The western Democrat. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1852-1870, 1857-10-06
A CARD FROM GEN. SCOTT.


Gen. Pillow. in which he criticises my cam
paign in Mexico, with the boldness of mas
ter i'm the art of war, and at the same time
eulnrizes his own services therein with a |
hearty good will that leaves nothing to be
added. do not propose at present to dis
turb that self laudation. nor to reply to his
animadversions on my plans and operations
although he most provokingly mixes up IN
every statement small grain of truth with
a large portion of fiction, SO as to give 1t
with the careless all the effect of gross
falsehood. If such tricks can influence the
public mind to my prejudice, l shall then
begin to regret that was born an Ameri-
can.
Without. then, entering upon any formal
recrinination of Gen. Pillow or defence OF
myself. shall proceed at once. in behalf
of others, to notice some twO or three points
in his address. in the way of explanation,
and if chance to go beyond this it will be
merely Incidental.
Gen. Pillow now says that, by agreement,
Mr Trist engaged to pay to Gen. Santa
Anna leash in hand, as earnest money. ten
thousand dollars" to induce him to enter
tain negotiations for peace, and that
subsequently Mr T. told him Gen. p ''tlat
Gen. Scott had furnished him (Mr To- the
money, and that he (Mr IT, had pad the
ten thousand dollars"
Being morally certain that Mr. Trist never
made such declaration, il is almost uSpipss
to say that never turned over a dollar &"
him for such ur any other purpose whatever
and 4 am very sure that Mr. Il. had not a
dollar of public money in his possession
willie in Mexico, and never more than sutlir
ed for his very moderate expenses in his
private purse and | certify on honor that
never, at any time. paid to Gen. Santa
Anna. or caused TO be paid to him, ar t"
another for his use or benefit, one dollar or
more, oh any account or in any way what
ever. President Santa Anna was Mt the
time, as now, worth millions, and had in that
Office the irresponsible control of all the
pecuniary means of his country. 1t is hard
ly probable, therefore, that he would have
stopped to pick up sack of ten thousand
dollars in gold, if he had accidently Stun
bled upon one in n private walk.
This blundcr of Gen. Pillow grew, no
doubt. out of some hint he confidentialIy
picked up about headquarters that | had
paid that sum ito - and - for i'm
portant information received and to be con-
tinued from the enemy's camps and armies.
See my account current with the War De-
partmcnt of secret disbursements, printed
by order of the Senate February i, 1857.
1t was lucky, therefore, that the names of
- and - were never confided to Gen.
Pillow, as it is certain, from the example
before Us, he would, contrary to the faith
aud honor of our country, have published
them in full, TO tile ruin of the parties and
their descendants. Even Gen. Santa Anna,
if Gen. Pillows credit be worth any thing,
could not now return to Mexico. no matter
under what pledges to lead the life of good
and peaceful citizen.
Writing to the Secretary of War from the
city of Mexico, February 6, 1913, said:
Il have not reported on the subject of
secret disbursements since i left Jalapa
first, because of the uncertainty of our COM
munications with Vera Cruz; and, second,
the necessity of certain explanations which,
on account of others, ought not to be rcduc-
cd to writing. / may, however, briefly add
that have never tempted the honor. con-
science, or patriotism of any man; but have
held it as lawful in morals as in war to pur-
rhaS al 10 1,,f i
UNFAIRLY rendered me-" Mexican War
Correspondence, House Document, No. 60,
page 1851
And again, atWashington, June %, 1918.
Oh rendering my account current of secret
and other disbursements, and asking for
final settlement, said:
Il am ready to 60, con6dentially, in TO all
those different sums of receipt and dis
bursement with the President. the Secreta-
ny of War; or any other member of the Cab
met. i am under an obligation of private
and public honor, according to the usages
of nations and armies, not to disclose names
and circumstances, excepta as above"
ION the p!aincst principles and usages of
nations and war, and the practice of our
own Government, in respect to secret dis
bursements, l can. in q few hours" &C.
See SenHte's Executive Document, No.
81, page sc, ordered to be printed Feb. 4,
1857
And that account has been definitely set
tied on the principles had proposed.
word as to Mr. Trist--long in private
life, and struggling with honorable poverty
whom General Pillow has so wantonly
dragged before the public. He is repre-
scented in the address as the cunning and
malignant genius who instigated me-other-
wise good enough sort of man-to acts of
injustice and persecution The officers in
Mexico (and Mr. Trist, distinguished West
Pointer, stood with them before the enemy,
the brave among the brave) will smile to
hear this character of their senior General
hiC Al,