New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1852-08-16

4
supposed II within the range of possibilities that ne
,rieh, meet with unforeseen checks ana reversss
FINDING that he disappointed In his eHpectauohs
e.. eome that he did not receive what he required
and what had been promised with chsrsc
he set himself accomplish hs objects win tne means
thai be had He succeeded against forces 80 lac 9pe
,ior that his success has been deemed little lees thsn
miraculous and the Secretary now very cooy turns
upon him with a reproot Of the extravaganza OF ms
requCns, because the result has shown thit nO'"in
standing the Department failed TO comply with tnenn
sill Gen scott has succeeded. With the feeling mani
tested Wsshir gton against this distinguished Com
rsrder, what would have been the comments ON ms
conduct had the batteries at Vera Cruz ceased IN tne
uidst of "A protraced siege for want OF ammunition
What would the country have thought OF the Oh
Gene al who based his acquisitions upon an une'er
yupted current of success, and threw himself ana MS
army upon the desperate hazard of campaign without
reverse being compelled TO surrender for want OF
supplies at the fret cheek or disaster
ls possible that such be the real opinion OF one
early schooleo the OF war, and VINO looking BACK
with lust compscency st bis youthful anres advised
political friend and psrfissn 10 his guoernaoria can,
xassto glide gently the patch In bis breeches
,hsn the subject Of public comment and 20 call the
vhole attention OF the voters 10 his military exploits
ali such be the specimen of tbs mods In which the
Secretary prepares for campaign in an unknown
copntrv IL least fortunate that we have com
uspder who more than mpeDsate. by the vigor
OF bis execuon for all deficiencies in the plan and pre-
parstloDs. =,
"But 10 II true that due diligence was used In for
yyardipg what the department mad prevdef Leth DC
borne mind that Cen Scot; had strenuou'ly urged
upon The department the vital mportat CO OF commence
Ing the siese OF Vera Cruz ealy 10 February 10 DO
this train Of siege artillery was necessary ana re.
QUESTION accordingly made, and yet, on the Gun OF
February last year ordnance destined tor tnat
place with The exception of 10 mOrtars, was lett on
teversor Island and vessel engaged for its
transportation. To supply that deficiency, heavy guns
landed from the vessels OF and If the castle
had held out, 1t is very doubtful whether the artillery
abe command OF Gen. Scott would have been sufficient
for It's ItductiOD.
ais there no delay or neglect the part of the de-
partmebt in this striking fact. Is there Ia another
isct stated py Gen. Sco!t and nowhere denied by Gov
Marcy that the chief Comssary In Gen. SCOTS army
had received dollar fro the United States since
the snoiug At Vera Cruz. Here, from March n FEB
25s gallant army was left to struggle with iOconcevsble
difficulties In an unhealthy climate, and while the Sub
Treasury overlooking with specie, and the Presi-
dent and his subordinates and satellites 10 the
daily receipt Of their uDearned s1pends, not dollar
could be spared Tor the Cons5aat OF our brave and
peglt cted soldiers.
SEoualy neglectful aud culpably indifferent TO the
wants Of the army the conduct Of the Ad nlnsra-
ton In relation the ten transports required by Gen.
