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. PJSSVTH 11- WES 4 & EtllS,
proprietor* • Publisher*.
me Time* every Tuesday Morn.
Jy, the budding known as “Winters’ Ex.
kLie,” Bast side of Broad Street above ILui-
Joiph, P * uir *’ liaiue4iatel y the rear of the
Irtjlj-Tiiitt Domnas per annum, payable
is adfunce for new subscription:.
So p*°* r w,llbe di*AS>ntinued while iny arrear
are due, unle 4 * at the option of the propri
et„r*, nd rou* doH-ars will in all canes be ex
ited where payment is not made before the
e of the subscription year.
DV£Rris£M£N TS conspicuously inserted at
Oft DomAtt per sqare, for the first insertion,
sad fiftf ctsrsfor every subsequent continu
ance. *
t LL jtovEaTissiJEaTs, sent to ns without specify
ing the nu aber ot insertions desireu, wili be
coatmusd until ordered out, and charged ac
cordin/lr- _
],ccAL AnvEtn*KEWTs published at the usual
rates, and with strict attention to the requisi
uons of the lrw.
giirairr** Sale* under regular executions, must
be advertise! thirty days ; under mortgage fi
faa. sixrv and ays before the day of sale.
Sales of Land and Negroes, by Executors, Ad
ministrators -ir Guardians, for sixty days before
the dav ft sfle.
Sales of’personal property (except negroes) tor-
TT T> ITS.
CirATt vs byClerks of Courts ofOrdinarv, upon
a cat on for letters of administration are to
, ib!i*hd for thirty and ays.
CititioW us° n application for dismission, by Ex
c ‘,tor*, .administrators, or Guardians, monthly
for six smiths.
Oader* ol'(ourU of Ordinary, (accompanied with
a copy o'lho bond, or agreement) to make title
lo laiid jmust be published tiirt.e months.
Justices iAKxecutors or Administrators or Guar
* dians, o application to the Court of Ordinary
for leave to sell the Land or Negroes of an
estate, *our months.
Notices bf Executors or aoministrators, to the
Debtors and Creditors of an estate, for six
weeks. • .
gj- Lf.ttF.RS to the proprietors on, business, must
be post paid, to entitle them to attention.
PROFESSIONAL CAROS.
HOMEOPATHETIC. PRACTICE.
OR. F. SHEAFFKR,
I’ROS Montjoin.'rv, who has recently nrriv
eyl in this city, fur the purpose of practic
ing Medicine on this new system, announces to
the citizens of Columbus and vicinity, that he
will be ready to attend to those, who may desire
jiii assistance.
He will be found at any time at his office, which
is opposite the St. Mary’s Bank.
Those who are unable to pay for medical
services, will be attended to gratis.
April n, 1848 1 6 - 3 m
LAW NOTICE.
THE undersigned have rnteml into copart
nership in the Practice of the Law, under
the name uud style ot J.& T.SfL’HGIS. I heir
#£cc in Columbus. *
JOSEPH STURGIS.
THADDEUS S. STURGIS.
Feb. 8, 1848. 7~ lntf
(/UA.TIRI'ItS A FLEWELLESf,
ATTORNEYS at law,
Columbus, Georgia.
<rj- Office over Ennis’s Hardware Store.
STM. M. CHAMBERS. A. C. FLEWELI.ES.
January 25, 1848. s —ti
j. t. KLcmaiAA,
ATTORNEY AT LAW,
Columbus, Georgia,
February 22, 1848. 9 “! y _
I>RS. PAKk A CREEW
/YFFER theirserviers to the citizens of Rus
\ / sell county, Alabama, in the practice of
Medicine, Surgery, and Obstetrics.
Office at Crawford.
January 11, 1543. 3 3m
WM. P. YONGE,
FORWARDING AND
COMMISSI ON M E liC II ANT,
So. 94, Bay Street, Savannah, Georgia,
W ill attend promptly to any business conlided
t his care.
Savannah, Feb. 3d, IS4S* 7--6 m
WM. HENRY HULL,
COMMISSION MERCHANT,
SEW ORLEANS, LA.
WILL attend promptly to any business confid
ed to his care. Refer to :
E. C. Center & Cos ) Moblic .
John, Powers & Cos. j
J. & J. GeHdes, I N. Orleans.
Be arc, Calhoun & Cos. j
N*!w Orleans, Feb. 15,
AIAUNSEL WHITE, & CO.
COMMISSION MERCHANTS,
New Orleans.
ADVANCES made 03 shipments of Cotton
and Produce purchased upon the usual
terms.
Refer to
John G. Winter, Esq., PresiO
dent Bank St. Marys’ Icalumbus, Ga.
Rill, D vwsok Cos.
*l. S. Smith Sl Cos. J
Kov. 24, 1846. * 48—ts
aOCKSE, STONE & CO.,
Apalachicola, Fla.
B. F. If OCHSES & CO.,
New Orleans,
Commission Merchants.
B- W. BROOKS,")
a. a* stone, C
B. P. BOURSE. J
December 21, 1547. 52—ts
STATES LEWIS,
Bo bis, Sign and Ornamental Painter,
OTPOoITE TBE MARKET-
All orders promptly attended to at prices to suit
X&Jf tITTIfS. %
December 2S, 1547. I—ts
AUCTION AN33 COMMISSION
COPARTNERSHIP NOTICE.
f andersisned having formed a Co-part
.l nership under the name and style of AVER
A HARRISON, would respectfully announce to
their friends and the public, that they have ta
ken the large store lately occupied by Messrs.
Bamrm & Roonky, near the Post-Office, and are
amp v prepared to accommodate all who may
*ih ihcsr services in the
„ AUCTION AND COMMISSION
Business, in all. its branches. ‘1 hey have very
•xtensive accommodations for Negroes and Tra
ders, acd will attend to buying and selling, rent
ing. hiring and leasing, both at public and private
sale. A. K. AYER,
CH AS. s>. HARRISON.
