The Carolina Spartan. [volume] (Spartanburg, S.C.) 1852-1896, 1857-02-19
Gen. Scott and Secretary Davis.

uocutnentS IL appears tDat zen Scott de.
clined to give open and specific information
TO Mr.. Davis regarding the expenditure OF
the secret service money in Mexico, beliey-
lug that no obligation of public or private
honor, according to tho usages of nations
and armies, required him to disclose names
and circumstances. He however expressed
willingness TO give such information for
his private ear alone, which the Secretary
said he was willing to receive in confidence.
In November, 1855, the President of the
United States writes to Secretary Davis,
saying in substance: "Gen. Scott states two
grounds on which he has learned that |
hesitated 10 allow the five per cent commits.
sion. 1t is proper TO remark that he has
been misinformed or misapprehended my
position. lie himself fixed 3 2 per cent.
which he might properly receive for his
disbursements in Mexico; aud balance
struck upon that basis was tho subject of
conversation between u.s."
Mr.. Davis, in responses to the President.
informs him that Gen. Scott had charged
himself with the sum of 326l,G0l, ali of
which, excepting $4,000, for discussing
s255,54l, leaving SG,l55 withheld by Gen.
Scott on his account. This balance the
President authorized Gen. Scott, through
the Secretary of War, 10 retain.
Gen. Scott, in letter dated New York,
December, 1855, writes that there are two
items, making 1855 against him, as not
admitted or disalowed by the President op
account of five per cent. charged by him
on all moneys disbursed. lie SAYS it was
entirely within the competency of the Presi.
dent TO allow that charge, and he asks that
the suit be brought against hum by the 90,
vernment to recover the amount claimed to
be due by him, nearly $4,000. But the
President declined TO enter suit. There are
many explanations relative TO these figures,
but the financial parts of the transaction
cannot be fairly understood by this mere
reference to the subject.
Among the documents is the opinion OF
Attorney General Cushing, dated January,
1856, to the effect that the net crea.
ting the grade of lieutenant general does
not confer upon Gen. Scott all the author.
ty which was imposed by the law of l79s
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.
It carries retrospective pay and emo!umen,s,
but not Retrospective authority.
Gen. Scots correspondence with the Of
6crrs of the government goes back as far
rs is4S, aud that between him and the
Secretary OF War during 1865 contains the
following features: Mr. Davis, on July 25lh,
says: 81 leave unnoticed tho exhibition of
Peevish temper in reply To an inquiry from
this department" etc. Gen. Scott replies,
July 80: ut would be easy to show that
the whole letter in which you charge me
with exhibiting q peevish temper is as flip.
pant in lis statements and logic as in that
accusation" Certainly as Secretary oI
War you have done enough to warrant
more than suspicion that from the first you
have considered it your special mission, by
repeated aggression on my rights and feel
ngs, to goad me into some perilous atti.
nde of official opposition"
TO prove my Tong forhearance, for al
my time of life all angry discussions are
painful, will now proceed TO enumeratc
some of the provocatons alluded to, without
dilating in this place on your partisan hos
tility to the brevet OF lieutenant general
and TO the compensation Congress intend
ell to attach thereto" The General then
alIudes TO one Of the Secretary's ''captiou'
retoris" and his 'capping the climax by
usurpation and absurdity." He likewise
says: "FolIowing out your personal rebukC
in the letter of the 18th, your object, in
violation Of principle, is to crush me into /
servile obedience to your self.will. l know
your obstinacy, and know also what j,
due TO myself us man and soldier; anC
if ! am 10 be crushed, | prefer it at the
hands Of my military peers"
The Secretary rejoius. in IN unofficial
note dated August 2d: "Your present accu
salIon charges mo with usurpation for th,
most unworthy ends, and imputes TO m,
motives inconsistent with official integrity
is considered basely malevolent aud pro
nounced utterly false"
General Scott replying, August 9th, says
81 have received a note from you dated OF
the I'd inst, which you seem to desire m,
TO consider rs unofficial. shall not com
ply with your singular fancy, as you cat
have no legitimate claim to address me ex
copt IA Secretary of War. Accordingly,
shall treat your communication, whethe
designed as private aud scurrilous or a
public missiyes OF arrogance and supercii
business, as equally official. Thero ar
beauties in them which ought not 20 b
lost, and it shall not be my fault if / do 10
render your part Of this correspondence {
memorable example to he Stunned by you
successors."
To this the Secretary replies. Sent. 7th
Nor am | to be at all deferred from fuI
exposure Of the groundlessness Of YOU
charges or by the threats YOU made of rem
derlng my part of this correspondence
memorable example to be summed by IN,
successors. This is the moanest brayalo il
one who himself affords the most memora
Die example on ihe records OF Ibis depart
ment Of : sane conference.-the igie.tyd az.
q iaisc aecases exposc9"
HoRsE.RAcISa TO HELL- Joaathaj
/ Rhodes and Hiram Campbell of Mills co