The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1855-11-09
THE PRESIDENTS DECISION IN THE CASE OF

THE PRESIDENTS DECISION IN THE CASE OF
GEN. SCOTT.
In the brief remarks with which the National IateH-
gsee closes for the present its prosecution against the
President and Secretary of War for their alleged violations
Of beraliy and benigny in regard the back pay Of
Lieutenant General Scott there are two mssatements Or
fact which is due to truth that should correct II
true stated by the hteRgencc that the reply in
last issue the Of that journal on the ac
ton of the President in the case Of General Scott 4na
mated from he Var Department; nor is it true that
the opinion Of the Attorney General was given upon
The requison Of he President The first of these asser-
tons being untrue the poisoned arrow thrown by the In
tgeneer in its retreat misses the mark which il
aimed The second it is charitable 10 believe was an err
oversight after all that has been said in reference
to the in which the Secretary of War called for
the Attorney Generals opinon To express desire,
the kgeacer does for copy Of the statement which
the Secretary of War with the letters of Gen Scott in
support of bis claim, being the view Of government Off
Ger claim which properly before him, be
teint the part of that Journal knowing, its editors
do that General Scott has long since been furnished with
copy of the paper Of which il would not be difficult for
them, considering their relations to him, get sight
Without going further into the merits of the decision
the President, invite attention the following
sibe views the matter Of controversy General
SCOTS back pay by the special correspondent Of the New
York Tmesviews which the entitled TO consid-
GRAFTON because they appear in opposition journal
WAsHIsGToN Saturday, Nov 3, 1855.
The statement of Washington democratic paper that
S3l 30l has been awarded Lieutenant General Scott
of pay under the resolution Of Congress comforting
upon him his present rank is entirely The
made by the General and sent to Gen
81
President balance in his favor Of slo4o3-beg the
difference his pay Commanding General and that
of Lieutenant General for eight years and a half
The President of opinion in the case but
be gave for the information Of the Secretary of War and Of
Gen. Scott of his for the allowance of this
amount and more about four pages in length This
position General Scott by the Secretary of
along with opinion of the Attorney General which
eighty manuscript pages The President with
the Attorney General the points that the
wing the oce of lieutenant general carries pay with it, and
that the act Of 1897 and the explanatory act of August 49,
S42 giving to certain commanding officers double rations
does apply to the grade Of lieutenant general Upon
this latter point turns the whole difference between the Pres
and General Scott The act of 1897 lT9S creating
the rank of lieutenant general specified among other allow
ance forty raions per dayequa to S240 per month"; The
double ratons to the commanding general passed
in 1897 did not apply to the rank of lieutenant general or
that grade established months subsequently to the
of the law The Of August 1872 is also held to
be napncabe to the because it makes specific
mention of the four tive grades to which the double raon
shall be confined and of course that of lieutenant
is mentioned because ii not in existence at that time
The of the Presidents decision is therefore, that
the resolution of last session revives the office of leuen
general and the specific Of pay originally attached
| to it,
understand that General SCOTS account, presented
by himself claims eighty per day for eight years
half upon the ground that the spirit and intention of thu
1912 the OF lieutenant general under it
special mention of the rank of major general in command
hety Tho Of anf
eighty ations per day $40 per month.or $2sS0 pei
year, and amounts in eight years and half to $24 4S0
have doubt having examined the law that the Pres
iden construction of it is right and that in executing it be
could made other decision than he has DONE Gen.
Pierce is his private character of the most liberal
and generous in the world but executive officer
he bound by the letter and spirit of those acts Of Congress
which he is appointed to administer.