Columi.es, Oct. 19, 1547. 43 —if
PROTECTION INSURANCE COMPANY^
{tire and Marine .)
HARTFORD, CONNECTICUT.
JOHN MUNN, Agent,
YVRI takf Firs, River, and Marine Risks
on terms as favorable as any other Com
pany. Columbus, Go. Jan. 18, IS4S. 4 —ts
SOUTHERN MUTUAL INSURANCE CQ.
r |’BlS lnstilution, rharti rnl by the Jast le-
JL gtslature, is now in successful operation,
issuing policies of Insurance on the
mcti al principle,
B plan long in operation in other sections of our
country, and in England, which saves to the in
sured from one halt to nine-tenths of the ex
pense of insurance, as he has to pay only his
proportion of the actual losses of the Company.
Particular information mav be obtained of
POND & WILLCOX,
Agents for Columbus,
Aptil 18, IS4S. 17— ly
Hhc Columbus Simcs.
VOLUME VJIL
MERCANTILE.
ONE DIME!!
\\Tl have just received a small case of
V ▼ PRINTS, FAST COLORS, and FINE
CLOTHS, which we will sell at 10 cents dyard.
Call and see them, at
TERRY & GOULDING.
April 11,1848. 16
SPRING FASHION*HATS,
At TERRY & GOULDING’S.
April 11, 1848. 16
‘ ikmifmfmr
WffiA KID WALKING SHOES
_ Black and White —French Kid
Slippers, Misses and Chib
dren’s Shoes, of all kinds, at
TERRY & GOULDING’S.
April 11, 1848 16
SPRING AHO SUMMER
Goods for 1848.
THE undersigned having just returned
from New-York with a large invoice ot
Spring and Suntmer Dry-Goods,
wishes to call {he attention of the Ladies
of Columbus to the following
FRENCH LAWVS.LIXEN GINGHAMS,
GINGHAM LAWNS, CAMLET LUS
TERS, BROWN FRENCH LINEN,
GRASS CLOTHS,
And a general assortment of Calicoes, Hosiery,
Kid Gloves, Silk Nett Mitts, Bonnet Ribbons,
white and colored Crewels, Patterns, Fringes,
and a general assortment of Trimmings and Fan
cy Articles. FRANCIS GOLDEN,
One door above Mr. Struppers Candy Store.
April 4, 1848. 15—4 t
“slwsiiiS
JUST Received a few very handsome patterns
French Muslins, L iwns, Ginghams, &c. &c.
Also some rich Lace and Embroidered Capes,
Frilled and Needle Worked Collars &c. &c. and
Linen Cambric Handkerchiefs from lowest to the
very best quality. GEO. A. NORRIS,
March 7, 1848. 11—3 m
AT COS'D
r Subscriber will sejl the remainder §f
I his Mock of Cashmeres, Muslin De Laines
&c. &e. at Cost for Cash. GEO. A. NORRIS.
March 7, 184S. ‘ 11—3 m
GROCERY AND STAPLE
isi <awma>
J. B, BROOKS,
Is now opening at his new Store on West
side Broad street, three doors below Hill,
Dawson & Cos., a
\V*ll Selected Stocli of Goods,
to which he invites the attention of his friends,
and former customers.
He will also give liberal p,ices for COTTON
ami 4 COUNTR Y PRODUCE.
SCT N. B. —Those indebted to the late firm of
1; & J. Brooks, are requested to call ajid liqui
date their accounts, which are in the hands of the
undersigned. J. B. BROOKS.
December 28. 1847. I—ts
W.J. RIDGILL,
( Formerly of* Etifaula. A/a.)
HAS taken the Store two doors below Hall
&. Moses, where he will keep at all times,
a well selected stock of
SI AITE I>B2Y GOODS,
AND
GROCERIES.
BOOTS, SHOES, HATS, SAD
DMIKV, <ke. Ac.
Also, a large and well selected stock of
Negro Goods, Biankets, &c.
All of which, lie oilers at the lowest possible pri
ces.
He will also give liberal prices for COTTON
and COUNTRY PRODUCE.
He hopes that his old friends and the public
generally, will call and examine his stock be
fore purchasing elsewhere.
Columbus, November 23, 1547. 4S —ts
Tce cream
1 AND
THE subscribers take pleasure to announce
to the citizens of Columbus that they will
open their
for the reception of visitors on Monday, April
17t h. J. & G. STRUPPER.
They also inform the public that they have put
up at their Store on Randolpli-st., anew and
splendid
SODA WATER FOUNTAIN,
and will always keep pure and Cool Soda Wa
ter, with Syrups of all kinds.
April 11, IS4S. 16 3t
IVIALAGA GDAP3S, PXGS, DATES
AND X.EI7XON3.
TANARUS UST received bv
3$ GREENWOOD & MORRiS.
Feb. 1, IS4B.
FULTON MARKET BEEF,driedßecfand
Beef Tongues. Just received by
GREENWOOD & MORRJS.
Doe. 7, 1847.
PISH.
TV ;T ACKEREL, No. 1.2 and 3—No. 1 Shad,
IVI Salmon, Godiish and Herrings.
Just received by
GREENWOOD & MORRIS.
Dec. 7, 1347._
VINEGAR.
RED Wine, White Wine, Raspberry and Ci
der Vinegar. Just received by
GREENWOOD & MORRIS.
Dec. 7, 1847. -
MOCK Turtle Soup, Pickled Lobsters. Sar
dines and Anchovies. Just received by
GREENWOOD & MORRIS.
Dec. 7, 1847. _____
LONDON Porter. Croton Ale, Champaigne
Cider, Wines, Liquors and Syrups of eve
ry description. J ost received by
GREENW’OOD & MORRIS.
Dec. 7, 1847.
SAUCES,
TTTORCESTERSHIRE, Ashburton. Canton
YV Soy and Joh.n Bull’s Beef Steak Sauces;
Also, Tomato. Mushroon and Walnut Cateup ;
Lime Juice, True Syrup, &c.
receivnjy^^ w ooD & MORRIS.
