The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1853-01-06

enemy; and he had those qualities, in an eminent
es.se. mat rendered him the man to take the adj
thai ss o. n,s intu.ive sagacity. He supposed
.hs. sle friends Of General Scott would not admit
'ha. scott was q knavo. Political leaders from the
commencement of the world have commenced
l.,snus ana turned enemies when they became
Gensrsi Jaa, ne mentloned several cases in point.
Gsus.l Jackson quaTrelled with Scott, CLAW and
Calnoen. II resolves itself into this at lastothat
great ssaoeIs want to get one another out of the
TTs syy ne proposed to disarm the gentleman from
in this attack upon General Scott = AeAos
The gentleman from Oregon (Mr LANE, said
that he loved General Scott as a man. and had ths
highest admiration for him as the commander-in-
chief of the army. Now he (Mr. SMITHl wonid
inquire whether that expression does not disarm
General Wilkinson? Is it not fair offset for the
bitter enmity of General jackson? Is it not a fair
Interpretation of the question which had arisen
between him and his honorable friend from Ten
nessee? Then what became of all these charges?
Where do they end? What are they worth? They
are estate, fat, and Improbable The gentleman
said something about coffin handbiils. Why,
Jesus Christ was not only assailed, but crucifed
Mr. POLK remarked that he did not enter into
the discussion of that question, and that the gentle
man was going out OF the record.
Mr.. SMITH resumed, saying that General Jack
son was assailed by coffin handbills; then Will
klnson's handful against Scott was not enough to
disgrace him, taking it according to the rules of
rhetoric.
The gentleman from Tennessee passed an eulogy
upon Washington, and asked, Will you, by a
solemn enactment of Congress, make Scott equal
to Washington! It is true, w Washington was made
lieutenant general by Congress-; it was no eleva-
ton to him, but rather aerogatory; 30 il was un-
derstood and acted upon afterwards by Congress.
But the reply he had to make to this was, Wash
ington was not only lieutenant general but
President of the United States. Will you say
that because Washington happened to be Piesi
dent, thatlt is a PROCLAMATION Of his character to
he nth
he happened TO be lieutenant general, that it
Is PROCLAMATION to make any other man lieu
tenant general? He considered the logic COM
plete, and the answer too. He had high an APP
probation OF the character of Washington as any
man. He knew him well from history. 1t was
not alone because of his great battles that he is
revered; it was not because he was great war;
rior, because many have been greater, but because
he first fought the battles of our liberties, and
because he showed the moral purity and dignity of
man when he refused to take advantage of his
popularity to elevate himself to office and power.
He would now pass from the gentleman from Ten
nessee, who, he knew, did not intend wrong; but
the gentleman was mistaken in this thing, and it
was small thing to be mistaken in.
He would now proceed to disarm the gentleman
from Oregon, (Mr Lane He was glad the gen.
tleman was not here from one consideration, be-
cause he could say how much he admired him; and
great as he believed him in arms to be, how high
the pillar OF glory should be erected for him; but
he would rather say in his presence what he was
that the gentleman, alter making some suggestions
about reorganization of the army should the res
olution comforting the title of ieuten mt general
pass, commented on the exploits of General Wool,
and gave that soldier the glory of the battle of
Buena Vista. He may deserve it; but the opinion
expressed by the gentleman was merely the opn-
ion of distinguished military chief, and is emit.
tied to no further credit. He proposed to answer
the gentleman out OF his own mouth; and then pro-
ceeded to speak of board of army officers, with
the old and distinguished chief, General Wool, at
their head, who, after solemn councils, recon-
mended this very measure-the comforting of the
title OF lieutenant general as.
A II nations have been in the habit of honorins
military men to the utmost extent; and, in this
connection, Mr.. SMITH alluded to the Duke o.
Wellington, who, he said, had less military capa-
city and fewer military achievements and Difficult
ties than General Scott yet honored thou.
sand times more, and at every step of his
He then earnestly advo ,ated the passage of the
resolution, briefly reviewing the brilliant actions
in which General Scott was engaged. He thought
that the opposition to the resolution political,
and that his party friends (the Democrats) were
making small thing of this and of themselves;
and, alter further remarks, he concluded by re-
plying to Mr.. CARTIER, who had called this mock
legislation. That gentleman had proposed an
amendment, 80 as TO confer the title of 'slord''
lieutenant general; but, for his especial benefit,
he (Mr. SMIrH) would insert s.I!ouis Kossuth."
The gentleman was the hero of Kossuth in this
House Was there "mock legislation" in that?
You see member of Congress, native of the
country, crowding mere foreign runaway gov
ernor with honors never before heard of in this
hall; and on another question he refuses to vote a
badge of honor to be worn the heart of SOL
der speaking bis own language.
f. MIR. MARSHALL, of California, obtained the
floor, and gave way for motion that the commit.
tee rise; which prevailed. ssta .r-.s a
The SPEAKER laid before the House two COM
munications from the Treasury Department. in
relation to estimates; and they were appropriately
referred. h." III ...#s -. -
Mr.. JONES, of Tennessee, inquired whether
there was on the table the annual port of the Sec
rotary of the Treasury. ..a
The SPEAKER replied in the negative; when
Mr.. JONES said it was time that the report was
in, as nearly one half ofthe session has ella psed
The House then adjourned