The Highland weekly news. [volume] (Hillsborough [Hillsboro], Highland County, Ohio) 1853-1886, 1861-08-08

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plan Of the campaign There never
was a more just and upright man than
the President, never one who desired
more sincerely to promote the best in
teTests Of the country. But there ere
men among his advisers who consult
their own reseutments far more than
the dictates of wisdom and experience,
and these men tgW probably decide The
plan Of the campaign. l shall do, or at
tempt, whatever 1 om ordered to do
But they must not hold me responsible
II am ordered to 90 to Richmond, l
shall eudeavOr to do it. But I know
perfectly well that they have no con.
ception of the difficulties we shall en-.
counter. know the country--how ad.
mirably adapted it is to defence, and
how resolutely and obs tinately it will
be defended. I would like nothing
better than to take Richmond:--now
that it has been disgracod by becoming
the capital of the rebel CoHlodcracy, |
feel resentment towards it, and shall
like nothing better than to scatter its
Congress to the winds. But / have
lived long enough to know that human
resentment is q very bad foundation for
public policy; and these gentlemen
will live long enough to learn it also
[ shall do what l am ordered. l shall
fight when and where / am command.
ed. But If I am compelled to fight be-
fore / an really, hey shall not hold me
r6SponSible. These gentlemen must take
the responsibility of their acts, and I
am willing to take that of mine. But
they must not throw their responsibili-
ty on my shoulders"
This is the substance and very near
ly the language ola portion Of General
Scott's conversation on the occasion re.
ferred to. 1t proves conclusiyely that
he was opposed to the advance on Rich.
mond by way of Manassas at that time,
and also that the Administration was
almost certain to overrue his objections
and command a battle. Taken in con-
ncctiou with what was said in the House
of Representatives on Wednesday, it
leaves no doubt on the subject:
Mr.. RICHARDsoN--I repeat that Gen.
Scott has been forced to fight this JaULe
| will tell him what occurred yesterday
morning. My colleagues Logan and
Washburnc) and myself were present
with the President, Secretary Of War,
and Gen. Scott. In the course of our
conversation, Gen. Scott remarked, 81
am the biggest coward in the world. :"
[ rose from my scat. "Stay," said Gen.
Scott II will prove it. / hare foughi
The battle against ny Judgment, and /
hmb The President ought to ren,oUe me
to-day for doing H. AS God is my
judge" he added, after an interval Of
silence, II did all in my power to make
the Army efficient, and I deserve re
moval because l did not stand up when
l could, and did not" l stand here to
vindicate Gen. Scott. am indebted to
the gentleman from Missouri for the
compliment he paid me. 1 desire to
say for myself, that | am here the last
Of Il generation, my father and grand,
father having fallen beneath the flag of
their country. l too, have fought un-
der its folds, at homo and abroad, and,
God willing, there I will stand to the
end of my life, defending it against all
foes.
Mr.. WAsuBURSE--As my colleague
has referred to Gen. SCOTS remarks he
might also allude to what the Presi-
dent said.
Mr.. RICHARDsoN-I will do so.-
"Your conversation implies" said the
President to Gen. Scott, "that I forced
you to battle" TO which Gen. Scott
replied. l have never served under
President who has been kinder to me
than you have been" But Gen. Scott
dill not relicoe the President from he tact
ef the latter haDiRg toreed him to fight
the Jattle. Gen. Scott thus paid com
pliment to the President personally.
We repeat what we said yesterday,
that President Lincoln ia not likely, Of
his own motion, to have overruled Gen.
Scott and to have forced him to fight a
battle against his will. But President
Lincoln is, to very great extent, in
such a matter as this, ia the hands Of
his Cabinet. A portion Of that Cabinet
is known to have full and entire conf.
denoe in the military ability Of Gen.
Scott;-while another portion is equal
ly well known to be governed by senti-
ments Of personal dislike which amount
to hatred, 1t is not necessary to speoi-
fy individuals. IL is a matter Of noto-
riety that some members of the Cabinet
have done little else during the last
few weeks, than to denouuce General
Scott, ridicule his plans Of the cam
paign, and deolaim on the necessity Of
overruling or superceding him. They
have succeeded in overrulng him.
withWhat results tho country knows too
we'll.
Now, We have not the slightest wish
to see anything like a break up Of this
Administration. Such an event, in the
present condition of the country, could
only be fruitful in disaster. But it isl
indispensably necessary for the Presi-
dent TO decide peremptorily and finally,
bet,Oeen Gen. Scott and th0se toh0 t0ouid
operrHle him. The great interest of the
country now lies in It's Army. It's mil
itary department is the department Of
overwhelming interest and Importance.
It's finances and its foreign relations are
in good handsI and there should not be
a moments hesitation in placing at the
head Of the War Department some man
Of larger views, and moro experience,
and Of moro commanding personal rep
utatiOn, than tho present incumbent