Nov. 30, 1847.
BREAD.
SODA, Boston, Lemon and Sugar Biscuit,
Water and Butter Crackers, Pilot Bread, fyc
Just. recei ( f^ E -gjf^Q J QD & MORRIS.
Nov. 30, 1847.
JUST received. Gelatine, Preserved Ginger.
Dried Ginger, Preserves, Jams, Pie Fruit,
Spices, Saleratus, Sage, Thyme, Essences, Ex
tracts Table Salt, White Black and Red Pep
per, Currie Powders, Fancy Soaps, Perfumery,
Stationery, Ink, German Copying Ink, Baek
rrammon Boards,Dice. Black Sand. &c. &c —by
g GREEN WOOD .& MORRIS.
Dec. 7, LS47.
ARMY’ DIFFICULTY".
GEN. SCOTT AND GEN. WORTH.
the Secretary of War to Gen. Scott.
’ Wab DtPAiiT.xE.NT, January 13 1848.
• # * * *'* •
After the fullest consideration of the subject,
the President has not been able to give his ap
proval to the course you have adopted towards
Brevet Major Gen. Worth; and for reasons which
I will briefly state, he defers, for the present at
least, to order a court martial for his trial on the
charge you have presented against him. The
document shows that General VYorth felt deeply
aggrieved by your ‘'general order, No. 349.”
Imputations of a very serious character vyere by
thaf order cast upon some of the officers under
your immediate command, and from its peculiar
phraseology it was understood by Gen. Worth,
or others, as indicating him as one of the officers
obnoxious to the severe censure and reproof
therein contained. With this view of the im
port and object of thesqrder, his attempt by all
proper means to remove from himsclfthe ignomi
ny of these imputations cannot be regarded as an
exceptionable course ort his part. As the stroke
which had, as he thought, deeply wounded bis
honor as an officer, and his character as a man,
came from your hands, his application for redress
was properly made to you; byt as he did not ob
tain such redress, as he believed under the cir
pumstances of the case was due to him, he exer
cised, or attempted to exercise, the right of an
appeal tp superior authority. If he was actually ag
grieved in this matter, or believed himself to be
so, he had ax unquestionable right to have the
subject brought to the consideration of his and
your common superior, the President of the Uni
ted S'.ates. He prepared charges against you,
(for his letter of the 16th November to the Se
cretary of War can be, viewed in no other char
acter,) and endeavored to send thery through
you, the only channel he could use without vio
lating established regulations, to this common
superior. For the matter contained in these
charges against yourself, you hkve made a
charge against him, forwarded- it to the Presi
dent, and asked for his trial by a court martial.
If the course of proceeding which you propose
in this case is sanciioned and carried out, you
cannot but perceive that the precedent will be
most fatal to the essential rights of all subordin
ate officers. If General Worth has been guilty
of an offence, by preparing and attempting to
transmit charges against you to the President,
for wrongs and injuries alleged to have been in
flicted by you on him, it seems to be a necessa
ry pQnspquence that, whatever may be the char
acter of the wrongs ayd injuries inflicted upon
subordinate officers by their superiors, they can
not seek redress by appeal without being involv
ed in a military offence..
*•••••*
As long as ij is possible that a subordinate of
ficer may sutler wrong from a superior, justice,
sound policy, and the good of the service, require
and demand that the avenue lo redress should
not be obstructed; but obstructed it would be in a
most effectual manner by the course of procedure
which you have adopted in the case of Gen.
Worth. ‘ - ’
**•*#*.*
If it shall appear that Gen. Worth has falsely
and knowingly charged you with “malice against
him,” and of-having acted in a manner unbe
coming an officer and a gentleman towards him,”
he has in that committed an offence for which
he may and should be punished—but, before in
vestigation, it is no more to be assumed that your
charges against him are true than you
are so. Both law and natural justice require that
the order of events should be pursued in such
eases. The charges he prefers against you should
be first disposed of, before proceedings can he in
stituted against him for malice in preferring those
charges, or for presenting such as he did not
koow orbejieve to be well founded. Your char
ges against him go upon the ground that he is a
malicious prosecutor of you. It is a well estab
lished principle, that no man can be proceed
ed against as a majeious prosecutor, while the
suit, which is alleged to be malicious, is pend
ing; that must be disposed of before a suit for
malicious prosecuting can be instituted.
In this view of the case, and it is the one the
President has taken, the charges which Gen.
Worth has presented against yon mustbe dispos
ed of before any proceedings can be had on that
which you have presented against him.
Though you have not stated Gen. Worth is
under arrest on your charges against him, yet it
is believed he is. An order will therefore be sent
with this communication for his discharge from it.
A court of inquiry has been ordered to sit in
Mexico, to which will be referred for examina
tion all the charges presented against Gen. Pil
low and Brevet Lieutenant Colonel Duncan, as
well as the charges or complaint of Brevet Major
General Worth against yourself; and the prose
cution of General Pillow and Lieutenant Colonel
Duncan, on charges preferred against them, be
fore a court martial, will be deferred until the
proceedings of the court ofinquiry shall he receiv
ed by the the President.
If these officers have been arrested, the Presi
dent, not seeing any good reason for continuing
them in that situation during the session of toe
pourt, will direct them to be released therefrom.
• • • • • * *
Very respsctfully, your obedient servant,
W. L. MARCY,
Secretary ot W^r.
Major General Winfield Scott,
Commanding U. S. Army, Mexico.
The Order Suspending General Scott.
Wab Departjikxt,
Washington Jan, 13 1848. y •
Sih: la view of the present state of things in
the army under your immediate command, and in
compliance with the assurance contained in my
reply to your letter of the 4th of June, wherein
you ssk to be recalled, the President has deter
mined to relieve you from further duty as com
manding general in Mexico. You are therefore
ordered by him to turn over the command of the
army to Major Generalßutler,or, in hisabsence,
to the officer highest in rank with the column
under you, together with all the instructions you
have received in relation to your operations and
duties as general-in-chief command, and all re
cords and papers properly belonging or appertain
ing to the general headquarters.
