Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1899-03-29

command OF the forces In the field was all
most indisputable. and does not seem to
have been denied by President Polk, or
Marcy, his Secretary Of War. Scott was
Wing, and the Administration was Dem
ocratic General Scott was also known to
have political aspirations, and nothing so
popularizes candidate for high civil pos
tons as military victories. 1t would not
do, therefore, to give him command of
the army of conquest The plans SUBJ
mitted by Scott for campaign in Mexico
were disapproved by the Administration,
and he replied, in a tone possibly a little
disrespectful, to the effect that, If
soldiers plans were not to be supported
by the Administration, success could not
be expected. This was on the 9th day of
May, 1S4e Four days later General Scott
was notified that he need not go to
Mexico.
General Gaines was next in rank, but
he was too old and feeble to take the
field. Colonel Zachary Taylor-a Br.ga-
der General by brevet-was therefore left
in command He, too was a Wing, but
he was not supposed to entertain any
political ambitions; nor did he; but after
the fall of Monterey, his third battle and
third complete victory, The Wing papers
at home began to speak of him as can
didate Of their party for the Presidency.
Something had to be done to neutralize
his growing popularity. He could not be
relieved from duty in the field, where all
his battles had been victorious; the de-
sign would have been too transparent. 1t
was finally decided to send General Scott
to Mexico in chief command, and to au-
thorize him to carry out his own original
plan; that is capture Vera Cruz and
march upon the capital of the country.
1t was no doubt supposed that Scott's
ambition would lead him to slaughter Tay-
Tor or destroy his chances for the Presi-
dency, and yet it was hoped that he would
not rake sufficient capital himself to
secure the prize
THE ADMINISTRATION HAD IN
DEED A MOST EMBARRASSING PROB
LEM TO SOLVE. 1T WAS ENGAGED IN
A WAR OF CONQUEST, WHICH MUST
BE CARRIED TO A SUCCESSFUL Is
SUE OR THE POLITICAL OBJECT
WOULD BE UNATTAINED. YET ALL
THE CAPABLE OFFICERS OF THE
REQUISITE RANK BELONGED TO THE
OPPOSITION, AND THE NAN SELECT
ED FOR HIS LACK OF POLITICAL
AMBITION HAD HIMSELF BECOME A
PROMINENT CANDIDATE FOR THE
PRESIDENCY. 1t was necessary to de-
stroy his chances promptly. The problem
was to do this without the loss of con-
quest and without permitting another
General of the same political party to
acquire like popularity. THE FACT Is,
THE ADMINISTRAT OF Mr.. POLK
r A u It . u mi
GRACE SCOTT, OR. TO SPEAK MORE
CORRECTLY, TO DRIVE HIM TO SUCH
THAT HE WOULD DIS
GRACE HIMSELF. Scott had
scarcely started for Mexico before the
President undertook to supersede him by
the appointment of Senator Thomas A.
Benton as Northumberland.
Congress failed to accede to this PROPOSE
ton, and Scott remained in command, but
every General appointed to serve under
him was politically opposed to the chief,
and several were personally hostile.
Soon after entering the city of Mexico,
the opposition of Generals Pillow, Worth
and Colonel Duncan to General Scott be-
came very marked. Scott claimed that
they had demanded of the President his
removal. 1 do not know whether this is
so or not but l do know of their uncon-
ceaied hostility to their chief. At last
he placed them in arrest, and preferred
charges against them of characterization
and diSrespect. About the mid
die of February orders came converting a
court of inquiry, and shortly
afterward orders were received from
Washington relieving Scott of command
of the armies N the field. This order also
released Pillow, Worth and Duncan from
arrest. 1t is quite possible the
vanity of the General (ScotD had led him
to say and do things that afforded plaus-
IDLE pretext to the Administration for
doing just what it did, and what it had
wanted to do from the start THE
COURT TRIED THE ACCUSER QUITE
AS MUCH AS THE ACCUSED.
1.-THE efforts to kill off politically the
two successful Generals made them both
candidates for the Presidency. General
Taylor was nominated in 1S4S, and was
elected. Four years later General Scott
received the nomination, but was badly
beaten"