Daily Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1861-1862, 1861-11-07

WASHINGTON, November 1.-The following letter from
General Scott WAS recsisedby the President Thursday
afternoon:
HEADQUARTERS OF THE ARMY
Washington, Oct. 81, 1861. !
Hon. S. CGRsrOn, Secretary of Var.
Sir For more than q rec years have been unable
from hurt, 10 mount horse or to walk more than
few PAGES at time, ard that with much pain 9th !
and ne6 iDhrmRtvos-dropsy and vertgo-admonish me
that the repose Of mind and body, with the appliances
Of surgery and medicine, are necessary TO add little
more to lie already protected much beyond the usn'
al space OF men IL is under sueh circumstances, made
douby painful by TIE unnatural aud unjust rebellion now
"a gng in the Southern States Of lately prosperous
and happy Union that AN compelled TO request that
my be placed the list OF army officers retired
iroIn &c i've service As this quest is founded en-
absolute light granted by recent act OF Congr 81,
am entirely liberty to say is with regret a. vi T.
draw myself 10 these momentous times from the orders
OF PrfsdcBt who has treated me with much distin.
guls5ed kindness AID courtesy whom | know, upon
much personal intercourse 10 be patriotic, viii oat SO
tong pariiaitics or pr,judCs 10 b. highly conicen.
yus in the performance oftyey duty and OF upTvaed
activity snd psrsevcrarc,.
Ard to you, Hr. Secretary, whom now officially al
dress for the las. tlne beg to acknowejgs my many
obi cations .or the uniform high sderaton have re-
cevei at your hand and have the honour TO remain, cir
WINFIELD SCOTT.
A spec:al Cabinet Couucil wa convened on Friday
morning at Line o'clock to ke the bjsct consider
a,ion Il was decided that ners ScOts request uBder
the circumstances o: his advancing age aod Dirmes,
could not be declined General Meth Ian Was, therefore,
with the unanimous agreement OF The Cab me-, not I'd
that tie command OF the army would bs davovea upon
him. At four O'clock in the afternoon the Cabinet again
waited upon the President and attended him TO the Ies
deuce Of General Scott Beirg seated, the President
read TO the General the following order:
On the frs. day Of NOvamber A. D., 1861, upon bis
own application 10 the President Of the United States
Breyet auenantGsneral Scott ordered to be placed
aud hereoy is placed upon the list Of retired officers OF
the army Of the United Stats, without reduction In ts
current pay, subsistence or allowance ..
The American people will hear with sadness and deep
emotion that General Scott has retired from the active
control OF tho amy, while the President aud the unan'
Gus Cabinet prpss their and the nations sympathy
In his personal N ccu and their profound Of the
important pub: services rendered him TO bis county,
during his long and Brilliant career, among which will
ever be greauly distinguished his faithful devotion 10
the Constitution the UniOn aud the dag when aesaed
by pnrr.cids rebellion. .
lsisneol ABRAHAM LINCOLN.
General Scott thereupon and addr0esed the Presi
dent and Cabinet, who had also risen, as follows:
President This honor overwhelms me. l. overpays
all servces have attempted to render to my county
II had any claims before they all elaborated by
this expression Of approval by the President with the
uns suppart nf kis CGbiret. know the Presi.
dent and bis Cabinet weL Gknow tnGs the coaruy nas
passd It's interests in this trying crisis IN safe Keeping
Their counses wise their iboFs are unrng as they
arc loyal. and their Q purse IS ihJ right one.
President You mus. excuse me. am unable to
stand longer TO give urnnCe 10 Che feelings oil graft
tJds which oppress Ia my retirement, shall oisr
up my prayers t, God for this Administration and for
nv country shall pray for it with copfienee in lie
snccess over all It's enemies, AID that speedily.
The President then took .eave OF General Scott, CIV
ip, Lim his hand and saying he hoped soOu TO write
him private letter expressive oi bs gratitude aod af-
fec;ion. The President edd(d:
Gsnp-aI: You will naturally feel soliciude about the
rsn,lrmrn Of your St n, who have rendered you aud
TOR country such faithful service. have taken that
sui ct into consideration. i understand tina. they go
.i,h YOU to New York. shall Gesirs them. at their
e,rits; eouyonience after their return, to make known
their wishes to me desire you nov, however, to be
sa 6ei that except the unavoidable privaton Of your
COUNSEL and society," which they have " long erjoyed,
tho nroys;on which will b, made for them will be such
az TO render their situation as agreeable hereafter a,
has been heretofore.
E,ch member OF the Administration then gave MS
bapi 10 the veteran and retired in profound silence.
The Secretary Of the Treasury aud the Secretary OF
War accompany General Scott to New York tomorrow
by the carly train .u
The following is the response Of the Secretary Of War
10 the letter Of Gen. Scott
Washington, Nov. |, 1851.
General: Il was my duty to lsy before the President
your letter CT yesterday aPkng to be relieved under the
recent ec OF Congress- In separating from you cinnot
refrain frnm my deep regret that your health
shattered by cng service and repeated wounds received
in your counry Defence should render i necessary Tor
YOU 70 retire from your high position at this mcmen;ous
perod Of our history Although you are not to remain
IN active SCI, ,vice, We; hope that, while continue in
charge of the Department over which now ptes,de,
shall at times be permitted to avail myself OF the bene-
fits Of your wise couasels aud sage experience.
Il has been my good fortune to erjoy personal &C.
qua nanco with you fer than they year and The
psosant relations Of tia! long tine lave been gtesty
strengthened by your cordial and enre co-1eerticpsin
a the great questions which have occupied the Depart
ment and convused the country for the last six months
In parting from you only express the hope that
mercifu Providence ths. has protected yon amid 80 ma
nv trials will improve vour heslh and continue your c
long after the people of the county shall have been re-
stored 10 their former happiness aud prosperity.
7 am, Gonerpl, very sincerely,
Your friend and servant,
Isvnedl SIMON CAMERON.
Secretary Of War.