The Cass County Republican. [volume] (Dowagiac, Mich.) 18??-1880, 1861-11-07

Retire ihent Of Gen. Sc0ft...Interestinl
Proceedings.
Letter and Speech of Gen. Scott-In-
tervie,o of the President and Cabinet
soith Gen. Scott-1ne President or
der. for retiring Gen. Scott on Full
Pay, etc.
WASHINGTON, Nov. 1, 1861.
The following letter from Gen. Scott
was received by the President on
Thursday afternoon:
HEAD QUARTERS OF THE ARMY,
WASHINGTON, Oct. 81. 1861.
The Hon. s. Cameron. Sec'y of War:
SIR: For more than three years I
have been unable from my hurt to
mount horse or to walk more than a
few PAGES at time, and that with pain.
Other and new nfirmities-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 a life already
protracted much beyond the usual
span of man. 1t is under such circum.
stances, made doubly painful by the
unnatural and unjust rebellion now
raging in the Southern States of our
so lately prosperous and happy Union,
that | am compelled to request that
my name be placed on the list of army
officers retired from active service. AS
this request is founded on an absolute
right, granted by recent act of Con-
gress, am entirely at liberty to say it
is with deep regret that l withdraw
myself in these momentous times from
the orders of President who has
treated me with much distinguished
kindness and courtesy; whom / know,
from much pleasurable intercourse, to
be patriotic, without sectional PARTIAL
ties or prejudices; to be highly con-
scientious in its performance of every
duty, and of untiring activity and per-
severance; and to you, Mr.. Secretary
whom l now officially address for the
last time, l beg to acknowledge my
manv obligations for the uniform high
consideration / have received at your
hands, and have the honor to remain,
Sir, with high respect,
(Signed) WINFIELD ScorT.
A special Cabinet Council was con-
vened on Friday morning at nine
O'Clock to take the subject into consid-
Grafton. 1t was decided that General
SCOTS request, under, the circumstan-
ces of his advanced age and infirmi-
ties, could not be declined. Gen. Nc
Clellan was thereupon, with the unani-
nous agreement of the Cabinet, mott.
fed that the command of the army
would be devolved upon him.
At four o'clock in the afternoon the
Cabinet again waited on the President
and attended him to the residence oil
Gen. Scott. Being seated, the Presi.
dent read to the General the following
order:
On the first day of November, a. D.
1861, upon his own application to the
President of the United States, Brevet
Lieutenant General Winfield Scott is
ordered to be placed, and hereby is
placed, upon the list of retired officers
of the army of the United States, with.
out reduction in his current pay, sub
sistence or allowances. The American
people will hear with sadness and deep
emotion that Gen. Scott has withdrawn
from the active control of the army
while the President and the unanimous
Cabinet express :heir own and the ma
TONS sympathy in his personal affiic
ton, and their profound sense of the
important public services rendered by
him to his country during his long and
brilliant career, among which will ever
be gratefully distinguished his faithful
devotion to the Constitution and the
Union, and the flag when assaulted by
parricidal REBELLION.
(Signed) ABRAHAM LINCOLN.
General Scott thereupon rose and
addressed the President and Cabinet
who had also risen, as follows:
Mr.. PREsIDENT.-This honor over
whelmes me. 1t over pays all service,
/ have attempted to render my Gown
try. If l had any claims before, they
are all obliterated by an expression OF
approval by the President, with the
unanimous support of his Cabinet.
know the President and bis Cabine
well. / know that the country ha.
placed its interests in this trying crisi,
in safe keeping. Their counsels are
wise; their labOrs are as untiring a,
they are loyal and their cause The
right one. Mr.. President you must ex
cuse me; am unable to stand longer
to give utterance to the feelings o.
gratitude which Cypress me. In my
retirement / shall offer my prayers to
God for this Administration and fol
my country. shall pray for it will
confidence in its success over all enc
mics, and that speedily.
The President then took leave O
General Scott, giving him his hand ant
and saying he hoped soon to write hin
private letter expressive of his graft
tude and affection.