Desirous to secure a full examination into all
the matters embraced in the several charges
which you have presented against Major Gener
al Pillow and Brevet Lieytenant.Colonel Duncan
jis well as the charges or grounds of complaint
presented against you by Brevet Major Gener
al Worth, and deeming your presence before the
court of inquiry which has been organized to in
vestigate these matters indispensably necessary
for this purpose, you are directed by the Presi
dent to attend the said court of inquiry, wherev
er it may hold its sittings, and when your pre
sence before, or attendcnce upon, the court, shall
be no longer required, and you are notified of
that feet by the court, you will report in person
at this department for further orders.
The original papers to which you refer, as
well as all ethers which it is anticipated may be
wanted on the investigations, will be forwarded”
to the court of inquiry.
I have the honor to be, very respectfully, your
obedient servant, W* L. MARCY,
Secretary of War.
Major General Winfield Scott,
Commanding U. S. Army, Mexico.
Gen. Scott to the Secretary of War.
Headucatshs or thk Army,
Mexico, February 9, 1848. N
Sir: I have received no communication Irora
THE UNION OP TIIE STATES, AND THE SOVEREIGNTY OP THE STATES.
COLUMBUS, GA. TUESDAY, APRIL 25, 1848-
the W’ar Depirtmentor the Adjutant General’s
Office, since ir.y last report, (ijo- 44,) dated the
2d insiant; hut slips from newspapers and letters
from Washington have come to interested parties
here, representing, I learn, that the President
had determined to place me before the court, tor
daring to enforce necessary discipline in this army
against certain of its high officers ! I make only
a passing comment upon these unofficial announ
cements, learning, with pleasure, through the
same sources, that I am to he superseded by
Major General Butler. Perhaps, after trial, I
may be permitted to return to the United States.
My pqor services with thismqst gallant army are
at length to be requited as I have been led to
expect they would he.
I have the honor to remain, with high respect,
sir, yOur obedient servant,
WINFIELD SCOTT.
To the Hon. Secretary of War.
[Confidential.]
War Department, ‘ ?
Washington, 14, 1847. $
Sir : The signal successes which have atten
ded our military operations since the commencc
menof the present war, would seem to justify the
expectation that Mexico will be disposed to offer
lair terms of accommodation. With a view to a
result so desirable, the President has commission
ed Nicholas P. Trist, e-q., of the State Depart
ment, to proceed to your headquarters, or to the
squadron, as to him may seem most convenient,
and he in readiness to receive any proposal which
the enemy may see fit ti? &?&k.e for the restoration
of peace.
Mr. Trist is clothed with such diplomatic pow
ers as will authorize him to enter into arrange
ments with the government of Mexico for the
suspension of hostilities. Should he make known
to you, in writing, that the contingency has oc
curred, in consequence of which the Presidents
willing that further actiye - ipilitaiy operations
should cease, you will regard such notice as a
direction Irom the President to suspend them
until further orders from this department, unless
continued or recommenced by the enemy ; but,
in so doing, you will not retire from any place
you may occupy, or abstain from change of po
sition which you may deem necessary to the
health or safety of the troops under your com
mand, unless, on consultation with Mr. Trist, a
change in the position of your forces should be
deemed necessary to the success of the negotia
tion for peace. Until hostilities, as herein pro
posed, shall be intermitted, you wili continue to
to carry on your operations with energy, and push
your advantages as far as your means will enable
you to do.
Mr. Trist is also the bearer of a despatch to
the Secretary of Foreign Affairs of the govern
ment of Mexico, in reply to one to the
Secretary of State here. You wili transmit that
despatch to the commander of the Mexican for
ces, with a request that it may be laid before his
government; at the same lime giving informa
tion that Mr. Trist, an officer from our depart
ment for foreign affairs, next in rank to its chief,
is at your headquarters, or on board the squadron
as the case may be.
You wiff afford Mr.Trist all the accomodation
and facilities in your power, to enable him to
accomplish the objects of bis mission.
Very respectfully, your olredient servant,
w. L. MARCY,
Secretary of War.
Major Gen. Scott,
Comd’g the army of the United States. Mexico.
P. S. Should a suspension of hostilities take
place, you will lose no time in communicating
the fact to Mayor General Taylor.
[No. 27.]
Headq.u artehs of the Army, 7
‘Jalapa, May 7, 1847. y
Sir : I have just received from Mr. Trist, chief
clerk of the Department of State, a letter, dated
yesterday, at Vera Cruz, with which he has sent
me two from you, dated the J 2th, and a third, the
14th ultimo.
I enclose herewith a copy of my reply to Mr.
Trist, and send one of your letters of the 12th—
that relating to the custom houses of Mexico—
to Colonel Wilson, commanding at Vera Cruz,
with instructions that he send a copy, to Col.
Gates, commanding at Tampico, in order that
your iustruetions relative to the collection of du
ties at the two ports may be duly executed.
I am too distant from the coast, and too much
occupied with the business of the campaign, to
charge myself with the execution of that letter.
I have the honor to remain, sir, with respect,
your most obedient servant, %■
WINFIELD SCOTT.
Hon. W. L. Marcy, Secretary of War.
Headquarters of thf. Army,
Jalapa, May 7, 1847. 5
Sir : I have just received your note of yester
day, accompanied hv communications to me from
the Secretary of War, and one (sealed !) from
the Department of State to the minister of for
eign affairs of the republic of Mexico.
