Lynchburg daily Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1852-1861, 1857-02-09
General sraII aud Se.rstar, Davis
. ,4,.,.4.- H,pttt

Tie cnrrespondenee between Lieut.. General
scott. aud the Hon. jefferson Davis, Secretary
# War lately hid before Congress, is said TO be
exceedingly Long The New York Herald has
the subjoined abstract Of it. II appears to be
quite spicy. and. as n consequence. will attract
the especial attention of the numerous friends of
/ tie two d distinguished writer's:
The correspondence. communicate to Con
gross opens with letter from GVn. Scott, dated
July 30. Is5in which he says:
Certainly "a Secretary OF War you have done
! enough 10 warrant moie than suspicion that
from tho first yon had considered it your special
mission. by repeated aggressions my rights
aud feelings, to goad me into some perilous atti-
tuie If official opposition"
Then follows a lengthy indictment against the
Secretary. containing eight distinct counts, set
ting forth official nets of that officer such az is
suing orders, &c. to frontier posts, done without
his General Scotts) appreciation. A. the re-
quest Of General Scot, this document was refer
red to the President and referred without com
meni
In reply, Secretary Davis sent the following
unofficial note, dated
WASHINGTON, Aug. Q. 1855.
Sir:-Your letter of the Both July was receiv-
ed yesterday, aud as you requested WAS referred
To the President When returned to me it will
be answered. You have taken the occasion of
an official correspondence to make unfounded
language as my idea of the requirements of Off
cial character and therefore adopt this unofficial
mode You ascrbe TO parizan hostility my OPP
position to conerri1g you the title of Lieute
nant General, but that opposition WAS actively
and publicly made when was member of the
United States Senate, and chairman Of tho com
mitee of military affairs. You then known
10 the country as distinguished soldier but had
not been forced upon public attention a parti-
IAN politician, nor ms such been judged Ivy the
people or approved by me. You certainly had
better opportunity tn know of my opposition then
thnn when it was merely that of well settled
aud long entertained opinion held by me in po-
sition which separated me from participation
in the active business of Congress My
views were publicly given Senator
IN sufficient extent to show what
my Judgement rested, aud your present accusa-
ton, which charges me with usurpation for tho
most unworthy ends aud imputes to mo motives
inconsistent with official integrity is considered
bascly maevolent and pronounced utterly false.
Your obt serv't JEFF DAVIS.
This note, though unofficial, is replied to by
Gen Scott officially, who insists upon spreading
it upon the files of the Department. This reply
is dated August 9th, and Secretary Davis rejoins
again on September 9TH, at great length and re-
views the specification in Gen. SCOTS indictment
against him,
Tho general next grants leave of absence to
Col. Hitchcock under circumstances not approx
I'd by the Department, and is ordered to coun-
termnnd revoke the leave of absence. This
he refused to do assigning his reason therefor.
This reason was referred to the President, who
endorsed the reason assigned us unsatsfacto-
~"
The Secretary Of War is then requested to re-
port his views ns To the means best calculated to
secure prompttude in tho execution of orders
relative to the movements Of the army. Secreta.
ID ,n,l,, hut tIn ham
quarters of the army DO removed from n. y. to
the seat Of government.
Next comes the following rich specimen of Of
fetal cores pondenee:--