The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1857-02-04
n e ATE ST NEW
~ PRINTING AND MAGNETIC TEtEsRApNs.

, Interesting from WashlnSton.
CORRESPONDENTS BETWEEN GIN. SCOTT AND SD
CRETARY AUTHORIZATIONS OF Mr. BUCMANAN-
ROBERT J. wALKN AND THE NEW YORK FILL
BUsTKRs-rHE sUBHARHB TELEGRAPH HILL
THE LOBBY COMMITTEE, ETC.
wAmmarou. Feb. 8, 1857.
Hsvng been permitted 70 skim the long locked for cut
Yoss correspondence between Lieut. General Scott and
~ Hon. Jen. Davis Secretary of War; send you the
cream for The benefit OF the HRAID's readers.
The correspondence, - communicated 70 Congress-
opens With letter from General Scott dated July So
1856, in which he says
rant mere than suspicion that from the arst you had
considered your special nssien by repeated aggression
attitude Of onacial opposition.
Then follows lengthy endtsment against the Secreta
~, containing eight distinct counts, setting forth official
acts Of that officer such issuing orders, &c. 10 IRON
tier posts done without his General scots) approba
ton.
Al the request Of General Scott this document was re-
ferred to tho President and referred without
In reply, Secretary Davis sent the following unofficial
note, dated
Sn-Your letter OF the 3Qth July received yester
day and, you requested referred 70 the Presi
have tab the OCCASION M official correspondence 70
make unfounded imputatons upon my motives, aud TO
such language a. my idea OF the requirements OF OH
cal courtesy does not permit 10 notice In my official
character and therefore adopt this unofficial mode. You
ascrbe TO partzAp hostility my opposition TO conierrng
ysu the title Of Lieutenant General but that oDposi
ton actively and publicly made when ! was . Nom
Der OF the United Sta Senate, and chairman OF the
Committee OF Military Affairs. You were then known TO
the country dstipgushed soldier but had not been
forced uDon public attention parzsn politician, NOR
as such been judged By the people or approved by me-
You certainly had better opportunity to know Of oppo
sion then Tran when II merely at Of a we'll settled
and long entertained opinion held by me 10 position
business Of Congress Ny views we're publicly given As
Senator to o sufficient extent TO chow Whist my judg
ment rested and your present scusaton which charges
with usuTpaton for the most unworthy eGds, aud I'M
putes motives Inconsistent with official integrity, is
considered basely malevoent and pronounced utterly
false, Your obt servant. JEFF. DAVIS.
This note, though unofficial 10 replied to by General
Scott officially who insists upon spreading upon the
files of the Department. This reply is dated August g.
and Secretary Davis rejoiDs again september T. grea.
length and reviews the specifications in General Scott
Indictment against him.
The general next grants leave Of absence TO Col Hitch
cock under circumstances NO. approved oy the Depart
men and ordered to countermand revoke the leave
Of absence This he refused 70 do assigning his
therefor This reason referred TO the President,
who endorsed the assigned unsatfactory The
Secretary Of War win report his views tho
best calculated prompude 10 the execution OF
orders relative 10 the movements Of the army.
recommend
army be removed from New York to the Of govern
ment
Next comes the following rich specimen Of official
Yespondence:-
HEADQUARTERS OF TIE ARMY,
NRw YORK, September 20, 1855.
SR-Witn all the records OF the army and every CON-
pulsory assistance at hand you have by toll OF more
than nve weeks what to your nature must have been
and vengeance Its precursor was savage and scurrous
but the slowly concocted vented Is no doubt
for dly relied upon to Kill IL once The feonous intent
Ia clear enough. Nevertheless, you may be forced to
borrow the exclamation ts not done and the attempt
and not the deed confounds u.s."
Then follows . lengthy TRADE Of abusive epihes and
defence Of his cause generally.
The Secretary of War replies again December TO-
viewing the matters in controversy at great length and
exposing many matters Of General scotps money dea.
ings with the government referring TO tom, the
cretary aays:-
The law did no. allow you what you paid 10 yourself
That payment to yourseli-what meanness does It dis
play? What could have been esc consistent with the
generosity and msRnar unity which should have graced
the first In rank among band OF gallant soldiers You
d BY the city Of Mexico subjusAsed BY their vic
torious arms
To this delicate auson 70 the old hero's nuanceerug
qualities, he comes back at him In game style and says,
under date Of January 81, 1856
Such continued recklessness Of character could only
proceed from whoee low ambition ID battered with
the title Of "rhs Favorite."
He again lengthy, and referring 10 some npleasaat
remipescepces called up BY Secretary Davis Gen. ,ot'
ssys"For revenge, the ISLANDERS respecting the trial
Of 1910 disnte,red by your letter OF September,
which being refuted 10 the same month 10 now pro
drced with variations.
Who shsmss scribbler' Break one cobweb through,
he spins the slight self pleasing thread anew;
Destroy bis hb or eophstry IN vain,
The creatures ct bis duty work again.
This caus,ic epste, thus beautihed with poetlosl
tracts was responded by the Secretary in lette- be-
ginning THUG
Sri received your letter dated January 81, and pro
coed 10 notice IN contents.
You have persisted In making your letters Official and
have thus forced upon me the obligation 70 receive them
and reply, In such terms seem 70 me appropriate,
the baselcss accusations which derive their only impor
lance from the high standing you occupy.
Another Instance Of your capacity in the same breath
20 beg for sympathy and otter SANDER your eccusaoon
that have underworld 70 provoke : duel Win m oid
those snos.n, Of ne TACT, tina, the srea. disability OF
PAYER ert In New York. would naturally 'ncr from the
nroc Of the phrase old soldier thai you were by
wounds received IN battle disqualified Tor cell defence
would Wait with indignant oensure the manly aempt
10 Involve wounded veteran In personal combat, But
notice TO the that you would not act upon the
t,meut which MAKES gentleman responsible 70 any
whom he s.sall. When y the ysor o. manhood; You
reasons for answering 70 the personal defiance OF
asgr,eved efnoer, General Jsckson-your superior in
rrpsci-and vas pos 70 be supposed that you would,
At this time, take different ground But no disability, no
age DO plea Of conscientious scruples can be admue
shled from rebuke and when grauiIousy
imputed 10 motives Injurious and offensive 70 me ss
addressed 70 you unofcaI note, and 1xed on you
wash away With your unaIns nood Of abusive epishcs
Your obedient servant, JEFFERSON DAVIS