Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1861-08-20
For the Enquirer.
General Scott,s "vfews.n


This is the title of an article composed by
General Scott, in October 1850, and published
in the National Intellgencer," of the 18th of
January last 1t furnishes the editors think,
''fresh evidence of the veteran Generals devo-
ton to his country as citizen, and his forecast
as soldier" The author. doubtless, was of
the same opinion. It's immediate transmission
TO Federal and State officers, and its subse-
quent liberal circulation, are proof, at least,
that he thought it we'll deserving public atten-
ton.
The" forecast" supposed to be proved is in
reference to the disruption of the Union"
and it's consequences. disruption" he Justly
regarded, as Imminent" among its conse.
euences, be strongly affirmed, would be the
kopelessness Of reunion. The Union once
broken, he SAYS:
fragments, except blythe laceration and despot-
uuionI the intestine wars of our Mexican
neighbors would, in comparison with ours,
sink into mere childs play. 4 smaller epi2
would be to allow the fragments of the great
Republic to form themselves into new con.
federacies probably Jonr"
It required no gift of prophecy 10 pronounce
in the last days Of October, 1850, the certainty
Of disruption, and the hopelessness OF re- union.
Especially ought General Scott, Southron,
(6y hirth,) to have known that the most hope
less, the most impossible Of all imaginable
modes OF efecting reunion would be the
'laceration and despotism of the sword" If
he really thought otherwise, the battle Of
Manassas must have opened his eyes to the
folly, as clearly IS before the ldes of March
they seem to have been to the atroc!ty, Of such
| an attempt.
| Leaving this prediction, somewhat Delphc,
to the trial by battle, and that of the -four
confederacies" to the five years probation limit
cd for it's fu6lment, there is still! one to be no.
ticed, which, unfortunately, has proved utter.
ly fallacious Speaking from his knowledge
of the Southern population, General Scott ex-
pressed his solemn conviction OF the seizure by
them of the Southern forts and posts-among
others of Fort Monroe, then 'lcithout SuT-
ctent qar7iSon" 1t is forever to be deplored
that Virginia did not justify his anticipation,
instead OF leaving that fort during the long eve Of
the imminent disruption in the possession of
her enemies, to whom, while allies, and pro-
Tossing to be friends, she had entrusted it for
the commoR benefit of the Union, and especial
ly for her own defence and protection. Its
seizure was obviously measure not Of ordi-
nary prudence only, on our part, but oil strict
propriety-nay, Of State necessity; one which
would almost certainly have prevented the Lin
coin blockade, and would with absolute Ger.
taiuty have prevented Buffers occupation Of
our coast; spared us the necessity Of burning
Hampton; and saved US the millions Of treasure
and the many lives the capture Of the fort may
hereafter cost US. General Scott advised that
all the Southern works should be fully gar
rsoned, with the obvious design of treacher-
| ously pervertiug what were meant for our
! safeguards, to our ruin and we stood quietly
by till the measure WAS consummated. King
Log was succeeded by King Stoik. On the
4th Of March, Lincoln having partially recover
from the fear Of assassination, which had driven
him in disguise precipitately into Washington,
half disclosed his murderous intentions against
tho South A few weeks later he announced
them rather less cquivocal!y to the Virginia
Commissioners and two days after Q5th April,
| 1861 issued his insolent proclamation, calling
on the Southern States to furnish him with
men to slaughter thcir own brethren. With
all these facts before our eyes, we suffered our
avowed enemies, without struggle, without a
remonstrance, to occupy the main inlet and
outlet Of our commerce, and the key to our
seat of government, to fortify themselves almost
beyond the possibility Of assault within our
territorial limits, and point their cannon at the
very heart of our Commonwealth.
Leaving the propheses, there are some views
of Yirginia's loving son which merit earnest
attention, in other aspects. Pleasantly enough
they open upon US. He says:
ITO saTe time the right Of secession may be
conceded; and instantly balanced by the cor
relative right, on the part of the Federal Gov
ernment, against an interior State or States, to
re.establish by force, if necessary, its former
continuity of territory Paley's Moral and
Political Philosophy, last chapter"
General Scott has dsavowed any Intention
Of invading Virginia, even since her secession;
or of looking to any other than . defensive
policy. The term "tnteri0r," in the foregoing
quotation, is itaicised by himself obviously to
exclude the idea Of any right in the Federal
Government to invade State merely with a
purpose of cocercing it back into the Union.
This ''view" is made more evi i1ent by subse-
quent'passsge, in which ne says:
at will be seen that the Views only apply
to q case of secession, that makes gt2 IN tie
p3eent Union. The falling off (ssy) Of Texas;
Or all the Atlantic States, from the Potomac
South. was not within the scope Of General
SIS provisional remedies"
Well, the inevitable disruption came-with
two confederacies, however, so far, instead OF
four "THe. .fallins of Of Texas and all the
Atlantic States from the Potomac, South, brings
the case within the exac. category precluding,
according to the learned jurists, Scott and
Paley, all rghtful resort to force What has
wrought so dire change in the mind or heart
of General Scott9 Up TO the 18th of January,
at least, he disclaimed all thought Of coercion !;
though at that date four States had Withdrawn,
several were n the eve of secession, and
| the withdrawal of Virginia was not doubted
by any who knew her devotion to free govern
ment and Southern rights
True, he had presumed, rs he expressed
himself, to address the South, and particularly
"dcar Virginia" advising us
| S"Rather to bear the Ills We have
| ''Than ay to others We know not Or
advice which would have made "cowards OF US
alp-which was often pressed by tories and
traitors upon our Revolutionary sires,
under far less grievous insults ard op.
pressoHs, and which, had it not been spurned
by them, would have left us to this day, per
| haps, under government odiuus indeed, out
mild, liberal, ana honorable, compared with
that of Washington, then Verging 10 the "despot'
ism" it now maintains by "the liberation Of the
sloord"
Yes. General Scott most affectlonatcly ad-
vised 'Uear Virginia." but he uttered no
threat against her.
True, he had proposed to garrison the forts !;
but tha. he regarded as measure strictly de-
fensive. ~
He had suggested that duties should be col
1ected ''outside the cities; )" bat that vas evi,
IDENTIFY to avoid hostile collisions.
He had recommended that only articles con-
! traband Of war should be refused admittance i;
what could be contraband OF war when there
was no war, is somewhat difficult to compre-
hend. But he went on to say-"even this
refusal would be unne ccssary, as The foregoing
risws escheac the idea Of invading a seceded
] Staten Nav. be declared bis conviction that