Centre Democrat. [volume] (Bellefonte, Pa.) 1848-1989, 1861-11-07

GENERAL MCCLELLAN IN COMMAND.
The President and cabinet waif upon
Cen. Scott at his Residence.
ADDRESS OF FPRESIDENTLL LINCOLN.
PATRIOTIC RESPONSE OF GEN. SCOTT.
FUTURE POSITION OF GEN SCOTDS STAFF.
REPLY OF SECRETARY CAMERON TO
THE C0AAUNIOATION OF GEN. SCOTT.
WASHINGTON, Nov. l.
The following letter from Lieut.. General
Scott was received by the President ON yhurs
day afternoon.
HEADQUARTERS OF THE Army,
Washington, ID. C Oct. 81. {
The Hon. Simon Cameron, Secretary of t0ar:
SIR R:-For more that three years | have
been unable from hurt. to mount horse
or walk more than few PAGES at time,
and that with much pain. Other and new
iDfrmates-dropsy and vertigo o-admonish
me that Iepose of mind and body with the
appliances of surgery and medicine are nee-
essary to add little more to lie already
protracsed much beyond the usaal space Of
man. 1t is under such circumstances made
doubly painful by the unnstural and unjust
rebellion now raging in the southern states
of our su late prosperous end happy Union,
that am compelled to request tnat my name
be placed OH the list of army officers retired
from active service. As this request is found
ed on an absolute right granted by recent
act of Congress, am eHtnely at liberty to
say that it is with deep regret shat ! with
draw myself in these momentous times from
the order of President who has treated me
with distinguished kindness and courtesy,
whom | know upon much personal inter
course, to be patriotic, without sectional
psrtialities or prejudices, to be highly con-
scientious in the performances of every duty
and of unrivalled activity and perseverance.
And to you Mr.. Secretary, whom I now Off
cislly address for the las: time, beg to sc-
knowledge my many obligations for the uni
form high considerations have reserved at
your hands and have the honor to remain,
sir, with high respect your obedient servant.
lSignsd WINFIELD SCOTT.
A sptc;al Cabinet Council was convened on
Friday morning at nine o slock. to take the
cubject into consideration. 1t was decided
that Gen. Scott's request, under the circum.
stances Of bis advanced age and infrmaties,
could not be declined. Gen. Mcclellan was
therefore, with the unanimous agreement of
the Cabinet, notified that the command of the
army would dsvolvs upon lin. At four
O'Clock in the afternoon the Cabinet again
waited upon the President and attended him
to the residence of Gen. Scott,
On being seated the President read to the
General The following order:
IN III Rra dow ff Na~ar,hn. 1901
upon his own application to the Presidents Of
the United States Breves Lieut. General
Winfield Scott is ordered to be placed and
hereby is placed upon the list of retired OIL
GERS ofthe army of the United States without
reduction In his current pay, subsistence OF
allowances. 5s
The American people viii hear with sad
ness and deep emotion that Gen. Scott has
Withdrawn from the active control of the
army. While the President and the unani-
nous Cabinet express their. own and the na-
tion's sympathy in his personal affliction,
and their profound sense Of the importan,
public services rendered by him TO bis eoun-
try during his long and brilliant career,
among which will ever be gratefully distin,
guished his faithful devotion to the Constitn-
tioD, the Union and the fsg when assailed
by paricidal rebellion.
Signed ABRAHAM LINCOLN.
Gen. Scott thereupon rose and addressed
the President and Cabinet, WHO had also
risen, as follows:
PREsIDENr.-This honor overwhelms me.
1t over-pays all services have attem pted to
render to my country. If had any claims
before they are all obliterated by this expires
sion of approval by the President with the
unanimous support of his Cabinet. know
the President and this Cabinet well. kAow
that the country has placed its interests in
this crying crisis in safe keeping. Their
counsels are wi.e, their lab1rs are uEtiring
AS they are loyal and their course is the
right one.
Mr.. President. you must excuse me. am
una lie to stand longer to give utterauce to
the feelings of gratitude which opprsss me.
10 my retirement Ishsl offer up my prayers
to God for this administration and for my
country. | shall pray for is with confidence
in is success over its enemies and that
speedily.
The President then took leave of General
Scott giving him his hand and saying he
hoped soon to write him private letter ex
pressive of bis gratitude and affection.
The President added: General, you
will naturally feel solicitious about the gen.
tlemen Of your staff wbc have rendered you
and their couGtry such faithful service. /
have taken that subj~ct into consideration.
| understand that they 20 with you to New
York. shall desire them at their earliest
convenience after their return to make their
wishes known to me. desire you, however,
to be satisfied that, except the unavoidable
privation of your counsel and society which
they so long enjoyed, the provision which
will be made for them will be such as to ren-
der their situation as agreeable hereafter as
it has been heretofore.
Each member of the administration then
gave his hand TO the veteran and retired in
profound silence.
Ths Secretary of the Treasury and Secre-
tary of War will accompany Gen. Scott to
New York to morrow by the early train.
The following is the response of the Secre-
tary of Way to the letter Of Gen. Scott:
WAR DEPARTMMNT.
Washington, Nou l, 1861.
GENERAL: 1t is my duty to lay before the
President your letter of yesterday asking to
be relieved under the recent act of Con gress.
In separating from you | cannot refrain from
expressing my deep regret that your health.
shattered by long service and repeated
wounds received in your eountry's defsnce,
should render it necessary for you to retire
from your high position at this momentous
period Of our history. Although you cannot
remain in active service, / yet hope that
while | continue in charge of the depart
ments over which now preside, shall at
all times be permitted to avail myself of the