Scout TO be sent from the Southern States The Secre
tsry admits that Gen. Scott made his requisiton on the
18th OF December and that they were ordered but ex
cases bis neglect afterwafd 10 comply with H. because
Gen Jussup, In a letter dated Dec q, aud which was
shown Gen. Scott, says that vessels for additional
transportation that may be required can be chartered
On favorable terms at New Orleans Upon the receipt
of that letter the Secretary counermsndet the order
for transports and yet Gen. Jessup who Is called
upon by Gov Marcy the witness 70 excupse the De-
partmeDt Ia his exculpatory letter OF the 18th OF
April last letter written for the very purpose OF vndi
eating the Administration "The General no doubt re-
lied upon those vessels expected them, tor believed
they would be chartered aud the way before any let
Ter could be received The delay therefore of the Sec
rotary in complying with the requison the caase
and is made the for not sending them at all Ad
mrabie promplitudel Most ,mmendaole reasoning
The excuse for want of promptu Re Ia not fur
nihng supplies 10 based upo1 the interruption OF the
commur icaton between ihs army and Vera Cruz This
has become high crime and mis- iemeanor on the
part of Gen Scott growing out OF desire 10 assmilae
himself With COrtes the hrs conqueror OF Mexico aud
he Is accused win INDUCING unwse ambition at the
expense of the service and the country. II il diff
cult to refrain from indignation at such charge
on the part of the Government. The design OF the
descent upon Vera Cruz was TO dictate the terms oil
peace at the enemys capital city strongly fortified by
nature and Only accessible by roads leading through
deflts hitherto deemed impregnable The population
was imbued with iansucai hostility both national ana
religious and from the with which well appointed
army OF than % 900 men was raised to surprise
Gen Taylor at Buens Vista, Gen. Scoti wisely conclu
ded Mexico 20 be capable Of no small military effort
After the capture Of Vera Cruz and the victory at Cerro
Gordo he found the achievements which had been
promised came In slowly that bis advance was pre-
vented by the impossbiy OF keeping sufficient force
In front the enemy aud az the same tune
maintaining earrtons In the important points on tho
line of communication with Vera Cruz. $3.50
Z" He Obliged 20 determine between relinquishing
the thus abng the enemy recover from
his reyiOus defeats and recruit his armies, to relin
0ush the line of communication and call In his garrsons
10 strengthen his couu in front He wisely and glo-
riousy decided upon svsiling himself Of the means
within bis reach, and TO advance upon Mexico mat
he might have been somewhat Influenced In tnls uecls
by feeling that his army had been abandoned Q1ke
Gen Tsyors, In more than one nsance) 10 tn"ir own
skill and vaor does not cersct from the mert OF ina!
decision, however II may pjuriousy reflect upon the
Government that, by It's conduct had given too much
ground for such a conviction.
1.-THE decision was forced upon him by the made.
quacy the forces to the task he was sept to accom-
pish and Is difficult 10 i'm gine how the PRESIDENT
who feels bimse competent to decide at DO miles
distance upon the prOprety Of the selection OF Com
rnHnder OF dragon regiment should not have oreseen
Con Gcnttx oulf he
cisop little proper foresight would have avoided
the dispatch Of the reinorcements In small detach'
nents, compelling them to wait in the malaria OF vera
Cruz until sufficiently strong to force their way to head
quarters. =,
"The very mode to which the Secretary resorted to
reinforce the army shows incapachy or cuipsoe hesh
"Why were those troops sent TO Vera Cruz In small
6etachments2 IL well known at Washington that
the road to Head quarters was infested with guerias
aud that all supplies and detachnents must oe sent In
strong parties. Whether Gen Scott discharged the
volunteers prematurey not II was known that their
term of service was about expiring, that his army
needed rer forcing and little of that prudence and
forecast for which the Secretary so much compliments
the department which be presides. would nave
,ent the volunteers 10 Vera Cruz, not In small dc,
f.chmeDts" but In sufficient numbers to have formed
their Owl escort TO esd-quarters.
"Ths this was done is In Itself strong ground OF
complaint but TO upon Gen Scott, and to censure
him tor not keeping open the line OF communicating
when il could only have been done at the expense
Of his movements Ia front and the sole obects OF the
campaign, 10 specimen Of audsciy that would DC more
in place the execution of military movement, than
In grave appeal public opinion by the head OF the
department.
CHOW proceed TO what Gov. Marcy calls the main
object of Gen. SCOTS communication, and the crown
lDg outrage Of the naturalization, l. e the deprivng
him the command Of the army, and subjectng hun 10
tTia before military tribunal IN the enemy country
In all this tue Secretary discover nothing out
strict conformity with the rules Of the service ana l1e
naXims of justice.
" The depriWDg bin Of MS command Is out com
piance with his request recalled ara DIS 'Ai y
the Court Of Inquiry 10 most impartial Jusuce.
"s possible that the secretary supposes 'ne ooun"y