Southern sentinel. [volume] (Plaquemine, Parish of Iberville [La.]) 1848-1858, 1857-09-23
Gem. Gideon J. Pillow.

this gentleman, from the prominency and tfe-
~quency with which, appeared during the Mex
lean War--frequentIy in a very ludIefous ana
ridiculous connection--and then again llhAeo
with acts and achievements which render men
Hlustrious. OF his character in that war; we
who have known him since he was II years OF
age, are perfectly satisfied Of two things, II not
more--that he exhibited a degree of vanity
calculated to bring Gas it did brine) ridicule
upon his name, and that he acted in as valiant
a manner, and bore as brave a heart, as any
man in the rank or file of that army. In fact,
we have not in our life, known but one other
man with the peculiar characteristics OF Gen.
Pillow.
In his youth he was known in Columbia
Tennessee, as a vain, foppish young man OF
rather aristocratic manners and his very acts
seemed to say, 81 know ! am" Such peculiar"
tiles, we all know, generally accompany a weak
timid mind. No one, however, ever doubted
Pillows courage at that age indeed, it was
too frequently tried, TO leave any doubt upon
that subject and no one ever questioned his
abilities. for he graduated with high honors,
which he showed on many OCCASIONS, were not
nuworthiIy bestowed.
But we did not start to be the encomiumist
of Gen. Pllow-nor would We have said this
much but for the manner 10 which re has been
ridiculed and abused (but not without good
cause we admit by those unacquainted with
the man and his peculiar propensites We
notice him here, for the purpose of stating that
he has lately published an address TO the peo>
pie of Tennessee, in the Union and American,
at Nashville, announcing himself as a candidate
for United Statas Senator, in which he diselo-
ses some important matters, which the people
should know, connected with the Mexican war.
1t seems, that Gen. Pillow held a higf secret
diplomatic station in connection with N. +.
Trist that President Polk, being unwilling to
place the honor of the country in that gentle
mans hands alone, he was selected as me to
whom Trist must consult on all important
matters; that he has letters now in his posses.
sion, to this effect, and also showing that
1.-THE duty was imposed upon me as a patri-
OF. and the devoted friend of the President, to
guard and project the honor Of the country and
of his administration against any and every
thing which | thought wouId tarniSh the one
or the other. 1t will hence be seen, that while
Mr.. Trist was the OstenSibi9 commissioner, |
was, in fact, the confidential officer Of the Cows
eminent, upon whom the President relied to
guard and protect the honor Of the county, in
the important negotiations Involving the peace
of the country.
Having revealed these facts the GeDeal
goes on to diyu'g the following extraordinary
circumstance, as disgraceful to Scott and Trist
IS it was honorable for the stand be took
against its
When reached the Head Quarters of tie
army at Puebla, ! was invited. TO conference
with Mr.. Trist. On my arrival at his quarters
found Gen. Scott there. Mr.. Trjst informed
me that he had opened negotiations with San
ia Anna, and had pretty well agreed upon the
preliminaries of negotiations for peace. B!
f these terms Santa Anna was to be paid, cash
in hand, as earnest money, 10000, and gu
army was to march to the valley Of Mexico
and fight a battle before the city. If we U0n.
an armstiee was to be granted, and commission
ers appointed to treat for peace. When peace
should be concluded, Santa Anna was 10 re-
ceive one million of dollars more.
MIR. TEist further informed me that these
terms had been agreed to, but it was an open
question whether Santa Anna or Gen, Scott
(after the battle was fought) should take the
initiative, and send the flag Of truce preparatory
10 the armist;re--Santa Anna insisting that
Ger. Scott should send the flag, but Gen. Scott
insisting, if he won the battle, Santa Anna
should do so. He further said Gen. Scott had
furnished him the money, and that he bad paid
the $4,000 required to be paid in advance,
and that Gen. Scott had the means in the dis
bursting department of the army, or could
raise the means of paying the million to be
paid at the conclusion of the negotiations. He
also said he had invited me to the conference
in pursuance of the order of the President. and
desired my approval of the terms.
| asked Mr.. Trist if there was any law ans
thorizing such use of the public money i! He
replied there was not. I then asked him ifthe
President had authorized such a use of it. He
replied that he had not, but be thought it was
the best he could do. p.
Gen. Pillow says he protested against the
whole matter" and "Gen. Scott defended and
justified the measure" This induced him 10
suspend bis opposition until a days reflection
confirmed him in his views, whereupon he reit~
Grated them with so much earnestness that
both Scott and Trist said he was "right" and
that they would abandon the negotiations.
What followed, however, induced the belief
that they were insincere.
The RIGHT LANeuAGE.-The following is