Daily Ohio statesman. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1855-1870, 1861-07-31
must not throw their responsibility on my


must not throw their responsibility on nv
shoulders" -
This Is the substance and very nearly the
language Of portion of Gen. Scotps oonyersa-
ton on the occasion referred to. II proves con-
clusively that he was opposed to the advance
upon Richmond by way Of Manassas at that
time, and also that the Administration was al.
most certain TO overrule his objections and COM
mand battle. Taken in connection with what
was said 10 the House Of Representatives on
wednesday, 1t leaves no doubt on the subject
" MIR. Richardson-I repeat that Gen. Scott
mad been forced to fight this battle. will tell
MIN wnat occurred yesterday morning. NV
colleagues (Logan and Washburne) and myself
were present with the President, Secretary of
war ana Gen. Scott. In the course of our con-
versauon' Gen. Scott remarked, / am the big
gest coward In the world | rose from nv seat.
Stay said Gen. Scott; Il win prove Il. I
have fought the battle against nv Judgment, and
l think the President ought to remove me To-
day ior doing it. AS God is my JUDGE he
added, alter an interval Of silence, did all in
my power 10 make the army efficient, and de-
serve removal because | did not stand M when
l could, AMI did not etand here to yindicate
Gen. Scott. l am indebted to the gentleman
from Missouri for the compliment he gave me.
l desire to say for myself that am here the
last OF generation, my father and grandfather
having fallen beneath the flag of their country.
4, too, have fought under its folds at home and
abroad, and, God willing, there will stand to
the end OF my life, defending il against all
foes. -
"Mr. Washburne-As my colleague has re-
ferred to Gen. Scott's remarks, he might also
allude to what the President said.
"Mr. Richardson-I will do 60. sYour con-
versation implies, said the President to Gen /.
Scott, that forced you to battle' To which
Gen Scott replied, Il have never served under
a President who has been kinder to me than
you have been.' But Gen. Scott did not relieve
the President from the fact of the latter having
forced him to fight the battle. Gen. Scott thus
paid compliment to the President personally"
we repeat what we said yesterday, tnat Pres
ident Lincoln is not likely, of his own motion,
to have overruled Gen. Scott and to have forced
hin to fight battle against his will. But
President Lincoln Is, to very great extent, in
such matter as this, in the hands of his Cabi-
net. portion Of that Cabinet is known to
have full and entire confidence in the military
ability OF Gen. Scott; while another portion is
equally well known to be governed by senti-
ments OF personal dislike which amount almost
to hatred IL is not necessary to specify indi.
vlduals. IL is matter of notoriety that some
members OF the Cabinet have done little else
during the last few weeks, than to denounce
Gen. Scott, ridcule bis plani of the campaign,
and declaim on the necessity of overrulpg or
superseding him They have succeeded in over
ruling him, with what results the country knows
| too WE'LL.
Now, we have not the slightest wish to see
anything like break up of this Administration.
such an event. in the pfesent condition of the
country, could only be fruitful in disaster. But
IL is lndispensaby necessary for the President to
decide, peremptorily and finally, between Gen.
Scott and those who would overrule him. The
great interest of the country now lies in the
army. Its military department is the depart
ment OF overwhelming interest and importance
It's finances asd its foreign relations are In good
bands; and there should be note moments hesi-
tation in placing at the head of the War De-
partment some man Of larger views, of more ex.
periene, and of more commanding personal rep
utation than the present incumbent And, above
all, the country should know at once whether it
may still lean upon the great military genius
| and experience of the Lieutenant General of our
armies, or whether we are to be thrown back
upon the new crop Of Generals and statesmen
who are striving to grasp the power that rests
In his hards. Let the President make up his
own mind on this point, and then make his Cab
met unit upon 1t. II the Blairs and Greeleys
and the radical contemners Of experience and
science in military matters, are to bear sway
let it be undisputed. Let them have full DOS
session of the Government, and take all the re.
sponsibility OF its ruin. If not let them retire
and give place to men Of cooler temper and of
wiser heads. The worst thing the President
can do in this crisis is to hesitate, and allow
things to drift at random, as they are now do
ing. .......