The national Republican., 1861-07-29

10rce was ABOUT fV,VVV, anu tue entlrt lorces
Of the United States near $4,000.
Mr.. RICHARDSON, THE PRESIDENT,
AND GEN. SCOTT.
There are circumstances which give pecu.
liar character to the attack made upon the
President in the House of Representatives, on
the Oath instant, by Mr.. Richardson, of Illinois.
The gist of that attack was the insinuated
charge that the President had lin some form)
forced Gen. Scott into the attack Of July 2l,
which was equally ill.advised and badly exc.
cuted, upon the enemys position at Manassas
junction.
The proof sdduced by Mr.. Richardson in
support Of this charge, was his report of q part
of conversation, on the day previous, be-
tween the President and Gen. Scott. The part
which Mr.. Richardson saw ft so to report, was
| confined to the observations of Gen. Scott.
And it was not until he was pressed by other
gentlemen who heard the same conversation,
that Mr.. Richardson, with manifest reluctance,
reported the Presidents reply to Gen. Scott.
Mr.. Richardson's reluctance was natural enough,
considering the object he had in view, mas
much as the Presidents reply, in connection
with the manner in which it was received, ef.
fectually disposed, on the spot, Of the whole
charge insinuated by the Illinois politician.
The Presidents reply was an instant inquiry
whether Gen. Scott intended to imply that he
1.-THE President) had precipitated him into the
action.of July ri, and the two men being then
face to face, Gen. Scott responded in a way ex.
cluding the idea that he intended any such i'm.
plication. And SO the matter rested until Mr..
<Richsrdson, by reporting part Of the conver,
sation, attempted to impose upon the House
and the country belief in fact of which the
President had repelled the remotest possible
suggestion, and which Gen. Scott had himself
disclaimed.
But this suppressis peri by Mr.. Richardson
was not confined to part of the conversation
of July %, but of the whole of previous con
versation between himself and the President
bearing directly upon the subectmatte
Mr.. Richardson, who had witnessed the &C
ton at Bulls Run of July ls, and who had
examined the enemys position with military
eye, was so profoundly impressed with the
hazards Of second attack, unless preceded by
great preparations, involving time that he fell
it to be his duty to present his views personally
to the President, either on the Friday or Satur
day preceding the battle of July 81. He can
, not have forgotten the reply he received from
the President, and if he has forgotten it, others
, have not, to whom he has reported it.
That reply was, in substance, that the Presi
/ dent must leaUe it to Gen. Scott to determine tn
t time and place Of giring battle to tie enemy.
, The President, we believe, has held no othe
language, from first TO last, or upon any occa
} sion.
1t has sometimes been doubted whether
"tbere is such a thing as fact in the world,
= but if there is one, established beyond all pos
sibiity Of controversy, it is this one, that Gen
Scott was not hurried a single day by the Pres
| ident, into the action of July 81.
q That hattie was lost by the junction (uuex
y pected to Gen. Scott, and for which he is mo-
r primarily responsibility Of the forces of Gen
Johnston with those OF Gen. Beauregard. Their,
were other difficulties, but this was the turnin,
q point Of the battle. Gen. Scott did not over
. estimate the valor and efficiency of our troops
!. who would have triumphed over all the othe
}. obstacles, great as they were.
f The charge against the President, upo
= which we have commented, is not one whicl
e Gen. Scott either has made or will make. H
e has disclaimed it, and it is not to him that "
!. are replying, but to politicians like Mr., Rich
i ardson, who are seeking to make party capita
e against the President at the expense of a
fairness unless it be true that in politics eTerJ
2 thing is fair.
For the National Republican.
lee DIFFERENCE.-Whilst no Union man a
Richmond, the capital of the rebels, is suaere