Daily Nashville patriot. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1857-1858, 1857-10-20
GEN. oUITMANs STATEMENT.

About the middle of July last, Qs47,) l was sum-
mOned to attend meeting of officers al Gen. SCOTS
quarters in Puebls, Mexico. there met the Gener-
al-in- chief Generals Pillow, Twiggs Shields and
| Cadwallader, and think Col. Hitchcock, Acting
Inspector General. Gen. Worth was not present,
and Gen. Smiths absence was accounted for by Gen.
Scott, who said that he, Smith, had been consulted
upon the dOlcealr.
The General-iH-Chief first dwelt upon the great
importance of peace to country, and the anxious
desire of our Government to bring it about. He
said that Influenced chiefly by these important con-
siderations, aud his belief that a movement upon
the capital would cut off all prospects off amcabe
adjustment of our difficulties he had halted thus long
at Puebla That Gen. Pierce, with a considerable
body Of troops under his co mand, was shortly
expected to arTve-that our numbers were too weak
for the enterprise before us and that he expected
reinfOrcements would be important to He
therefore requested the opinions of the officers pres
ent upon the PrOprety of awaiting the arrival of
Ger Pierce.
He also stated that he desired to consult them upon
another subject of great delicacy and much impor-
tance-that the prospects of peace now slight,
but that he informed by some foreign residents
in Mexico that the desirable object could certainly
be obtained by the secret application Of consider
able sam Of money. That the Mexican leaders
pected the negotiations to be attended with q
dOHceur That they were not in the habit of moving
without it-that the Of money for such purposes
was Justified by the practice of other nations, and
that considering the great good it would in this in
stance bring to our country he regarded the means
as moral and proper, and did perceive how any
sensible could think otherwise. He further
added that Mr. Trst had power or instructions to
use the three millions voted by Congress, or any
part OF it, TO such purpOse-that the must be
accounted for the face of The Treaty-that, how
ever, If II should be considered advisable he (Gen.
Scott had credit in Mexico, and upon the assent or
request of Mr.. Trist, he would raise million a
million and half of dollars apply the purpose
a sufficient to insure the success of the negotia-
tions-that he had already thus applied ten tloety
thousand dollars; sum which he regarded as "bread
thrown upon the waters"
GEN. SHIELDS STATEMENT.
"On or about the 18th of July, lS47, 1 received
an invitation to call in the evening at Gen. SCOTS
headquarters in Pueba. Invitations of this kind
were at that time frequent, and were intended to
bring the principal officers of the army together for
the sake of social intercourse. Such at the time |
regarded this invitation. In the course of the even
ing Gems Pillow, Quitman, Twiggs and Cadwallader
joined us. Alter some dssultory conversation, Gen.
Scott said that he intended 70 consult on a mat
ter of some moment-nOt ss a council of war, but
as friends and brother officers. He thereupOn read
letter from Mr.. Trist to himself in which near
as can recOlect, It was suggested that the Mexican
authorities were destitute of means, and that the
writer, Mr. Trist had good reason 20 believe that
Judicious application of money would enable to
obtain peace and requesting Gen. Scott to use his
efforts to raise million or a million and half OF
dollars for that purpose. Gen. Scott having read
this letter declared himself ia favor of the project
the only means Of procuring speedy and satisfac-
tory peace. He stated that he had means of raising
the money and that under the circumstances the
course was justLfdbLe in points of principle and
eEpedency He also stated that he had already dp-
ptied small sum, say ten ts0eRty thousand dol
lar, and that be regarded it as bread thrown the
waters"