Republican vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1857, 1857-02-14
The Scott and Davis Correspondence.

From q farther examination of the docu-
ments, it appears that General Scott declin-
Cd to give open specific information to Sc
cretary Davis regarding the expenditure Of
the secret service money in Mexico, believ-
Ing that no obligation of public or private
honor, according to the usages of nations
aud armies, required him to disclose names
4 circumstances. He, however expressed his
willingness to give such information for his
private ear alone, which the Secretary SAID
lie was willing to receive in confidence.
+ In November, 1855, the President writes
TO Secretary Davis, saying in substance
Gen, Scott states two grounds on which he
has learned that | hestated TO slew the five
per 81 ut commissioa. 1t is prop % cmark
that he has been misnfofmed o. l.i4appre-
hended my position. He himself fixed three
aud half per cent, which he might proper
" have received for his disbursements in
Mexico, and balance struck upon that basis
Was the sahjgct Of the conversation between
us
Secretary Davis, in response to the Presi-
dent, informs him that Gen Scott had charg-
ed himself with the sum of 1921 SOL, and
that all. excepting $4,000, were levied
and captured in Mexico, and took credit for
dishursing $255, 54l, leaving So, l50 with
held by Gen. Scott III his account. This
balance the President authorized General
Scot, through the Secretary Of War, to re-
tain General Scott ia letter dated at
Now Yolk, in December, 1855, writes that
there ara two items, making 81 S85,
agalgai fi8,. us not admitted on disallewed
~ the President on.accQ0at q the five per
etNt charged - hiil On sh m0nays d;sburs-
e3.-iie says il was entirely within The conf
potency of;le President toaii4# tia charge,
sud asks that SUR may be brought against
him by the government % recover tbs g.
mount claimed to be due by hia--n6ar.y
$4,000: but The President declined n ~
ter SUIT. There arc many exf.gaations
relative to these tg5res, bur HE .l,ale,al
part OF - .,ans8c5I5l cannot be faily an
derstood this mere reference to the sub
ject. Among the documents is the opinion
of Attorney General Cashing, dated January
1886, to the effect that 1.-The act creating
Major General Scott a Lieutenant General,
does not confer upon him all the authority
which was imposed by the law of 1893 upon
Washington, who was thereby made the
commander of the armies, while Gen Scott
was appointed lieutenant General by order
of the President of the United States The
rank carries retrospective pay and cnolu
lnents, bat not retrospective authority"
General SCOTS correspondence with the
officers If government goes back as far as
1913; and that between him and the 5cere-
tsry 81 War, during 1880, contains the fol-
lowing features:
Secretary Davis. july rs, says:-sI leave
unnotieed the exhibition Of peeyish temper
inretl!y TO an inquiry from this department, y
etc.
Gen. Scott replies, July 3o:--"Tt would
be easy to show that the whole letter in
which you charge me with a peevis.i temper
Is as iippapt in its statements and logic as
in that accusation. Certainly, as Secretary
Of War, yen have done enonai to warrant
more thar, suspicion that ifon The FIRST veu
have considered it yonr special mission by
repeated aggression en- my rights and feel
lngs, 10 eoad me in some perilous attitude
ii Official opposition. 10 prove my long
iorbeafalee, for at my time Of life all angry
DISCUSSIONS arc painful, | viii aow proceed
to ehan.crate sniue Of the proyoeations ALA
aed 10 without aila;iag in dis place en- yoar
parti2ap hostility te the hfeyst of f.icutea-
ant General, and 10 the compensation that
Congress intended to attach thereto" Gen
eral Scott tllen allades to one of the ;Secrc-
tary's "captious ret0fts' ami hi. ''cappiun
the climax b. usurpatiou aud absurdity. =
He likewise says Following out Your
personal rebnke iii yonr letter Of tue 12th
your object. in violation nf principles, is to
crush me iutn a sergile obs Zee to your
stIi-wjil, know yonr ofsi.aH and know
also what is due TO myself aa a uian and
soldier aud if | AIN 10 be crushed | prefer
it at tho hands Of my military peers
The Secretary of War reoins in an unof.
fcial note, August . ;---"Your present ae-
Gu ation, which charges me with usurpation
for the most unworthy ends, aud imputes
TO me motives inconsistent with Official in /
teerity, is considered hasely malevolcnt and
pronounced utterly false
Geseral Scott replying Aug. 6. says:--
= have received note from vou dated the |
ID inst which ven seem to desire me to
consider as unofficial. I shall not comfy /.
with thet sin"ular fancy. as you can have no I
Legitimate e'aim 70 address me rs Secretary
Of War: aeeordiaa'v shall treat vour COM
lnUnies ION, wheeler lrsignad as private and /
seurr3aus Or rs nul lie miszilcs Of arrogance
and sarereiliousnoss. rs equally ofieial -
Thora aro hcouties in them which oHehi not
to be lost. ard it s'snll not he nv fpit + 7
do not rcn..er this part Of yopg cot. espona-
ence meni erable example to be Stunned by
your successors"