The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1857-02-17


In one them tp 4o) be Acknowledges his great Oblga-
tons 70 the courtesy patience and kindness Of both the
President and Secretary Of WARM regard TO s Mexican
accounts"
This claim remained ENACTED on until November 1855
In the time General Scott drew $4,000 more from
the same officer who had before paid him. R 4s Of which
Ne informed the President representing that be had found
inquiry that this officer had funds that had been
paid into the treasury but retained pay such
claims and that he would pay over any balance found
against him he moment that the President decides the
question Of eommisaOn disbursements under his
consideration Up 43.J
The President allowed Gen Scott the sum Of S64s Sc
Up 45 which he had retained in Mexico and the Third
Auditor thereupon called General Scott refund the
two sums Of ass and $4,000 which the General had
drawn from Quartermaster Clark and which the Presi.
dent had refused to allow The General refuses to refund
and invites suit The President decided that he would
not have suit instituted but the usual and necessary
steps should be taken for the return Of the said the
treasury which decision sent to the Treasury De-
partment and BY the Auditor communicated General
Scott, calling upon him again to refund the money.
When this subject brought forward in the general
correspondence General Scott claimed that he had the
right under the laws of war; dispose of the money
be pleased and alleges that he had always refused be
bound by the act which Congress had passed in March
ls4e to compel officers TO account for moneys raised in
Mexico, because 1t would have him of from large
credits for Disbursements he had made Up. 224)
The Secretary rejects these reasons the act of March
ls49 did not him off the credits he claimed on the
contrary Il expressly authorized them Governor Marcy
had declined TO give him credit until should have
been passed and the act passed enable the Secre
tary admit such accounts R 2a5 The of ls4s did
not however authorize the allowance of his commission
until was amended in ls52 The true reason says the
Secretary, was doubtless first to avoid refundipg the
money he had retained in Mexico and afterwards to avoid
refunding that he had subsequently, drawn from Captain
Clark, which could not, under any law, be allowed
The Secretary pursues the subject with severe structures
upon the conduct of the General in allowing no en-, but
himself any portion of tie money except that two thou
sand dollars were handed over to committee Of officers
to distribute among the necessous families of the
slain of ptiful be divided among SO many
aud not equal to third of what the General kept for
himself
AspcrsiDns upon Military Officers near the Secretary Of
Waf
In his letter Of July 80 (P 1sa) General Scott SAYS:
aNoiwhs the Of your beneficial
ries and sycophants military and civil with or without
your appreciation that you stand ntrenched in the favor
Of the President that any appeal against your caprice
injustice would be 10 lead TO aggravaon of the
Bjurynot believing them, ask that this letter may be
laid before the President
In noticing this in bis letter OF September T. p I7s the
Secretary says:
am loss assign any fair or justifabe purpose
TO the gratuous flag you make persons military and
evil who from the language you employ you must have
intended 10 understand connected with the War
Department 1t due to the able and honorable gentlemen
with whom am associated here TO acknowledge all
proper OCCASIONS obligations them for the assistance
have received at their hands in matters relative the
different branches of the military service and for their
dial corporation in the which ii has devolved
upon TO execute In the various bureaus there are off
who have served long with asefnoess and distinction
none OF them have commission old your own but
all Of them have the advantage of having passed their
tire military career without having given occasion 10 be
arragned before cournaral for official malfeasance
for conduct rejecting their integrity and personal
orr and their character is surely as free your from
any trait which subject them to your derogaory de-
scription as my benefciaries and syeophants.'
In reply. September 2s, General Scott says (p 2os
"a You contrast (page 26l with me certain officers
who have passed herentre military without being
arraigned before courf-martia for official maleasance
for conduct rejecting on their integrity and personal
honor
The ausion ia Of course to a trial that occurred in
your childhood and shows that you have sought the
ground for backening not in the record of the
in the foul Memoirs Of Williamson. Hence your opposite
process Of whewashng the author at page TO- in order
MAKE prouuciDe Witness against rs.
The trick not without merit in your line of ambition
though not entirely original
These the facts At the instance of the same wit
was, captain in 1870 charged with conduct
becoming officer and gentleman but fully acquitted by
the court This every officer kuows could not have hap
pened under the SD article of war the slightest impu
taon had been fixed by the evidence upon my honor
i integrity
! To this the Secretary reoins, (p. 22l y
when in your letter of July 80 you spoke of my BEN
ehriaries and sycophans you sought TO cast double
them TO the suspicion of being the objects of such injurious
language and myself who would foster such
parasites answered the charge in the only manner
which its character permitted. You named oneyou
charged specific act could only challenge comparison
between all against whom could possibly suppose the
charge to lie and yourself and in doing gave You the
advantage of referring particular passage your his
tory. When You assume that my remark based on
information derived from the Memoirs of General wikin
you show you that the original proceedings
of the rtmartiai lost and emboldened by that
knowledge you assume the indignation of injured limo
court That not true; though the original record is
Lost copy in the possession Of the Judge advocate Of
army of the existence of which you no doubt gn
when you ventured that assertion shows that you
convicted by the of withholding money placed
in hands to the of your company and upon
conviction OF tins and another offence yeu sentenced
to be suspended from rank, pay, and emoluments for
period Of twelve months"
At page 22s Gen Scott discusses the finding of the court
at length than there is here space to contain but the
gist of il is that he acquitted of ungenteman like
conduct by being found guilty of unocer-ke conduct
only, which is no impeachment of moral standing, and
that although he sentenced suspension for twelve
IL, sl..