Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1852-07-21
From ihs Na.a0na; ia!cIigeseer.
General Scott sss Mexico,

We received short time ago, i;on gentleman
III Maryland, letter OF inlarY respecting Uen.
Scott's religious opinions-that Is, OK what Caarch
he was member or preiessed 10 Be attached to
and Stating as reasoa for .he inquiry that certain
feported incidents in Gen. Scotts career II Mexico
had led 70 the impression that he was Roman
Catholic Regarding it ourselves as OF less con-
sequence what mans religious faith IS, 50 his lie
is IN the right and not doubling that an honest
Catholic would make as rood 4 President as an
honest man OF any other persuasion, YET we an
-swers1 our correspondent, as IN truth we were
obli0ed to do, that Gen Scott was brought up IN,
~and has continued allhis life to De attached 10, the
Protestant Episcopal Church, or, as we used to call
il in Virginia the "Church of England and was
in s.c. a vestry-man of that Church in this city
when he was ordered to Mexico Perceiving since
that answer was dispatched, that controversy has
arisen amongst srndry papers in the North on the
question Of 'Gen. SCOTS religion" we have con-
aladea that it might not be deemed impertinent in
as % make this public reference to the correspond
encc alluded to above.
We have, however, another motive for recur-
ring % the subject The letter from Maryland led
Us TO an inquiry into the nature OF the transactions
in Mexico TO which it referred, and the result has
been. the discovery of certain military orders Of
General Scott while occupying the city of Mexico.
which, in our Judgment, reflect SO much credit
on the wisdom, prudence, discretion, and humani-
~ OF that illustriOps commander that we think It
due to him 70 lay them before our readers. Few
persons, we apprehend, can appreciate the reSpon-
si5sitics the anXetics aad the multiplicity OF du
ties which environ the commander OF Z victorious
army in foreign country, the captor Of rich and
popalous city, and having no guide or check bn;
his own discretion unless indeed, as was mos; lor-
tunately the case with Gen. Scott, his own hC-
rnanity. This briefalluSon to the awluily respon-
sihle position of Gen Scott after he had fought his
way into the great capital OF Mexico, viii suggest
TO the reader the nature and variety Of cases every
hour appealing to his sole discretion, and demand
inx instant and stern decision. We almost think
that the mstre of his generalship was dimmed BY
Ihe civic virtues which ne displayed in circum-
stances 50 trying.
From a general order, issued on the 18th Sep
TENDER, lS47. embracing great many particulars,
to meet all probable eXigencies, VIC extract the fol
lowing passages:
Owing to its length, We omit the order.-The
iptelLigencer then proceeds
The above viii afford some idea to the reader
of the multitude and Importance of the duties
which the General of the Army was called upon
to perform in the City Of Mexico, and the legal Il
bility which he displayed as magistrate and legis-
lalor, as we'll as military leader. Wellwas it said
in the toast at public dinner at Albany, at which
Gov. Marcy presided, (thOugh long before the
Mexican war, that ''Winfield Scott was not less
the scholor than the soldier, whose pen and sword
have been welded with equal skill in the defence
ofhis country; the Soldier who has ever made the
law Of the land his supreme rule Of action, and
who, while he has always fulfilled its utmost re-
quirenents, has never in single instance tran
scended its limits
The following extract from General Order No
297, is, we presume, what gave rise to the sur
mise about Gen. Scott's Catholicism. If fail to
establish his claim to be follower Of that ancient
faith, it will at least convince all candid inquirers
into his character that he possesses catholic and
truly Christian spirit: