Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1857-10-07
from the National Latelligencer.)
Card From Lieut.. Gen. Scott,

- (fs0m the National Lutelligsnoer.) s
Fl, A Card From Lieut.. Gen. Scott.
NV attention has been called to letter ad
dressed to the people of Tennessee, by Genera
Pillow, in which be criticises my campaign il
Mexico with the boldness of q master in the ar
of war, and at the same time eulogizeS his owl
services therein with hearty goodwill tina
leaves nothing to be added l do not propose
at present to disturb that self-laudaton nor te
reply to his animadversions on my plans and
operations, although he most provokingly mix
es up in every statement small grain OF trutt
with large portion, of fiction, so as to give il
with the careless all the effect of gross false
hood. If such tricks can influence the public
mind to my prejudice shall begin to regret
that was born an American. .sila II 519 3,
Without, then, entering upon any formal re.
crimination of General Pillow or defence o1
myself, shall proceed at once, in behalf of 9th,
ers, 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 incident.
al. sfIa ~. 81 OK
General Pillow now says that, by agreement
Mr.. Trist engaged to pay to General Santa,
''cash in hand, as earnest money, ten thou
sand dollars" to induce him to entertain nego-
tiations for peace; and that subsequently Mr..
T. told him (Geu. P. ''that General Scott had
furnished him (Mr T.) the money and that he
(Mr. IT, had paid the ten thousand dollars"
Being morally certain that Mr.. Trist never
made such declaration, it is almost useless to
say that never turned over dollar to him for
such or any other purpose whatever, and am
very sure that Mr. T. had not dollar of pub
lie money in possession while in Mexico, and
never more than suficed for his very moderate
expenses in his private purse; and certify on
honor that had never, at any time, paid to
Gen. Santa Anna, or caused to be paid to him,
or to another for bis use or benefit one dollar
Or more, on any account or in any way what
ever. President Santa Anna was at the time
as now, worth millions, and had, in that office,
the irresponsible control of oil the pecuniary
means of his country. 1t is hardly probable
therefore that be would have stopped to pick
up sack Of ten thousand in gold if he had ac-
cidently stumbled upon one in private walk.
This blunder of Gen. Pillow grew, no doubt,
out of hint he confidently picked up about
headquarters that had paid that precise sum
sto -- and -" for some very import
ant information received and to be continued
from the enemy's camps and armies. [See my
accounts current with the War Department OF
secret disbursements, printed by order of the
Senate February 4, 1851 1t was lucky, there
fore, that the names of F. and were
never confded to Gen. Pillow, as it is certain,
from the example before us, he would, contra
ry to the faith and honor of our country, have
published them in full to the ruin of the parties
and their descendants. Even Gen. Santa Anna
if Gen. Pillows credit be worth anything, could
not now return to Mexico, no matter under
what pledges, to lead the life of O good and
peaceful citizen.
: Writing to the Secretary of War from the ci-
ty of Mexico February 6, lS4s, | said:
81 have not reported on the subject Of secret
disbursements since left Jalappa, first, because
of the uncertainty of our communication with
Vera Cruz and, second, because of the neces-
sity of certain explanations which on account
of others, ought not to be reduced to writing
| may, however, briefly add that have never
tempted the honor conscience, or patriotism OF
any man but have held it as lawful in morals as
in war to purchase valuable information or SER
vices voluntarily rendered me-" Mexican War
Correspondence, House Document, No. 60, page
l ,0e5.
And again, at Washington, June %, 1S4S, on
my account-current OF secret and 9TH
er disbursements, and asking for final settle
ment, said -
~ am ready to go, confdentially, into all
those different sums of receipt and disbursement
with the President, the Secretary of War, or a.
nv other member of the Cabinet. / am under
an obligation of private and public honor, ac-
cording to the usages of nations and armies, not
to disclose name and circumstances, except as a.
boye.n y = "On the plain
est principles and usages Of nations and war, and
the practice of our own Government, in respect
to secret disbursements, can, in few hours"
&C.. ESee Senates Executive Document, No.
"a, page, 36, ordered to be printed February 4,
1851
And that account has been definitely settled
on the principles had proposed.
Z A word as to Mr.. Trist-long in private life,
and struggling with honorable poverty-whom
Gen. Pillow has so wantonly dragged before the
public He is represented in the address as
the cunning and malignant genius who instiga-
ted me-otherwise good enough sort of man
Ito acts of injustice and persecution. The Off
GERS in Mexico, and Mr.. Trist, distinguished
West Pointer, who stood with them before the
enemy, the brave among the brave, will smile
to hear this character of their senior General
and his companion, the negotiator. No man
was more admired than the latter for his uDob
trusive manner and amiability. H was eager
ly received and honored by all foreigners of dis
tinction, diplomas land others, with whom he
came in contact, and under one signal disadvan-
tage negotiated q most important treaty, which
was here gladly accepted by the Senate and the
country. For this great service be is still with
out award WINFIELD SCOTT.
New YORK, September %, 1857.
Rpy HENpy WARp BHRoHER. depreciatinp the