Evening journal., 1898-06-01
SCOTT AND SANTA ANNA.

DAOlI AMI CANlA ANNA.
In the very interesting and educa-
tional editorial article, Conquest and
Sovereignty" in a late issue of your
paper, find this statement:
In the Mexican war General Scott,
after he captured THE City of Mexico
proclaimed martial law. appointed a
military governor and directed that all
taxes should be paid to OUR military
authorities, and used the proceeds for
THE support of our army He also
levied a tribute OF $150.00O on the City
OF Mexico, $1OO 900 Of which was sent
10 Washington and used ais a nucleus
for the establishment OF the Soldiers
Home for retired veterans of the regu-
lar army.
Perhaps / can throw a little light On
the cause that induced General Scott
to levy on the Mexican capital THE
s150,OO0 mentioned. had THE story
from my father, who informed me that
he heard General Charles NaylUr, or
Mailer, tell it during "a speech he made
I'M Philadelphia when Scott was a cam
didate for the presidency.
According to General NaylOr, the
Mexican general SANTA Anna, was in
Cuba when the war between the
United States and Mexico broke out.
He took passage for Vera Cruz on q
British mail steamen, which was held
up at tine harbor entrance by the
American blocl1ading feet. The Mexi-
can general persuaded General Scott
TO permit him to enter the city by rep
resenting that he was opposed to the
war and that HE would use his influ-
ence In favor of peace by THE admission
OF the justness of THE claim of the
United States that the WESTERN bound-
AIRY OF Texas was THE Rio Grande, and
NOT the river Nueces, as THE Mexicans
ccntended
General Scott, though a soldier, was
q very humane man. Being desir0us
Of avoiding all possible bloOdshed he
permitted Santa ANNA TO enter Vera
Cruz, and gave him $50 600 from his
military chest to enable him to prose
cutie his alleged peaceful mission
AS soon as Santa Anna set foot ON
Mexican soil he did aid in his power to
help his countrymen, and 10 was largely
due to his ability ais a MILITARY MAN
.Aat Scott was delayed for weeks in
capturing Vera Cruz.
SANTA Anna before the capitu,ati0n
OF Vera Cruz fed from that City, but
before doing so he managed to- com
municate again with General Scott and
tO deceive him again. He claimed
THAT he was honest in his desire for
peace, but that he had been compelled
to tahe command Of the Mexican army
by force OF public opinion. He organ
lied the Mexican forces with great
ability, and led them against General
Zachary Taylor.
After Taylor had defeated him at
Buena VISTA Santa Anna fed TO the
City OF Mexico Again he put him
self in communication with General
Scott and made him believe that II
ME had money he could Influence the
Mexican chiefs TO yield TO the United
Suates. General Scott sent him S100, 600
Inatead OF using the money for the
purpose for which IL was SENT Santa
Anna employed it to fOrtify the MeNi-
cam capital and il enabled him 10 keep
Americans out OF it for several months.
Whkn General Scott Finally captured
the city he determined to make 10 re-
pay him the money he had been bum
coed out of by Santa Annals duplicity
and trehcheTy Hence thh levy OF $780,
COO.
General NaylOr opposed General
SCOTS candidacy, and his motive i'm
telling the story related above was
to show that Scott was not a safe man
to make president. Inasmuch as HE
was too easily gulled, and cou,d be
taken in by amy smooth tI'ickster like
Santa nna-New York Sun.