You are right in doubting whether there be a
government, even de facto , in this republic.—
General Santa Anna, the nominal President, has
been, until within a day or two, in the neighbor
hood of Orizaba, organizing bands of rancheros,
banditti, or guerrillas, to cut off stragglers from
this army, and, probably, the very train, all im
portant to us, which you propose to accompany
into the interior; the safety of which train has
detained me here, and caused me a high degree
of solicitude. Hence I regret that Colonel Will
son, commanding at Vera Cruz, has allowed
himself, a second time, to be pursuaded to detach
to bring up despatches, (for your accomodation,)
a material portion of the had relied upon
as the escort of that train. The other detach
ments to which I [allude came up some days ago,
to escort Lieut. Semme, ot the navy, duly accred
ited by Commodore Perry, to the Mexican Min
ister cf Affairs, to negotiate the exchange of
Passed Mid. Rogers, now a prisoner of war !
That matter also seems to have been considered
too important to be intrusted to my agency !
But, to return to the actual government of
Mexico. Senor Anaya is, I believe, President
ad interim. But you may have learned that the
Congress, after hearing of the affair of Cerro
Gordo, passed many violent decrees, breathing
war to the uttermost against the United States;
declaring that the Executive has no power, and
shall have none, to conclude a treaty, or even an
armistice, with the United States; and denoun
cing as a traitor any Mexican functionary who
shall entertain either proposition. I have com
municated a copy of those decrees to the War
Department, and, until further orders thereupon,
or until a change of circumstances, I very much
doubt whether I can so tar commit the honor
of my government as to take any direct agency
in forwarding the scaled despatch you have sent
me from the Secretary of Stats of the United
States.
On this delicate point, however, you will do
as you please; and when, if able, I shall have
advanced near to the capital, I may, at your in
stance, lend an escort to your flag of truce; and
it may require a large fighting detachment to
protect even a flag °1 truce against the ranche
ros and banditti who now infest the national
road all the way up to the capital.
I see that the Secretary of War proposer to
degrade me by requiring that I, the commander
of this army, shall defer Jto you, the chief clerk
of the Department of State the question of con
tinuing or discontinuing hostilities.
I beg to say to him. and to you, that here, in
the heait ofa hostile country, from a
few weeks, would be impossible to withdraw thb
army without a ioS-s probably nf half its numbers
bv the vomito ; which artnv, from necessity, nuts
soon become a self sustaining machine., cut m
fiom all supplies and reinforcements Jrom home •<
until, perhaps, late in November, not to speak
of the bad faith of the government and people of
Mexico; —I say, in reference to those critical
circumstances, this army must take military se
curity for its own safety. Hence the question of
an armistice or no armistice is most peculiarly a
military question, appertaining, of necessity, if
not ot universal right, in the absence of direct
instructions, to the commander of the invading
forces. Consequently, if you are not clothed
with military rank over me, as well as with dip
lomatic functions, I shall demand, under the pe
culiar circumstances, that, in your negotiations,
if the enemy should entertain yotfr overtures, you
refer that question to me, and all the securities
belonging to it. The safety of this army de
mands no less, and I am responsible for that
safety until duly superseded orrecalled. Indeed,
from the nature of the case, if the enemy, on
your petition, should be willing to concede an
armistice, he would, no doubt, demand the mili
tary guaranty ot my signature for his own safe
ty.
Should you, under the pxpcsiliot? of circum
tanccs I have given, visit the moveable head
qnarters of this army, I shall receive you with
the respect due to a functionary of my govern
ment ; but whether you would find me here, at
Perote, Puebla, or elsewhere, depends on events
changeable at every moment.
The sealed department of State I suppose ydo
to desire me to hold until your arrival, or until I
shall hear Luther fjom you.
I remain, sir, respectfully, &c.,
WINFIELD SCOTT.
N. P. Trist, esq., &c.. &c., &c.
War Department, May 31, 1847.
Sir : I have received your letter of the 6th
instant, with copies of instructions to Generals
Worth and Quitman aud Colonel WiUon. By
these I learn that ffie volunteers, whose term of
service is limited to twelve months, are on their
return home.- They have been discharged at an
earlier period than was anticipated. The addi
tional troops for your column will soon be with
it in sufficient numbers to supply, and more than
supply the place of the dichargcd volunteers.
The reason for a temporary diversion of a part
of these troops, of which you complain, has been
explained, and, I trust, in a satisfactory manner,
iu a former communication from this depart
ment, >
I am gratified by'the intelligence of your ex
tended progress into the enemy’s couiyry, and
hope that your successful operations will accel
erate the conclusion of a peace.
Your course hitherto, in relation to prisoners
of war, both men and officers, in discharging
them on parole, has been liberal and kind; but
whether it ought to be still longer continued, or
in some respects changed, has been under the
consideration of the President, and he has direc
ted me to communicate to you his views on the
sul ject. He is not unaware of the great embar
rassment their detention, or the sending of them
to the United States, would occasion ; but, so far
as relates to the officers, lie thinks they should
be detained until duly exchanged. In that case,
it will probably be lound expedient to send them
or most of them, to the United States. You will
not, therefore, except for special reasons in par
ticular cases, discharge the officers who may be
taken prisoners, but detain them with you, or send
them to the United States, as you shall deem most
expedient.
It is an unpleasant duty to advert, as I feel
constrained to do, to your letter of the 7th instant,
and more particularly to the copy of one of the
-ame date, therewith enclosed, addressed by you
to Mr. Trist, With me, it is a matter of sincere
regret that a letter of such an extraordinary char
acter was sent to that gentleman, and I cannot
doubt it will be no less regretted by yourself on
more reflection and better information, Such
information you would have received, Lad Mr.
Trist delivered in person (as I did not doubt he
would) my letter to you of the 14th instant,
[ultimo,] with the despatch from the State De
partment to the Mexican minister of foreign re
lations. My letter should have secured you from
the strange mistake into which you have fallen,
by regarding him as the bearer of that despatch
to the Mexican government, and yourself called
on to aid in transmitting it. Had such been the
true state of the case, I cannot perceive that you
would have had any just ground of complaint,
or any sufficient excuse for withholding the as
sistance required ; but, by looking at my letter,
you will discover your misapprehension. Mr.
