Daily American telegraph., 1852-07-19
PRICE 2 CENTS.
from the Hartford (Couu) Courant. I
General Scott I'm Mexico.


of the United States. We cheerfully and conf
IDENTIFY respond to this call, and, from among the
numerous examples of this fitness, we select The
ciua administration Of General Scott IN Aerico.
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 was at the head of victorious army, ready
at word for plunder. Under these difficulties,
he commenced the administration Of the Mexican
affairs, as their conqueror. Here, now is field
for the exhibition Of cuiy 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 constitute real great man could be so
completely called out. 1t was place demanding
prudence, frmness, moderation, forbearance and
magnanimity The conduct of Winfield Scott
exhibited all these qualities of greatness.
The conqueror entered the city of Mexico Sep
tember a. 1847 One great object was before
him-peace-an honorable and profitable peace
for his country. To accomplish this object, his
first attention was directed to the discipline Of
his own army, SO that no conduct on their part
might exasperate the foe or lead to the resistance
of despair, On the 18th of September he issued
his orders, defining the crimes against the CON
quered, which were to be published-thus pub
fishing u new written code Of laws which were
equally to apply to the conquerors and the de-
feated. In this code, the administration Of JUS
tice, 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 Amer
lean force, except in certain cases Of Importance
to our own citizens. Both the rule and the ex-
ception show the judgment of the General.
Wherever military police was kept up IN any
city, Mexican police was likewise to be estab-
lished to act in harmony. The capital, the
churches, the religious worship, the prosperity
and the peace of its inhabitants were all placed
under the special life guard Of the honor and
faith of the American army As o compensation
for this protection, contribution Of $3.50, 600
was ordered to be levied in the capital, to be col
lected by the Mexicans themselves which contri-
button to be employed III the purchase Of
blankets and shoes for the rank and file of the
army. We need no better proof of the civil
virtues of cur hero than the above general order.
Its moderation forbearance, and magnanimity,
are apparent on every line. His attention to the
preservation Of order and law manifests char
acter beyond that of the mere military com
mander. His thoughtfulness Of the comforts of
his own soldiers will be remembered by them
with gratitude.
As soon as his troops were settled in their
quarters, and the internal police regulations of
Mexico and the other conquered cities were ar
ranged, General Scott turned his attention to the
inquiries into the Mexican financial policy; pro-
hibited the expectation Of bars and ingots of the
precious metals, 10 keep up sufficient circulating
medium among the troops in the country; and
collected, within n month after the capture Of
the city, oil the memoirs and publications con-
+, cerning the finances Of the country, and the
! portation of specie, which he could find, and
| transmitted them to our government for the basis
of their operation AS early as December, he
sent to the government table Of distances of the
several cities from Mexico-the best routes to
reach them-their trade, and the means of Sc
curing it, and if the country was to be perma
nently annexed Of rendering such commerce val
liable to the United States There is certainly
here manifested some of the traits Of the practical
st1tesE7Qn.
On the 25th of December General Scott details
to government his plans for the management Of
the finances Of the conquered country. Ills in
tention was, he says not to NEEDLE with the State
OF city revenues, lest the people should be too
much excited against their conquerors, but to
seize the revenues Of the federal government,
wherever they coull be found-more particularly
the ordinary internal dues on the precious metals
In the same despatch he treats OF the subject Of
the entire annexation of the country with states
manlike views, but remarks that it is his duty
only to offer such suggestions as his local knowl-
edge would furnish him
| In the general order alluded to in the above
despatch of December 25 we find that the inter
! nal taxes or dues referred TO are direct taxes
duties on the production Of gold and silver; melt.
ing and assaying dues, the tobacco rent the
rent of stamped paper; the rent OF the manufac-
ture of playing cards and the rent of post
offices These revenues he demands. He then
prohibits lotteries and establishes port regula
! tions and rules tor levying import and export
duties making such changes in favor of the
United States rs were necessary. The arrange
ment for the levying of these duties-the dis
elimination to be made-the mode of collecting
the Mexican revenues-all indicate q mind Of
sound financial capacity, and Of the grasp of the
statesman.
On this same subject we might alludc to the
skill manifested in laying the assessments on the
different cities of the republic for the mainte
nance Of the American troops. Much judgment
was needed here to equalize these assessments
to invent the best means OF their collection, so as
not to exasperate the conquered people, or to
rouse them into rebellion The whole Of this
subject in all its details shows the great and com
prehensive mind of the commahder-in- chief.
Such is one of the proofs that can be given in
| favor of the craftsmanship Of Winfield Scott.
/ The difficulties OF such q situation cannot be
properly appreciated at the present time Gen.
Scott had an army TO control, heated oy success,
and full Of contempt for the conquered enemy
His subordinate officers were, many OF them,
Jealous of his fame, and enyous oil ms rank
His own government had been 50 desrous that
the fame Of his exploits should have rested OH
another's shoulders, they thwarted his opera
tions. neglected his army, and left him to the re-
sources of his own genius. so manifest was that
genins. and so reeonciled were the enemy to his
9jn,inistration of their civil affairs that, when
he left the country, they offered him the
Presidency of the republic, with salary Of u
million and a quarter of dollars. Is there no
proof Of the craftsmanship Of Scott?
In contrast to this exalted picture, We have the
fact that Franklin Pierce has been u practising
! nttnrnnu fnr twentv unnrs tint he has heen IN