The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1910-08-21

4 Oregon question and Would now 90 Win
. him believing him to h IN the night
Accordingly Mr. Buchanan prepared a
communication to the British Minister
emhodying the Presidents views, and az
/ 10 we'll known the outcome was an oner
/ from Great Britain accepting the forty
! ninth parallel a. the boundary.
Inasmuor a. t'e war WITH Mexico WAS
/ ore of t's prir cipal features OF Mr.. Polk's
Administration a large proportion 81 u .
! entries in ! IL diary rrlaie to tie conduct
% a. war and oficers - iehy oon .
cerned in IT, Al t'e outset Of q e conflict
Z military operators OF t'e Uritet
States troops were in charge Of Ger
Zachary Taylor. W al commanded a
friendly army 81 occupation maintained
! nv our Government in re republic of
Texas President Polk did rot entertain
lign opir ior ~ Ger Taylor. Con
Taylor. . wrote. I fear II not t'e mar
for command Of tie army. He IL
brave. hut . does not seem tn ave
resources or grasp of mind erougn to
conduit a oampsign. In ! IL communioa-
tiors To tie War Department 10 seems
ready To obey orders. hut appears tn he
unwilling IN express any oPir ION or to
take ary responsibility OF imseh lie
~. ave TO doubt a good suhorfi- ate
offfcsr. hut from all . evider GO before
me 1t ink him unfit for = O ief com-
mand- Gen. Scott was t'e ranking
Major Ger erAl in I . army: hut Senator
Thomas n Bertor 81 Missouri. in vi ON
At at time . President repoeed .
utmost cor fderce. discouraged te ap-
pointmert Of SCOTT AVID sAid ere ought
to he q Lieuter ant General 81 I army
wo n ould he General In G ief. He
said II required man 81 talents and
resources a. we'll a. a military mar Cor
quo a command and At Wit view 10
obtain Ieace more deperdei upon
talerts ard erergy Of . CficeT an
upon mere bravery. He I en- sail that
u sue an once was created by Cons ress
! . would he will z 20 accept . oom-
mand imsef II IL we'll Known A. an
attempt Vas made to induce Congress 10
create . . office 81 Lieuten ant Ger eral ir
accoriar oe Wit - suggestion. ard .
Lar guAge 81 President Folks diary leaves
no doubt at . would ave bestowed
sppoirtme-t upon col. Berton n t'e
project raj sucoee isi II failed Row
ever. per aps because : ere were too
mary aspirants for . position. T. us in
q diary urder date Of February /. Is47.
Pr-si+e-t referring 10 Senator
Houston OF Texas. ~ q RAJ expresses
disqualification Wit . Admir- istratior
saws, He probably { inks also at le
= ouli ave bcel looksi TO instead ~
col. Rertor for Lieute- at General
In THE condition Of things the President
much against his will vas compelled to
appoint Gen Scott 20 the chief command
~ the United states forces in Mexico
He writes \ have strong objections to
Gen. Scott and after his very exception
able letter IN May last nothing but strong
necessity and a sense II public duty could
induce me 10 place him a. the head ~ ~
import ant an expedition still ! do no.
well ses how II can b. avoided lie ~ the
General in Chief Of the Army II had
the power Ia select a general ! would se-
lect Col Benton 90 conduct the expedition
And again. on November -. $50. he writes
Il have no great confidence in Gen Scott
a. a military commander and IL 10 with
reluctancs that I assign him to this i'm
portant command II had the power 1
would certainly select some other. But
I am compelled To Use the officers pro-
vided hy Law and under all the circum-
stances feel. constrained to assign him To
this command He 10 the hi CHEST in com
mAnd IN the regular army, and II IL his
natural position Gen Scott. whose re-
lations with President Polk up TO that
time had not heen very cordial. was eX-
trernely graiihed a. being thus selected
To conduct the expedition to Mexico In
describing the interview IN which he an
nounced his decision the President says
He appeared To he much affected and said
q, once thar he had the utmost confidence
in the Administration and in myself. and
that he would cordially cooperate With me
IN carrying out my views in the prosecu-
ton 81 he war He sAid that he surren-
dered M whole confidence to me He
expressed himself as heing dceply grateful
and said he would show me his gratitude
by his conduct when he got 10 the field
He was ~ grateful and so much affected
tina, he almost shed tears Although
Cen Scott conduct 81 the military opera
tions in Mexico was eminsntly satisfactory
the controversies in which he eventually
became involved with other officers
toward the end ~ the war gave grave dis
satisfaction 90 the President and led ulti-
mately. A. - well known to his removal
from the command
From time to time throughout the
Mexican war President Polk experienced
much embarrassment. as the volunteer
army was increased. in dealing with the
immune rable applications for military ap-
Pointmen's These were frequently based