The daily union., 1856-12-24

ony clearly Piled the act 1912 above referred TO- but
aso In the act approved April "A, 1916.
decision at present. other than 10 direct that
Brevet Lieutenant General Scott in that respect be settled
upon the existing Law and regulations fixing the pay and
emoiuments Of a major general. - ,
Hon. JEFFERSON DAVIS, Secretary Of War,
Washington, d. G.
Statement Of Lisusnaat Gsnsrai Scots aecoan settled ~
he Var DspartsHt accordance Oh hs dsoi'iO" " hs
PrssideRt.
Pay for General Scott from 29th March, ls4 Ss Of Au
R gust o Si io Months Mon s'y At ,G SSo ss @SS $500 %
1866 months ~ days. at $50 per month 1886 81
Do. from 10Th May ls4o, to sOth September,
rations, at 20 cents $40 90
Difference between pay, &C. Of lieutenant general !.
aud MAJOR general lO,4Oo 81
From the Union, November 2. 1885,
THE NATIONAL INFELLIGENOER AND THE PAY OF
LIEUT.. GEN. SCOTT
The National Intelgenoer in its remarks yesterday upon
the proceedings OF the Executive in regard to Gen. Scos
claim for breye pay has made erroneous representations
OF fact which require correction.
Ii is alleged that the remarks of the Secretary of War
in submitting the 10 the Attorney General, not
communicated to Gen Scott, made matter of record
in the War Department This is TO insnuate that the pro-
ceedngs OF the War Department of covert nature
and liable 10 suspicion ON that account
The fact Is that the remarks of the Secretary
had been engrossed and signed copy was taken by the
copying press for the recording clerk and the orig al was
despatched the Attorney General The pracuce OF ia
king press copies common presume, in all public as
well private business Offices and In many such copies
constitute the only record that is retained Ii s however,
the practice in the War Department transcrbe these
tanned copies into book kept for the purpose This ow-
ing to accidental delay had not been done when Gen
Scott called at the War Department to ask for the first
time copy of the Secretarys remarks and he thus learn
ed the fact which has been dsngenuously used to
fhTlU irInnn ihn tG Gnt The
untrue in that record OF the papers was re-
tanned in the War Department
II is true copy was not furnished to General Scott To
have furnished copy unasked would have been we be-
eve course without precedent in any executive depart
ment
Every courtesy consistent with official propriety
shown to General Scott upon the occasion in question In
his letter to the department he had requested that II tho
should be referred TO other ianconary OF the
government" his arguments might be sent in the same
direction. This was done, and he was promptly advised
not only that the had been to the Attorney Cen
era but that the Attorney General had been informed
bay that General Scott desired be heard before decis
ion should be made He further advised that the
views of the department were adverse to his claim
We believe that all righminded persons will agree with
that consideration of justice called upon the Secretary
to tender to General Scott, unasked, copy OF his COM
municaton to the Attorney General and that every re-
qurement ofequity and courtesy fulfilled in giving
the copy soon as it was applied for
The next frivolous and groundess complaint s that the
Secretary having submitted to the Attorney General bat
single point informed General Scott that his claim had
been submitted 10 the Attorney General,
What the claim To be paid under the act of 1893
lieutenant general giving TO his breve commission
retroactive effect include the whole period between
his brevet rank and date of the of Con-
gress revivng in qualified form the grade OF lieutenant
general The Secretary OF War did not believe that any
law existed which fixed the pay of lieutenant general
that if the act of 1898 was revived in 1885, it could
confer right TO be paid according TO that grade for
vices rendered as ma jor general at tune when no
such grade lieutenant general existed in army. Gen.
Scott based his claim the opposite view, and his ao-
and in Of yiaw h.
mitted TO the Attorney General that he might give an
opinion the question of law which governed the whole
case.
In this obvious the Secretary of War informed
General Scott and informed him truly, that be had refer
red his claim TO the law officer of the government
But to the assault upon the Presidents decision The
first thing strike the readers mind be that the
negencer does not complain that the President has not
executed in terms the joint resolution of February 1855
but that he has not extended the operation of that reou
on by new regulations, and thus given 10 Gen. Scott al
amount in pay and allowances contemplated by the
law Of l79s which originally created the rank of euen
ant general in the army Of the United States.
BY reference TO the various laws respecting raons II
will be perceived that they have always had relation to the
pay proper of ocsrs of the different grades While the
pay OF major general is two hundred dollars per month
the double raons allowed him amount to but hun
dred and eighty dollars and il is believed that the his
tory OF the country furnishes example in which Off
GERS allowance by the way OF ratons has exceeded his
pay proper Now, observe the relation between Beyet
Lieutenant General SCOTS pay proper and allowance for
raons under the decision of the Presden-pay
proper $3.50 per month forty raons per day S24O per
month.
The negeucer says that "he Presidents decision is
in effect to deprive General Scott OF nearly three thousand
dollars per year. How is this done2 Just men will be
-5i % learn that this charge is based upon the fact
bn The pres;den declined to make regulation giving 10
General scott double rauynsthG is four hundred and
eighty dollars per monh-inBtead Of single rgons or two
hundred and forty dollars per month rs provided by law
II does not satisfy General Scott that the President has
decided that the resolution OF February 1902 carries win
IL pay and allowances that it Is retroactive IN us opera
ton and gives 10 General Scott the back pay Of ten thou
sand four hundred and five dollars and gTtgpeH cents for
constructive services rendered between March 30 s47
and February 10, 1855 in grade which, during that pc
Rod had in fact no existence.
Under tho heap OF collateral and immateral NATTER
which introduced 10 up the true question: all dis
nct perception Of it is withheld from ths public mind
The only matter Of complaint the part Of the lutegen
GER when the truth is brought oa and the issue reduced
fgures-the only ground OF charge that bengnant and
liberal spirit did not prevail in making the decison"-s
that the President did not deem il proper If he had the
power to do so in addition the Of Congress 10 make
a regulation which would give TO Gen. Scott double the
number of ratous which Gen. Washington enntled
That H. while Gen Washington could have received no
more than two hundred and forty dollars per month for
rations as Lieutenant general and commander Of the Amer
lean armies Gen Scott insists and the lntegencer insists
for him. for the past and in time come that be should
receive breyet lieutenant general four hundred and
eighty dollars per month and because forsooh the Pres
having acted In illiberal spirit
We believe that have shown the utter
Of such charge but We choose to 90 further and 10
show that General Scots pretnsons are not merely
trnYagant and unreasonable but TO the last degree
giant and absurd For this purpose we ounte ai,Io -