Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1853-1862, 1857-09-04
- n1,v propIF N TENNEssEE.

pies nv which shall be governed if honoreo VIII
your confidence ,..oso-o
sought political honors. That have actively paI-
ticpated in all the great political struggles
which the country has passed for many years - '
unknown to the democracy OF my IneuI3.s I.
borhood but my participation hss oee 10 - y
soldier in the raDks--nelther aS~ins "Oi
any share in the fruits OF victory.
| ff;5an,sl ~ the humble part have performed,
-. ~ oct;ve participation in the nomination OF Mr.
poIk and in the struggle which resulted IN placing
him in the Presidential chair. That event was loi-
/ lowed by the war with Mexico. The part pore IN
that war is known to the country. All that have
20 say of those services is, that tried TO perform
| nv duty in the difficult snd trying positions In
which was placed To the brave sons OF sTennes-
see of my command, appeal as witnesses OF my
kindness and attention to their wants, amidst the
diseases of pestilential climate and the hardships
Of q camp-life. To the reports of Gen. Scott, my
immediate and only superior in the army, With which
| I fought l refer, for the manner in which bore
] myself in command, and sustained the honor OF
| Tennessee upon the many battle-helds OF Mexico
Gen Scott was under suspicion OF purlalIty Tor
me-and nav therefore, without indelicaey, refer
10 his reports, for my bearing upon those fields,
| which have reflected so much honor upon our COM
mon country By them / am willing to be judged
While was thus engaged in foreign war, en-
deavoring to maintain the right and defending the
honor of the country, malignant party press at
and calumny upon me. All that ridieue, fslsehood
and calumny could do to destroy my reputation was
| DONE Ny only answer 10 these assaults vas the
blows gave the enemy in front. felt that in vim
dicating my reputation as soldier With my sword.
bes answered the ''hre IF the enemy in the rear y
The close of the brilliant campaign which result
ed in the capture of the enemys capital, found me
| " cut dciVn."
In few days afterwards, and while PROSTATE up
on bed from which did not rise for many months,
| l was arrested. A sword which had not dishon-
| ored was Wrested from my side-my personal staff
was dismembered, apd my gallant division which
had cut its way into the city at loss Of nearly two
thirds ofits members, was taken from my command,
and ordered to remote and interior positions in
Mexico was confined prisoner in the City of
Mexico for ninety days, and until released by order
| Of the President of the United States.
A long investigation of the charges preferred
against me, resulted in the triumphant vindicadon
of my reputation, and in overwhelming my enemies
| and prosecutors with shame and falsehood.
But there is a mystery secret history in the mo-
tires of those who thus sought to destroy my char
aeter and TO strip pe of the humble honor of serv-
ces which cost me so much suffering, which has
yet been understood by the country. That mystery
now propose to remove. -.-.....
1t is due to my own reputation to the memory of
the great and patriotic statesman who then Chief
Magistrate of the Nation and to the truth of His
tory that the Uel which has now, for ten years. con-
In appointing Mission to travel with the army
and treat for peace f opportunity should offer,
the grade of diplomatic duty to be performed, and
the emoluments thereto attached made 1t impossible
for the President to find statesmen who would &C
cent the place The man selected for that position
was Mr. n. P. Trist But either distrusting his
ability or Judgment prudence, or all these, Pres
ident Polk was not satisfied to place the honor Of
the country and his administration, in his hands
alone
By his confidential letters, in my possession, he
so far associated myself with Mr. Trist as to place
me in semi official relations with him a commissioner
The duty was enjoined upon Mr.. Trist of taking me
into all his conferences and to consult in all his
negotiations The duty imposed upon me as
patriot and the devoted friend of the President to
guard and protect the honor of the country and Of his
administration against any and everything which
thought would tdrnsh the or the other. 1t will
hence be seen, that while Mr. Trist the osezsi6Ls
commissioner / was, in fact the confidential officer
of the Government, upon whom the President relied
20 guard and protect the honor of the country in the
important negotiations involving the peace Of the
country.
When Preached the Head Quarters of the army ct
Puebls, was invited to conference with Mr.. Trst.
On my arrival at his quarters ! found Gen. Scott
there. Mr.. Trist informed me that he had opened
negotiations with Santa Anna, and had pretty we'll
agreed upon the preliminaries of negotiations for
peace. By these terms Santa Anna was to be paid,
cash in hand, earnest money, $4,000, and our
army was 10 march TO the valley of Mexicoand fight
a battle before the City. If iron, an armstice
was to be granted, and commissioners appointed to
treat for peace. When peace should be concluded,
Santa Anna was to receive one million of dollars
more
Mr.. Trist farther informed me that these terms
had been agreed to- butt was open question wheth
or Santa Anna or Gen Scott, latter the battle was
Fought should take the initiative and send the flag
of truce, preparatory to the armistice-Santa Anna
;ps; thofG f,a hut
Gen Scott insisting, if he the battle Santa An
ma should do so. He further said Gen. Scott had
furnished him the money, and that he had paid the
$4,000 required to be paid in advance, and that
Gen Scott had the means in the dsbursing depart
meut of the army, could raise the means of pay
ing the million to be paid at the conclusion of the
negotiations. He also said be had invited to the
conference in pursuance of the order of the Pres
ident, and desired my approval of the terms.
l asked Mr.. Trist if there was any law authoriz-
ing such use Of the public money? He replied
there was not. l then asked him if the President
had authorized such use of it. He replied he had
not but he thought it was the best be could do.
Regarding this as an improper of the public
money, and q bride to the commander of the enc
my's forces, and dishOnOring the Government and
dsgraeeful to our army, at once protested against
the wh6is matter.
Gen Scott justified and defended the measure
both upon the score of morals and as to the usage
of governments. He said we were not corrupting
Santa Anna, for the fact that he was found in the
market, asking bride, was proof that he was al
ready corrupted.
In regard to the practice of Governments, he said
it was usage of all Governments to effect their pur-
poses, when necessary, by money, and that our
Government had sanctioned the practice. He said
the presents made by it to the Chiefs of Indian
tribes and to The Barbary powers, were nothing but
brides. He further said that in the settlement of
the Northeastern boundary question, $500 900 had
been used-no one knows how but the officers of the
Government, unless it used to bride the Maine
press. He mentioned other instances in which the
Government had expended large sums of money in
this way.
Finding Gen. Scott clear as to the right of the
measure, aud earnest in his cooperation with Mr..
Trst, and not being familiar myself with the usages
of other Governments, nor the practice of our own
doubted what ought to do; and in Difference to
his wishes and judgment, suspended my opposition
until days reflection had confirmed my opinion of
duty to my country. On the night after the confer
enee took place, Gen. Scott called council of Gen
eral officers, to whom he made known what had
been done in the way of negotiation, and to whom
he expressed substantially the views and opinions
above detailed
Being satisfied after reflection that my first i'm |
pressiOns right, went next day to Gen Scott
and Mr.. Trist and protested so earnestly against the
whole matter that they both said was right, aud |
that they would abandon the negotiations / then |
thought they sincere in their purpose to aban-
don it, and all idea of peace 10 be thus obtained
In few days afterwards the army commenced |
the march for the valley of Mexico
We reached the valley-had fought the battle of |
COntreras and Cherubusco, Ia continuous fight that