The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1858-01-10
THE PILLOW AND SCOTT CORRESPONDENCE.
Gen. Pillows Letter In Reply TO Gen. Scotc's
Card No. q.

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Gen. Pillows Letter In Reply 10 Gen. Scott's
Card No. q.
Being on my way to the South when General
SCOTS second card appeared and having hut just
returned home, my reply to that remarkable com
munication has been necessarily delayed until the
present time.
The present controversy between General Scott
and myself originated in the following statements in
my address to the people Of Tennessee, wiz
In appointing mission to travel with the army and
treat for peace Or opportunity should Offer the grade
Of diplomatic duty to be performed aud tue emouments
thereto attached made it impossible for the President
ind statesman who would accept the place. The
selected that position was Mr.. y. Trst But either
dstrustifg his ability or judgment or prudence, or all
these President Polk was not satisfied to place the honor
the country and his administration hts hands alone
BY his confidential letters in my possession, he so
far associated myself with S. Trlst a. to place me in
emf official relations with him COMMISSIONER. lie
DUTY epjoneo upon Mr. Tr OF taking into ali his
conferences and 10 consult me in all his negotiations The
duty was imposed upon me a. patriot ana the devoted
friend OF the President guard aud protect the honor OF
the country and Of his administration against any and
every thing which thought would tarnsh the the
other hwil heEce be that while Mr. 1rst
osnsiee commissioner, was In fact the confidential OH
Ger of the government upon whom the President relied 10
guard protect the honor Of the country the impor
TAFT negotiations inv diving the peace Of the country.
when reached the headquarters of the army at Pueba
was invited to a conference with Mr. Trs On my arm
val at his quarters found Gen Scott there Mr. frst
informed me that lie had opened Negotiations with santa
Anna and had pretty well agreed upon the preLminares
Of negotiations for peace. BY these santa
TO be paid, cash in hand, earnest money $1,000
light battle before the city. II We won, aru.stice tn
be granted and Commissioners appolnied to treat for
was TO receive one million Of dollars
Mr.. Trst further niosined me that these terms had
been agreed to- but was az open question whether Santa
Anna or General Scott (afier the battle was fough)
should take the initiative, aud send the nag Of pre-
psra:ory TO the armistceSarta Anna insisting that Gene
raj Scott should send the flag but General Scott insisting
II he the battle Santa Anna should do tie fur
tier said General Scc had uns he'd HIM the money and
that he had paid the SIC 600 required to be paid IA adj
yaIC a m tu the
bursBg department Of the army, or could RAISE the
means, OF paying the million 20 be paid at the
cusoL q the negotiations. He also said he had invited
to the conference N pursuance OF the order Of the
President, and desired my approval Of the terms.
asked Mr.. Trst If there was any Law authorizing such
a use Of the public money! He replied there was not [
then asked him 4 the President had authorized such
Of II He replied he had not; but he thought was the
beat he could do.
Regarding this improper OF the public money,
snd bribe to the commander Of the enemys forces
and dShonorng the government and osgracefu
army, at once protested against the whole matter
General Scott justified and dccnacd the measure, both
upon the OF morals and 70 the Il govern.
men,s. lie said we were not corrup,ng santa Anna, for
the fact that he was found In the market asking bride,
was proof that he was already corrupted.
In regard TO the practice Of governments, he said
Of all governments 10 effect their purposes, when
necessary by money and that our government had
the chiefs Of Indian tribes and 10 the Barbary Powers,
nothing but brides. Hc further said that the
Element of the North eastern Boundary question: $500 600
had been uscd-no knows how but the officers Of tho
government unless used 10 bribe the Maine press
He mentioned other Instances which Tue government
had expended large sums OF money IA THIS way.
Finding General Scott clear as TO tue right OF the mea
sure, and earnest IN his cooperation with Mr.. Trst and
not being familiar self With the usages OF otter govern
ments the practice OF own doubted wrat ought
do and IN difference 70 his wishes and Judgment
pended my opposition until days reflection had con
nrmed my opinion OF duty my country. ON the light
after the conference took place, General Scott called
council OF general officers TO whom lac made known what
had been done the way of negotiation aud 10 whom he
expressed substantially the views and opinions above de-
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right went next day TO Gen. scott and Mr.. Trist,
and protested earnestly against the whole matter that
they both said right and that they would abandon
the negotiations. I then thought they were sincere In
their purpose to abandon aud all idea Of peace TO be
thus obtained.
This statement drew from Cen Scott q card in
which he used the following language, wiz
fccrtfy, honor that I never. at any time paid "
Gen Santa Anna caused TO be paid TO him or 70 anoheS
for his benefit dollar more on any ACCOUNT
or In any way whatever
This statement of Gen. Scott's-certifed 10 upon
honor-apparently denying an important statement
in the extracts above quoted, intended (and 30
understood) TO make direct issue with me. He
denied, upon honor, the payments of any money to
santa Anna. Either. therefore, the statement in
my address was untrue, or his certifcate-upon ho
nor---is false.
There was no one present at the conference spoken
Of in my address but Gen. Scott, Mr. Trist and my
self knew, however, that Gen. Scott made sub
stantiay the statements in regard to the bribe
(the amount actually paid and to be paid at the
meeting Of general o1icers) that was made by Mr..
Tris in the presence OF General Scott at the private
conference.
therefore procured from the records Of the War
Department at Washington, and had published copies
of the statements of Generals Qutman and Shields.
Qmtman proves that General Scott said at the meet
ing Of general officers
he desired 70 consult them upon another subject Of
great decacy and much Importance That the prospects
for peace we're sight but that he informed by
come bregn residents in Mexico that this desirable result
could certainly be attained by the application OF cons
derabe OF money that the Mexican leaders expected
the negotiations 10 be attended by donccur; thai they
we're In the habit Of moving without IL, that the Of
money for such purposes justified by the practice Of
other nations; and that considering the great good
would in this instance bring TO own country, he
garded the means moral and proper and did not per-
ceve how any sensible man could think otherwise. He
further added that Mr. Tst had power instructions
the three millions voted by Congress- part
OF IT, 10 such purpose that must be accounted for
the face OF the treaty That, however, " should be
considered advisable, he (Gen. Scot) had credit upon
the assent request OF Mr. Trist, 10 raise million or
million and half OF dollars 10 apply 70 this purpse-a
sufficient sum 10 insure the if The negotiations
that he had already Expended ten twenty Thousand
dollars, which he regarded bread thrown upon the
waters Tie then presented and read note from MT Irt
this subject, asserting 70, not requesting, That inc
scheme should be adopted.
| General Shields statement was in substance
about the same. -
This testimony Of Generals Quitlnan and Shields,
twill be perceived, fully snstains many conroverted
points in the extracts from my address. They prove
| that General Scott said that nego9#ions had been
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