Lewistown gazette. [volume] (Lewistown, Pa.) 1843-1944, 1852-10-15
Another Base Fabrication Against Gen.
Scott Dispelled.

Another Base Fabrication Against Gen.
Scott Dispelled.
To the Editors of the NeaC- York Erpress.
In your paper of the 23d inst, noticed
from some structures of your own, that the
profigate and corrupt organ of Locotocolsm
in the keystone State, the PenRSyICGni0a, re-
iterates the falsehood OF which its conductors
were the authors that Gen. Scott was respon-
sible for the licensing Of the gambling houses
in the city Of Mexico, after it had been con-
quered by the army under him. Nothing is
more destitute of truth than the assertion.
The first civil and military Governor OF the
city Of Mexico was Major General Qultman,
On ultra democrat, and his successor was
Breyet Brigadier General Persifer +. Smith,
likewise of the same school of politics, and
opposed in this respect to Gen. Scott. Mayor
General Quitman, as the first Anglo Saxon
Governor of Mexico, established all Its mu-
nicipal regulations after it was brought under
the subiection of the American flag, and he
fixed the amount of licenses for drinking,
gaming, and other public houses Of similar
character, without consultation with, o. iR-
reference from, Major Gen. Scott The
writer Of this. under the direction OF the
civil and military Governor, issued most of
those licenses with his own hand, and has
the PennsylcaniGq, or any other equally de-
prayed newspaper, attempts to hold Gen.
Scott responsible foc the licensing of drink
ing and gaming houses in the city of Mexico.
for immoral practices tliay are guilty OF
pcrpetratiug as malicious an asperslUa against
him, rs the depravity Of the human heart
can engendcr. Gen. Smith. on succeeding
Major Gen. lluitman. increased the amount
of one class Of licenses FROM the honest con
yiction that the best interests Of OEr own
army, required that both if possible, should
le suppressed And in doing this, he but
exercised . discretion tllat was vested in him
by virtue Of the trust which had been con-
fded 10 him, and with which the General-in-
Chief had no right to interfere, unless that
discretion was abused either 10 the ds&rlment
Of the American army, or to the community
at large, that was affected by it.
Had the licenses been made ten times as
high as they were, il would have been most
fortunate thing for many iocotoco officer Of
the army, and some of wloll. are sougAz to te
rewarded by their party With the highest
civil honor known to uur institutions. /;
comes, therefore. with vary poor grace troIa
the Psaay4}raHi..a. 90 charg- 'ten. Scott with
immortality because thc civil and military
4'overrors Of the city ii Mezico, who were
indebted t. him fo- ;h,t 6onor. had attempted
70 Suppress EamLijug hy assessing a tax upon
;u who kept gaming houses Il any deser!p-
ton.
Both the administration Of Major General
Quitmau AMI Gen. smith. az the two Ameri-
san Governors of Mexico. were 50 satisfactory,
1hat Gen. Scott hQ! no reason 10 interfere in
the least with the municipal rules and rcgu-
lations adopted by either Of thcm. Gambling
among the MeAcau> w28 regarded as na-
tiona virtue, rendering the temptations t.
thUsc Of our own army VINO were NJ all adj
dicted - this pcru;ciDu- rice, almost irres;s
tible. Many squ.ndercd their entire pay,
and all that could be borrowed by them.
tro1a friends, NJ these gaming houses and
both Gen. QuiLn&n md Gen. SMITH exercised
al the power they possessed to lcs 'on the
ice, il they could not entirely suppress it.
Had either or both Of them, consulted Gen.
Scott, there can be 20 dGsstt IL would have
applau6e3 tle gojiye that prompted them
and extended to th2n any authority he could
legally clotse thel+ Win whether by tax
atlon Or otherwise. to suppress gambling in
the city Of Mexico altogether. Ii ~as with
this design alone. that the license system
both as regards drinking and gambling hUus-
6, was established by GeH ,{utman and
carried out bv Gen. Snirh rs i.s succoUsOr a.
Governor Of the city Of Mexico and - far
from its being ground for censurin% either Of
Them. or General Scott. sLo Ms G.cperaLin-
Chief Of the Army. it shouli bs ease tor
appreciation on the part Of eyary moral and
upright man Ia the community.
The history Of the world does Qot fnrnis!i
an instance where calrpAi-ei invading all
encmy'~ country was ever con,luciod upon a.
humane magnanimous, and rigidiy moral
principles, as was the campaign OF Scott, IN
marching over and conouerirg y ex;eo. The
statesman, the phil2nt1ropist the Christian,
the generous and feeling conquoror. can be
traced in every line and upon every page Of
the history Of that memorable and un-
cquallcd brilliant campaign; aDd great and
ovarsAaaowing as was The fame # General
Scott previous Consuming tie command Of the
American army in Mexico, the crowaing act
of his glory and Worldwide renown is the
line Of conduct h. pursued upon every battle
field, and after every victory, and in his tri-
umphant march from Vera Cruz to the an
cient city Of the Aztecs, The Pennsylcaaton,
therefore, in assaiIing him Is, like the viper
biting file
ONE WHO SERVED UNDER SCOTT.