Trist was the bearer of that despatch to yourself
—not to the Mexican government; and when he
had delivered it into your hands, his'agency ceas
ed; he had no discretion or jndgment to exercise
in regard to sending on or withholding it. This
was a matter committed solely to yourself. I
refer to the language of my letter, to show the
entire correctness of this view of the subject:
“You will transmit thafdespatch to the comman
der of the Mexican forces, with a request that it
may be laid before his government; at the sa;ne
time giving information that Mr. Trist, an officer
from our department for foreign affairs, next in
rank to its chief, is at your headquarters, or on
board the squadron at the case may be.” This
is a positive instruction to yourself to send that
despatch forward, and it is expected you will
have acted upon it without waiting for the arri
val ot Mr. Trista % your headquarters, if thereby
any unnecessary delay was likely to result.
If you infer that the succeeding sentence in
my letter controlled, or in any manner qualified,
the President’s order in regard to forwarding that
despatch, you have been led into an qrror. Mr.
Trist was directed to exhibit to you, not only his
instructions, but the projet ofa treaty with which
he had been furnished by his government. These
documents .would have fully disclosed to you
“the objects of his mi4sion; ? ’ for the accomplish
ment of ji’hieh you were requested to afford fa
cilities. None of these objects had relation
the transmission of the despatch in question.
You have marked with a note of admiration
the fact that the despatch was sealed. True, it
was sealed; but the bearer, tvho was charged
with the delivery of it to you, had a copy ; and
had he handed that despatch in person to you,
as it was expected he would do, he would no
doubt have exhibited that copy to your inspec
tion.
A still more serious’misconception has seized
your mind in regard to an armistice. Before
this time it is quite probable you will have read
the instructions to the commissioner, whom you.
see fit to denominate “the chief clerk of the State
Department;” and I trust that a knowledge of
what they contain has dissipated all your dis
tressing apprehensions of l eing degraded by me.
My letter informed you that Mr. Trist was“cloth
ed with diplomatic powers;” and his instructions,
and the projet of a treaty which he cariied with
him, have, ere this, apprised you that he is a
commissioner,with full power to negotiate a peace.
The treaty which he was authorized to conclude
contains an article, as you will have perceived,
which provides for a suspension of hostilities, but
not until the treaty shall have been ratified by
the Mexican government. Neither the consid
erations of humanity nor sound policy would
justify the continuance of active military opera
tions after a treaty of peace had been concluded
and ratified on the part of Mexico, until the in
formation of that fact could be communicated
from Mexico to ihis place, and an order for the
suspension of hostilities hence transmitted to the
commanding general in that country. It wiil
not be questioned that a commissioner of peace
may be properly vested K’ith the power of agree
ing to a suspension of hostilities in a definitive
treaty, negotiated and already ratified by one par
ty, while waiting the ratification pf the other.
Vs the negotiator is the first to know the fact
hat a treaty has been concluded and so ratified,
it is, beyond dispute, proper that he should be
directed to ccnimanicate the knowledge ol that
NUMBER 16.
fact to the commanding general; and it cannot,
in my view of the case, be derogatory to that offi
cer to he placed under instructions to act with
reference to that fact, when duly notified of it bv
the commissioner. The case cannot lie made
plainer, or ycur misapprehensions in regard to
it more clearly pointed out, than by simply sta
ting it as it must exist if the contingency should
fortunately happen, on yfhicb you will he requir
ed to sqspcn.4 hostilities. A commissioner of
peace is sent by the President to your headquar
ters, afid he makes known to you his authority
to receive from Mexico offers for concluding “a
peace. You aie informed by his instructions
and the project of a treaty w hich he is required
to exhibit to you, that on the conclusion apd rat
ification qfa trcqty of peace by Mexico, hostili
ties immediately thereafter arc to ceaso. With
all these facts fully made known to you in ad
vance, yoq are directed hv the President to sus
pend hostilities qn receiving yyrittep notice from
the commissioner that the contingency—the cop
conclusion and ratification of a treaty qf peace by
Mexico—has happened. Under thqso circum
stances, can yoq conceive as commanding
general of the forces in Mexico, you have the
right to raise a question upon your duty to obey
this direction, coming as it docs, through aprop
er channel, from your superior—the commaftder
in-chief] In my opinion, you could not have
wandered further from the true view of the case,
than by supposing that tbe President or myself
has placed you in the condition of deferring “iq
the chief clerk of the Department of State, the
question of continuing or discontinuing hostili
ties.” I cannot conceive that any well-founded
exception can be taken to the order you have le
ceived, in relation to suspending hostilities; and
I am fully persuaded that, if the contingency re
quiring you to act upon it shall ever occur, you
will promptly carry it into full efl'ect.
I am, very respectfully, your obedient servant,
W. L. MARCY,
Secretary of W ar.
Maj. Gen. Wixfixld Scott,
Commanding U. S. Army, Mexico.
llxxT)q.rxßT£Rs or tux Armt. 7
Jalapa, May 20, 1847. 5
#•***•
Mr. Trist arrived here on the 14th ij;st. |le
has not done me the honor to cull upon m®- —
Possibly, he has thought tile compliment of a
first visit was due to him ! I learn jhat he is
writing a reply to my answer to him, dated the
7th inst. A copy of that answer I enclosed to
you the moment it was written. Jt is not prob
able that I shall find leisure to read his reply,
much less to give a rejoinder.
When I wrote to you and Mr. Trist, late on
the night of the yth, togo down by a detachment
of horse that I was obliged to despach early lhe
next morning, I had not time to defend the po
sition you had forced me to assume; and I shall
now but glance at that position.
