Weekly national intelligencer., 1857-10-10

/
of dollars more.
agreed TO- but it was question whether Santa Anna
Gen. Scott afte the battle foueh should take the mi
and send the flag of truce preparatory to the arms
ce Santa Anna insisting that Gen. Scott should send hs
fag but Gen. Scott insisting he won the battle Sants
Anna should do He further said Gen. Scott had furnish
ea MIN tho money snd that he had paid the $4,000 requr
e to be paid in advance and that Gen. had the
In the dsbursng department of the army could raise the
Of paying the million to be paid the conclusion
the negotiations he also said he had invited the
ference IN pursuance of the order of the President
sired my approval Of the terms.
asked Mr. Trist there any law authorizing such
use OF the public money He replied there not then
asked him if the President had authorized such use of it,
could do. =.
Regarding this as an improper use of the public money
ana as bride to the commander of the enemys forces
ana as dishonorng the Government and dsgacefn
army, at once protested against the whole matter
Gen. Scott justified defended the both upon
the score of morals and the usage Governments He
said we were not couptng Santa Anna for the that he
was found in the market asking 6r5e proof that he
already corrupted
In regard to the practice GOVERNMENTS he said it was
OF an to effect their purposes, when
cessary by money and that had sanctioned
the practice BE said the presents by to the chiefs
OF Indian tribes and to the Barbay Powers nothing
eastern boundary question $50000 had been no one
knows how but the officers of the Government unless it
used to brbe the Maine PRESS He mentioned other instances
IN which the Government had expended large of
in this way.
Finding Gen. Scott clear the right of the measure
and earnest in his cooperation with Mr. Trist not being M
mar myself with the uages of other Governments NOR the
practice of own, doubted what ought to do; and in
Difference his wishes and Judgment suspended my
country On the night after the conference place
Gen. Scott called council of general officers to whom he
made known what had been done in the way of negotiation
and to whom he expreed substantially the views and OPT
mons above detailed. I
Being satisfied a reflection, that my impressions
right day to Gen. Scott and Mr. Trst and
protested earnestly against the whole that they
both said right and that they would abandon the
tatons then thought they were sincere in their
TO abandon It, and all idea of to be thus obtained
will be seen from the above statement that the con-
ference spoken of held in the day me and at Mr.
Triss quarters and that there was one present but
Mr. Tris Gen. Scott, and myself It was at this con-
ference that the terms of the negotiation agreed by
Trist were first made known to me- 1t was here that
made known my opposition. It was then that Gen.
Scotts arguments induced to doubt as to my duty
and that at his request and in Difference his wishes
and opinion agreed to suspend my opposition until re-
hectlon should satisfy to my duty stated in nv
address that the following night Gen. Scott called coun
Gil OF general ocers to whom he expressed substantially
the same views and opinions he had in the conference
held at Trists quarters did not however pretend to
give the opinions views expressed that meeting
either by myself any else and referred to what
took place at this meeting of general officers simply to let
the public understand that others besides myself knew
the facts have stated that at the private conference
had agreed to suspend my opposition, and now state
that at the meeting of general officers did not make
known opposition said in substance that though
thought the whole matter wrong, yet supposed
we were choosing the least of evils in agreeing the
proposed terms. This did in conformity with nv
agreemento to suspend my opposition until better satisfied
as to my duty Hitchcocks noes written at the time
like those he produced the investigation before the
court about the hour at which Gen. Scott arrived the
battlefield the 18th of August which were proven to
be false by half dozen witnesses These notes do not
correctly give what said by any general officer pre-
sent except Gen Cadwalader who expressed opinion
But that is their matter, not mine.
further said in my address, as is seen from the above
quotation the next day. being satisfied after reflection
that my first impressions right that went Gen.
Scott and Mr. Trst and protested earnestly against
the whole matter that they both agreed was right and
that they would abandon the negotiations.
This meeting of general officers had no duty to per-
form in civil capacity. My position as confidential
ohcer OF the Government, was not known to them Mr.
Trist was not even present 1t was called by Gen.
Scott, and as had agreed to suspend temporarN my
opposition did If at this meeting committed an
in not expressing the opinions entertained pro-
ceeded from my respect for Gen. Scott and my anxiety
not to thwart his wishes. But did not fail to right
myself, at the earliest moment afterwards with Mr.
Trist with whom my duties associated me and with Gen.
Scott at whose request had agreed to suspend my op
position for reflection.
These the facts they are stated substantially in
my address, and as Hitchcock knew them to be from
that address, and yet he forward protesting to
have personal knowledge of all the facts and with his
notes evdenty written for the place they occupy
letter. makes me the warm advocate of the whole COR
rupt negotiation armistice and ALL when my opposition
to the whole proceeding is well known and was as
fully proven any proposition could be that depended
upon human testimony. He says Congress had made a
liberal appropriation to procure peace and thinks it
would not be so great wrong to little of 1T even
IN the way OF brbe He feels that if he could mpcate
me in this business he would thereby eecually ecreen
himself and his chief and associate in turptude Tris
from the condemnation of just public opinion. This
peryerson of position and this effort to raise
q fTfep hQfu md Opn.{
cribe Gen. Scotts rupture with to my refusal to
modify my official report is but another shameless at
tempt at fasehood at which he has shown himself quite
adroit as he reckless swearing before the
To understand the Importance Of his question, and
how greatly the American army endangered by the
terms OF this negotiation, agreed upon is necessary
to look at the relative strength and position of the
two armies at the time The Mexicvn army was 35 900
strong, and was in city with population of 200 900
inhabitants defended by double lines of defensive works.
with over one hundred pieces of artillery and with this
army The American army consisted of IL 500 men; all
told in the midst of the enemys country without
force, and without the possibility of early
relnforcements From his statement of the relative
strength and position of the two armies how earfuy
were the chances against our success! Yet, by the
terms as agreed upon, if Santa Anna the battle the
survivors of the American army would be within his
power and at his mercy. If we won, he had provided
6y the drmistice for the safety of himself his army and
the city If peace ensued he got the million and
thousand dollars did not ensue he got time to
bloody struggle with greatly increased chances of
cess from reduced force 1t will thus be that
Gen. Scott and Santa Anna had agreed play the game
OF "open and shut the stake being the lives and blood
of army and Santa Anna having &c thehold." That
the army in such conflict did not perish owing to
its own indomtable vaor As it was it cut its way into
the city at the cost of nearly half its numbers 1t
against these terms that protested
In my address stated that Mr.. Trist made agree
ment with Santa Anna (and that Gen. Scott approved
and sanctioned it by which Santa Anna to receive
cash in hand, $4,000; that cur army march
the Valley of Mexico fight battle before the city if
won, Scott grant an armstice Santa Anna
appoint commissioners treat for peace and when
peace was concluded he was to receive million more;
that Scott Trst ptid the ten thousand dollars before
leaving Puebla thai we marched the Valley fought
the battle had the city in his power halted the army
the gate of the city, ordered it to fall back aoou flag
Of truce from the enemy, and granted armisce that
Santa Anna was allowed time to recruit his army,
strengthen the dences of the city and thus to make it
to 6Qht his battles which