The Evansville daily journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ia. [i.e. Ind.]) 1848-1862, 1857-02-10
DAVIS AND scorT cornrsrosDrScr:@rhe


DAVIS AND ScorT corREsroNDEScE[
correspondence communicated TO. the Senate
By the Secretary of War, between himself
and Gen. Scott, in relationto the accounts OF
the latter exhibits in offensive claI &C eristics,
the petty, malignant and envous spirit OF the /
man, with whom Gen. Taylor could not pre-
seIys the relations o. -so,ial intercourse, when
he was his own son.i in Law. Cold and selfish, |
with mind refined by cunning for intrigue, !
he is as traitorouSly ambitious as z CSaline. |
With decent respect for the feelings Of the !
country common regard for its reputation
with q grain OF nobility in his own charac- /.
ter or single impulse of a generous mind, he !
would have curbed his vile innate passions to-
wards the veteran hero, whose fame is one OF
the priceless legacies OF his contemporaries, TO
be bequeathed through history to their child
rem TO inspire future patriotism and herosm.
3 The correspondence began in relation to
Gen. Seotrs expenditure of the secret service
money during his occupancy of Mexico. The
Secretary demanded written statement Of
all the items. 10 this Gen. Scott demurIed
as it would disclose names and secrets which
his own honor AMI the honor Of the country,
to the men who had been employed in secret
and confidential services would not allow him
to place on the records of the Department.
lie offered however to submit them to the
personal inspection of tie Secretary. Gep.
Scott while in Mexico received from co-s44s.ca-
tons and captures from the enemy $26 700,
and expended of this sum $3.50 UOO for the
Government account; and for these expendi-
lures le changed commission Of per mt
which Was GisalloWed; and there appears 10
have been good deal Of higglng both by the
President and his Secretary of Mar, whether
I3ls or p per cent should be alowd for the
receipt and expenditure of these captured
funds.
! The President seems to have been wiling
that the General should have retained the
balance of his account, $6.l5o, and to have
called it square. But that was not quite sat-
lis!actOry 10 Mr. Davis. Gen. Scott then, to
avoid further personal contention, proposed
that the government should bring suit against
him, as defauiter, for the amour. claimed as
due from him. This was also defined
! | he picturepresentcd by the whole affair is
diScreditabIe TO the country. 1t exhibits the
annoying warfare Of two small envoas spirits
upon one who sands a Colossus in moral
gIandeurabOve them, and who are venting their
Jealous spite by casting filth on man they
lcannot overthrow. The annexed are samples
!.
Secretary Davis. July %, 1855, says, l leave
unnoiiced.th exhibition of q peeyish temper
in reply to an inquiry from this Department,
) &c.
Gen. Scott replies July 80, 1t would be
easy TO show that the whole letter in which
you charge me with exhibiting peeysh tenn
} per, is as hippaht in its statements and logic
4 IS IN that OF accusation. AS SecretEi oi
! War You have dons enough TO warrant mere
than suspicion that from the first YOU have
considered it your special mission, by repeated
asgressions ON my rights and feelings, 10 goad
me into some perilous attitude OF Official op.
, lpostiop.
: 10 prove my long forbearance for. at my
: time of life, all angry discussions, are painful
S will now proceed 10 enumerale some OF the
|. productions allGdod to, withoutdetaining my
selfin this place. on your partisan hostility to
= the brevet OF Lieutenant General and 10 the
9 ccm )cnSation tina. Congress intended to attach
/, thereto"
V Gen. Scott Then alludes to one Of the Sec.
lretary's capt'ous reports and his Gaping tie
= climax by uSurpation and abSurdity. lie
l. likewise says: following out your person
) al rebuke in your letters Of the l2th your OBJ
If ject, in violation Of principle, is to crush me
into servIle obedience 10 your self will.
Know yObf oDStinacy anu Know also WHAT
is due to myself as man aad soldier, aud
y lie am to be crushed, prefer it at the hand;
n of our military peers.
s The Secretary rcjoins, in an unofficial note
o dated Aug 2; Your present accusation
d which charges me with usurpat;on for the
n most unworthy ends and inrpuics to Inc mo-
q tiyes inconsistent with official integrity.
!. Ic nsilered basely maleyolent aud Pronounced
utterly false. ~
10 Gen Scott replying Aug. 9TH, says: Il have
% read note FROM you dated the III inst, which
Is you seem to wish me to consider unofficial.
e Ishall not comply with hat singular fancy, q.
Il you can have no legitimate claim to address
Il me except as Secretary OF War. shall trea,
$ your communications, whether designed to be
r private and scGrilous or as public IniSsivcs o
l. Arrogance and superciiiousness, as equally Of.
.. Icial. There are beauties in them which
:, ought not to be lost, and it shall not be my
!. fault if / do not render your part in this cor
i respondence memorable example, TO bs
> Stunned by your Successors.
!. l. TIE TERRE HAUTE ExfEEss.-We have