Daily Nashville patriot. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1857-1858, 1858-01-11
after attempt to xhitewash Gen. Pillow and

after their attempt to Gen. Pillow and broWbeas
as tbs prosecutor in that caae. WINFIELD SCOTT.
Was there ever uttered q more infamous label
1 upon the memory of the deadF
! But not content with pouring bis caunnies upon
! the memory of President Polk, whose charity for
biz ipirmIties of character saved him from prose-
cation aad trial. upon charges for violation of the
| laws of his country, preferred against him by NY
self, (now on file in the War Office at Washington,
| depending upon record evidence from which he
could not have been relieved by his willing and
| ready witnesses, and for conviction upon which,
| he would have forfeited his commission; not con-
tent say with pouring his calumnis supoD the IL
| Iustrions dead, to whom he was so much indebted,
| lie tears open the graves of the brave and gallant
| Generals Towson and Brlknap, and endeavors 10
| strip tn, m of the honors won. upon many hard
| fought battle fields of their country, by charging
| them, indirectly, with corruption members of
that court, end of being rewarded with brevets by
corrupt President for their services in i" white
washing Gen. Pillow, and brow-beating me (him) as
prosecutor in that case"
Nor does he stop here, for, in the blindness of
bis rage, he blends in common charge, the gal.
| liant and chivalrous Worth, the brave and highly
distinguished Duncan, and myself, as 'consprators
against him" These two dead heroes and myself,
he says, engaged in conspiracy against him
in Mexico were under arrest were of course 'His
prisoners and because the President would not
suffer him tyrantlike, to hold his iron heel upon
| their necks longer than ninety days, but released
them from arrest, suspended him from command
of an army he had disoreanized, and ordered his
charge, and the charges preferred against him, to
be investigated, his indignation burst forth with
consuming rage, now that the President, and Worth,
and Duncan, and Towson, and Belknap, are all
dead.
If Worth and Duncan and myself were copspi-
rators against him, why did he voluntarily abaneon
the charges against Worth and Duncan? Why did
he propose to abandon the charges against me,
and refuse to prosecute the case, until applied for,
and obtained an order from the cOurs, compelling
him to prosecute and make good his charges, or
publicly TO ackr OUedge that they were false? Why,
after an investigation which lasted nearly four
months did he not prove the charge of conspira-
cy against me?
"Conspirators against him!" To do what? He
arrested me while in bed disabled, -"cut down
while heroically leading my cammand," according
TO his official report, in common with 1872 others
whose blood was shed to atone for his drmistice,
aud corrupt Puebla negotiations.
The gallant Worth, whose victorious column had
opened Gen. SCOTS way into the city of Mexico
was arrested in few days afterwards for alleged
disrespeet to him." for appealing from bis arbitra
~ and illegal general order-charging him (Wortb)
with writing letters, putting himself He, a con-
spiratorl Col. Duncan, the brave, brilliant and
highly distinguished artillery officer, whose gallant
ry was actested upon the battlefeds of Palo Alto,
Resaca de la Plams, aud Monterey, by Gen. Tay-
lor; and by Gen. Scott at Churuhusco and San Co.'S
me Gerota. He ''conspirator!" OF these three
conspirators, two had warmly opposed his fatal
armisticel The other had written letter laudato.
ry of w rth, and giving his recognizance around
Lake Chalco, upon the report of which Gen. Scott
had reversed his movements, recalled his orders
for attacking MexecalSngo, and turned the enc
emies' works. thus saving his army from destruc-
ton, and opened the way for his victorious march
into the city. Such an officer ''conspirator"
against his Commanding General!
Brilliant as have been Gen. Scotts achievements,
nd dictin cd he hpfO he
it may well be questioned, if a few more cards. fill
ed with certificates upon honor" and calumnies
upon the distinguished Dead would not cause his
'swn of glory" to set in shame and dishOnor.
Certainly the impartial Historian who shall justly
weigh his achievements, on the one hand-and his
want of the cardinal virtues, of truth and Justice
his jealousy of heart-his want OF practical judg-
ment-his selfishness-exasperation of temper, and
tyranical conduct on the Other-will find il diff
cult to make of Gen. Scott great and good man.
Wherever history places him, ] am content to
leave him. but history is or should be- the mirror
Of truth. II history shall reflect justly his true
character he will be found ,Uatapg in the virtues
of the Christian character which constitute true
greatness. Between these and Gen. SCOTS charac-
ter, there is perpetual antagonism TepuLSiUe
the poles of the magnet
AS have now been charged with being "con-
spirator against the Commanding General of the
army with which l served in a foreign war-(a
grave chOrge)-this communication will be followed
by anOLner, giving the cause OF arrest Or
ders, proofs &C., that the public may judge how
far this last charge is consistent with the truth
and how much credit is due to the statement of
Gen. Scott. Afterwards, in justice to the services
and memory o. Gen. w orth and Col. Duncan,
will give the true history of the Chalco movement
with the reasons for their arrest, &c; aud may
give the 'Secret history of the battle of Moliuo
del Rey, where there a useless sacrifice of the
lives and blood of upwards of 800 brave men; under
information imported to the Commanding General
by a. '.Jr1endiy neutral"
AS these dead 'conspirstors" cannot now defend
themselves against this charge of their old
prosecutor l. their associate in crime, will defend
their regulations before the American people, as
advised them to co, when living, against the old
charges before the Court of which the gallant old
hero, Gen. Towson, was President.
Neither the conduct nor memory OF President
Polk needs any defence at my hands.
Time has indicated the wisdom of his policy
truth the purity Of his life. The glorious achieve.
ments OF our arms. ia the with Mexico, belong
to his administration; and our vast Pacific and in
termedate interior possessions, constitute mons
ument upon which bis greatness is written, higher
than the Vandal hands OF modern caumniators can
reach-and so deeply and indelioly engraven, that
neither time, nor the elements under mans control,
Can efface. Respectfully,
GID. J. PILLOW.