The honorable Mr. Benton has publicly de
clared that, if the law had passed making him
general in chief of the United States armies in
Mexico—either as lieutenant general, or as junior
major general over the seinors—the power would
have been given him not only of agreeing to an
armistice, (which would, of course, have apper
tained to his position,) but the much higher
power of concluding a treaty of peace; and it will
be remembered, also, that in my letter to Ma
jor General Taylor, dated June 12, 1848, writ
teh at your instance, and, as I understood at the
time, approved by the cabinet, his power to agree
to an nrmisticc was merely adverted to in order
to place upon it cpriain limitations. I under
stand your letter to me, of the 14th ult., as not
only taking from me, the commander of an army,
under the most critical circumstances, all voice
or advice in agreeing to a truce with the enemy,
but as an attempt to place me under the milita
ry cammand of Mr. Trist; for you tell me, that
“should he make known toyou, in writing, that
the contingency has occurrel,in consequence of
which the President is willing that further active
military operations should cease, you will regard
such notice as a direction from the President to
suspend them until further orders from this de
partment.” That is, lam required to respect
the judgment of Ml Trist here, on passing events,
purely military, as the judgment of the Presi
dent, who is some two thousand miles off! I
suppose this to be .the second attempt of the kind
ever made to dishonor a general in chief in the
field, before or since the time of the French cpn
vention. That other instance occurred in your
absence from Washington in June, 1845, when
Mr. Bancroft, acting Secretary of War, instruc
ted Gen. Taylor ; in certain matters, to obey the
orders of Mr Donald *or., charge d’affaires in Tex
as ; and you may remember the letter that I wrote
to Gen. Taylor, with the permission of both Mr.
Bancroft and yourself, to correct that blun
der. The letter may be found on record in my
office at Washington,
Whenever it may be the pleasure of the Pres
ident to instruct me directly, or through any au
thorized channel, to propose or to agree to an ar
mistice with the enemy, on the happening of any
given contingency or contingencies, or to do any
other military act, I shall most promptly and
cheerfully obey, him; but I entreat to be spared
the personal dishonor of being again required
to obey the orders of the chief clerk of the State
Department, as the orders of the constitutional
commander in chief of the army and navy of
the United States.
Hon. W. L. Marct Secretary of War.
P. S.—May 21. I put under cover portions
of an un-official letter just received from Major
General Worth. They are highly interest
ing.
But one company, mounted, under Captain
Wheat, was re-enlisted (for the war) out of.the
whole of the old volunteers. It has just arrived
from y era Cruz.
The reserve will posti vely advance Jo-morrow.
The deficiency in supplies from Vera Cruz has
resulted, I find, not so much from the want of wa
gons and animals there, os from the want of dri
vers and conductors. Some 400 old volunteers,
engaged here, for the wagons and pack mules,
broke off at Yera Cruz, and embarked with their
respective companies. W. S.
To Mr. Trist, as a lunctionary of my govern
ment, I have caused to be shown, since his arri
val here, every proper attention. I sent the chief
quartermastaj and an aid-de-camp to show him
the rooms I had ordered for him. I have caused
him to be tendered a sentinel to be placed at his
door, and to receive his orders. I shall, from
time to time, send him word of my personal move
ments; and I shall continue to show him all oth
er attentions necessary to the discharge of any
diplomatic functions with which he may be in
trusted.
I have the honor to be, sir, with high respect,
your most obedient servant,
WINFIELf) SCOTT.
t ‘’ ‘ • ’
[No7 29.]
HBADatTARTKRS OF THE ABUT, ?
Puebia. June 4, 1847. $
Sir : I arrived here, with fear troops of hor
ses; on the 28th ultimo. Twiggs’* division
came up the next day.
I enclose, herewith, a copy of Brevet Major
General Worth’s report, dated the l#th ultimo,
(the original jvas intercepted by the epemy.) of
an affair he had .with G enera l Anna, at
Amosoqpc, some eight miles from this place.
The effective strength of this army has beeo
surprisingly reduced. B-Sides the discharge
of seven regiments and two independent com
panies of old volunteers, we had to leave, in
hospital, about 1,000 men at Vera Cruz, as ma
ny sick and wounded at Jalapa, and 300 sick at 1
Perole. Here we have, on the sick report, 1,017.
Not a corps has made a forced march, except in
the pursuit after the battle ofCctro Gordo, and
avery possible attention has been given to the
health of the trooj*. The general sirkrw** may
■>e attributed to *cverel causes: J. The greet
contrast in rluuntos above and below Crirq
Gordo; 2. The insufficiency of clothing, hut lit;
ie having aniv* and when the army marched front
Vi ra (Tuz; and 3. The want of salt
the troops not having had any oftmer than onq
day in nine, since wc readied the elevated coun
try, as our insufficient means of transportation
allowed us to bring up only small quantities of
bacon and no mess pork. The prevailing disease;
have been chilis and (cvers, and diarrkra.
Making the further deductions of the killed
and wourided, the garrisons of Vrea Crux. Ja
lapa. and Perote, and we have here hut 6,83(1
egecliye non- commissioned officers, artificers,
musician, and private—a force evidently insuffi
cient to garrison this large open city and to
upon the capital, where, or near it, wc may prftj
bably have to beat on indifferent army of front
12.000 t 025,000 men. Thiswecould do with
4.00 Q, but at a loss probably, of one-fourth of
our number ; whereas, with 8,000, our loss would
not exceed some 300.
Not having heard of the approach of reinforce
ments from any quarter, not even of (he 960 re
cruits for the old regiments, who >yere
at New York and Newport, Kentucky, I have
at length determined to abandon Jalapa, and to,
bring up to tbe head of the army th? garifon of
Perote, in order to be ip a better condition to ad
uanceupon and to occupy the capital. Sec here
with mv instructions of yesterday, to CqloDfj
piiilds, the governor aud commander of Ja
lapa.
It is ascertained that any sick qi wounded men,
left on the road or in rnt\H villages, would
certainly murdered by guerilla paili-s, rancheroa
or banditti ; and I am not absolutely certain that
threats of punishments will render our hospital;
safe even in large cities. The want of reinforce
ments, long promised and expected, has driven
me to this painful experiment.
