The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1861-11-06
Resignation of General Scott.


WASHINGTON, Nov. 1.-The following
letter from Gen. Scott was received by the
President on Thursday afternoon:
HEADQUARTERS OF THE ARMY, !
WASHINGTON, D. c.. Oct. 81, 1851.
THE HON S. CAMERON, Sec of War:
SIR-For more than three years have
been unable. from q hurt, to mount
horse or walk more than few PAGES at o
time and that with much pain. Other
and new infrmiiies -dropsy and vertigo
admonish me that repOse of mind and
body, with the appliances of surgery and
medicine, are necessary to add little
more to life already protrac.ed much be.
you'd the usual span of man.
1t is under such circumstances, made
doubly painful by the nnnatura! and un-
just rebellion now raging in the Southern
States of our SO late prosperous and hap
py Union, that am compelled to request
that my name be placed in the list of
army officers retired from active service,
as this request is founded in an absolute
right granted by recent act of Congress
am entirely at liberty to say that
it is with deep regret that withc raw N.Y.
self 10 these momentous times from the
orders of President who has treated nae
with distinguished kindness and courtesy,
whom know, upon much personal inter-
course, to be patriotic without sectional
partialities or prejudices, to be highly con-
scientious in the performance of every du,
ty, and of unrivaled activity and perse-
verauce. and to you, Mr. Secretary, whom
| now officially address for the last time,
| beg to acknowledge my many obi ga
tions for the uniform. high consideration
l have received at your hands, and have
the houor to remain, Sir. with high re-
spect, IL sy
Your, obedient servant,
GSigned 5e WINFIELD ScorT.
A special Cabinet Council was con-
vened on Friday morning at 8 o'clock, to
take the subject into consideration 1t
was decided that Gen. Scott's request,
under the circumstances. could not be de-
clined. Gen. Mcclellan was thereupon
with the unanimous agreement of the
Cabinet, notified that the command of the
army wonld devolve upon him.
| At O'Clock P. M. the Cabinet again
waited upon the President, and attended
him to the residence of Gen. Scott. Ga
being seated, the President read to the
General the following order:
NOVEMBER lst, A D. 1861.
Upon his own application to the Pres
ident of the United States, Brevet Lieut..
Gen. w. Scott is ordered to be placed,
aud hereby is placed upon the list of re-
| tired officers of the United States, without
reduction of his current pay. allowances
&c. The American people will hear with
sadness aud deep emo tion that Gen. Scott
has Withdrawn from active control of the
army. while the President and the unani
nous Cabinet express their own and ma
lions sympathy in his personal sf1 ction,
aud their profound sense of the important
public services rendered by him to his
couatry. during his loug and brilliant ca.
reer, among which will ever be gratefully
distinguished his faithful devotion to the
Constitution, the Union and the dag when
assalled by parrcidal rebellion.
[Signed] ABRAHAM LINCOLN.
Gen. Scott thereupon rose and ad-
dressed the President aud Cabinet, who
had also risen, as follows:
Mr.. President, this honor overwheIms
me. 1t overpays all services have rem
0ered TO nv country If I had any claims
before, they are all obliserated by this ex
preston of approval by the President,
with the unanimous support of his Cabin
et I know the President and his Cabin
ct well. l know that the country has
placed its interests, in this trying crisis, 10
safe keeping Their counsels are wise;
their labors are untiriug as they are loyal,
and their course is the right one,.-
The lihe is working badly. We are
unable to complete the report. OP'R.