. gone direct, without discharging
his 300 volunteers, to the city OF Mexi-
co, more than 5000 men subsequently,
sacrificed, would have been saved"
We hope for the honor Of this genll,:
man, h. has not been correctly report
ed. II the report is correct, j: mutt
have been amusing 10 have heard tie
career Of Gen. Scott in the war Of 1912,
criticised by ore who graduated from
West Point in 1886. Ii mus, have been
refreshing to have listened to this off,
GERS attempts to belittls the old hero,
whom the midnight burglar would not
rob of the medal voted him by resolu-
ton Of Congress. Cor his service in the
war of 1912. Why does Col. Mason
seek to lay such stress upon the absence
OF Gen. Scott from Fort E'ie 2 He
knows or ought to know that Scott was
suffering from severe wound at the
date Of that battle, and was far from the
scene OF action. No one ever attempt
ed to impute any blame to Col. Mason,
Tor not participating in the stormlng OF
Chapul,cpec and the.iaking OF the gate
ol San Cosme, and yet his absence from
those actions is as justly deserving OF
com ment as is Gen. SCOTS absence from
Fort Erie. Col. Mason was severely
wounded at the sanguinary battles oil
Molino del Rey, and utterly unable to
take the field. His reputation cannot
suffer from that absence, and we believe
no officer can be und who would re.
proach him with il. BY his conduct at
Vera Cruz, at Ccrro Gordo at San An
tonic, AT Churubusco, and AT Molino del
Rey, he aided in securing the entrance
OF the American Army into the city OF
Mexico. This is freely awarded TO
hlm on all hands. Withou, those bat
ties the city coufl not have been enter
ed, and So. but Tor The vigorous contest
arQuetns,own and the victories at Chip
peva and Lundy's Lnne, the battle OF
Fort Erie would never have been fought,
and any man who will assert that the
spirit Infused into the troops and the
confidence gwen TO them by Gen. Scol,'s
intrcptdity and energy n, Chippewa and
Lunhy's Lane, did no, produce its effect
AT Fort Ere, shows his ignorance Of the
constitution OF the human mind.
We learn too, that Cot. Mason inform.
ed the Democracy OF Newport how the
campaign OF Mexico might have been
more successfully conducted. Col. Ma
son teaching Gen, Scolt, the art Of war !
lie is reported 70 have said ha, Gen.
Scott by pushing on afier the battle OF
Cerro Gordo would have saved $1,000
men subsequently, sacrificed" Major
Stevens, who was also an orator at this
meeting has published his opinion about
This ,natter, and told the country that
Gen. Scott could not with honor and
obedience tp the instrur tions Of Secreta-
~ Marcy, push on with the volunteers.
But where were the 5000 mcn sacrificed
of whom Co. Mason speaks But 395
men were killed in the battles Of the val
ley Of Mexico, and 40 more died Of their
wounds soon alter. 2474 were wound
ed there, but among these were Col.
Mason and Major Stevens, who don't
seem to consider themselves sacrificed
'intrcly." How many more of those
who were thus sacrificed by Gen. Scoit's
delay, still. live, we have no means Of
figuring, but VIC can point out very ma
ny within our own observation. The
whole number Of wounded in the whole
of Mexico was 37i3, and the probability
ia, the larger portion survived the war
rs the roll Of Invalid Pensioners has
been increased since Oct. 1916, by the
number Of 1892.
But we have no desire TO find fault
with Col. Mason for seeking TO impair
the tame OF Gen. Scott II he likes this
business oil dctraction, We trust he will
take his fill. 1t is we'll known that he
was in the staff Of Gen. Worth in Mex
i,o, and shared in the hostility of that OIL
fcer towards The gallant chief:
.Taniene animis cGles,ibusire'
'Dwells such resentment in heavenly
minds. -Proridence Times.
THE HrALTH or Mn. WEBsrEH,-We
learn that the health OF MIR. Webster is