The delay here, until about the 32d instant,
may, however, be compensated by one impor
tant advantage: General Santa Anna has re
nounced the presidency.— (See his printed let
ter herewith.) It is understood that.a new
government will he installed on the 15th in
stant, and there is good ground to hopq updef
Herrera or friaa, both supposed to bo desir
ous of pence with the United States. If w;
were previously to occupy the capital, the friend*
of peace (most of the leaders of the party (hj
long to the capital) \vould he dispersed; or
they remained and organized, under opr colors,
their government would be depounqed ;nd do
ciicd as set up hy this army, and Io?e all credit
and weight with the Mexican people.
Wc are still nqjqh embarrassed by the want of
money. But little can be obtained on drafts, thi;
aide if the capital, and we have not heard of the
arrival of a dollar at Vera Cruz for this army.
The attempt to subsist it, by living at free qqar;
ter*, or on fqrced contributions, would be tl;e
end military operations.
1 take tbe liberty to enclose n copy of my re
joinder to Mr. Trisf No doubt he ha? forward
ed a copy of bis most extraordinary epistle tq
me. To have such n flank bnttery planted U:
gainst me, amidst critical military operations, is;
great annoyance.
Considering the many cruel disappointment;
and mortifications 1 have bepq made to feel, sincp
I left Washington, or thq total want of support
and sympathy, on the part of the War Depart
ment, which I have so long experienced, f heg
to be recalled from this army the moment that it
may be safe for any person to embark at Vera
Cruz, whUh, I suppose, will be eaily ip Noveqj :
her. Probably all field operations will be over
long before that time.
I have the honor to remain, sir, wijh high refc
pect, your most obedi nt servant,
WINFIELD S'.OTT.
Hon. Wa. Jj. Marct, Secretary of War.
War Pkpartmext,
Washington, July 12, 1847.
Sir : Since my letters of the 31st of May am}
14th June, pointing out yoiir entire misappre
hension in regard to the mission of Mr. Trist, so
far as it was assumed by you to be an interfer
ence with your military command, a part of (tia
communications toyou, as well as your letter to
him of the 29th of May, have, l;eqn received.
This correspondence disclosos a state of thing*
between yourself and him most deeply tq bp rp;
regretted, as it is much to be feared that your
personal relations are such as may compromise
the most important national interests.
, My previous letters on this subject, if received,
must have convinced you of the groundlessnesp
of your suspicions and the precipitancy of your
conduct in this while affair. You cannqtfaii to
perceive that, so far from having cause (o com
plain and indulga in disrespectful repfoqches
against your government on account of the mis
sion, the utmost care was taken to secqre to yoq
all the rights and authority of your command,
and to yield to all the pretensions you coqld pro
perly set up as in any wiso belonging to it.
Regarding, qs the President feels compelled tq
do, your course in this matter as the result of aq
entire mistake as to the powers and duty of Mr.
Trist, he regrets to perceive that the conduct of
Mr. T. t on the other hand has not been freo
from error.
No two agents of the government coqld have
been charged w ith duties more distinct and noq
flicting ; duties less likely to bring on persona]
collision, where any sort of communication wc§
requ ed. To you was intrusted the conduct of
military operaiions; to him, the business of ncgo :
listing a peace, if a favorable opportunity should
occur. Qnly a very limited official i..tercourse
between you and jjim was required, qnd that wa*
of such a character as to preclude, i( was supposed,
the possibility of any misunderstanding. He was
required in the first place, to deliver toyou a des
patch from your government to the minister of for
eign relationsofMexico. Whenthusdelivcred.s}}
bis agency in regard to it was ended. It wa*
committed to you to be forwarded ; not even tl.a
President’s order to you to send it forward wa*
communicated through this department. To this
course the most over-wrought sengiteveriess
could not properly take the slightest exception.
Your fatac alarm in regard to the powers of the
commissionoc, arui the mis-step consequently tak
en—the first in the series of blunders—led him
to interfere, in an unauthorized and improper
manner, with an affair exclusively your own—
the transmission of that despatch to the Mexjcqf]
authorities. From this department Mr. Trist
had no instructions whatever, and I am well as
sured that he had none from the President or the
State Department, relative fothis despatch, be
yond the simple direction to place it in your
hands. Whatever he may have dope, further
than barely delivering it to you, was unauthoriz
ed. In undertaking, as he appears so have dope,
in his letter to you of the 20th of May, to be the
medium through which orders toyou were to bq
transmitted, he has assumed authority not pon
ferred on him, and the act is disavowed by the
President. He had no authority to give you
any order whatever. The only order* from your
government to you, relating to this subject, were
issued through thjs deparfment, and arc contain
ed in despatches of the 14th of April; and tbeso
orders the President confidently expected yoq to
execute. It is proper that I should say, in con
cluding my remarks on this point, that the Pres
ident trusts that yoq have discovered yoqr mi*-
take in returning the despatch to Mr. Trist; that
you have withdrawn it from him, and executed
the order to forward it from this department to
the Mexican authorities. Should yoq rcceiy;
from these authorities an intimation of a willing
ness to cuter upon negotiation?, you will, a* a
matter of course, apprize Mr. Trist of that fact,
and do what may be deemed proper to facilitate
the conclusion of a peace.
It is not expected tiiß|t yoq still continue qnder
your first strange delusion as to Mr. Trist’* in
structions to interfere in any manner with your
military operations. My previous letters, any
the extract furnished you from those instructions,
must have put to flight all your pqscunceptions
on that subject. The utmost extent of the corn
missioner’s authority bearing on this point w**
to give you written notice ol the happening
contingency on which a suspension of hostilities
was to follow—not by Mr. Trist’s order—not by
an order communicated through hitn—but ]b j
the order of the President, your *ti|>erior officer,
conveyed to you directly by the Secretary of
War.
This suspension of hostilities wa* not, a* yoq