THE JOURNAL. 0 i ' l' (C-Fr‘ N ~. .--,, ' , r 1 ~. N.) >\lBlo.c tit ,--, t ,4 " - e'r '4 ,1/0- DUN'!' LNG DON Wednesday, June 17, 18 Whig Candidate fn• Canal Coneneisaiu•ecr, JAMES M. POWER, OF :MERCER COUNTY cs The Scott and Marcy correspondence has cror d out a number of advertisements. They eliall appear again in our next, Gen. Scott and the Secretary of War, In justice to our readers at large, as well as to the parties immediately interested, it becomes not only proper, but expedient and necessary, that we should lay before the public the correspondence which has lately taken place between the Secretary of War and Major General WINFIELD Score, the commander-in-chief of the armies of the United States, next after the President, whom the Consti tution declares to be the commander-in-chief of the army and navy of the United States. For some years past, Gen. Scott, as the commander in-chief under the President, of the army, has been stationed at Washington, where an spar is assigned trim m the War office, and where ho at tends from day to day to tire details of the military service, preparatory to the issuing of orders to the various generals and commanders having command of departments and posts. The President being the source of all military authority, gives his corn• mends through the Secretary of War, to Gen. Scott, who in his turn issues his orders to the offi cers of divisions or posts next below him, and so on until the orders finally reach and are executed by the common soldiers, or the captains, lieutenants, sergeants and corporals who command them. In the case in hand, Gen. Taylor had been ordered to take command of the army on the Mexican frontier, where he has acquitted himself with great honor to himself and his country. It is also a prin ciple of military discipline, that whenever a general iv sent on a distant expedition, he shall be furnished with written orders or instructions from his superior officers; and no prudent officer will ever set out on a distant and hazardous expedition, without such written instructions or orders from his superiors, for the obvious reason, that if his enterprize should prove unsuccessful or disastrous, his employers may cast all the disgrace upon him by alledging that he acted contrary to orders. This much is necessary to a proper understanding of Gen. Scott's letters. -,,str. sing zecretary Marcy, that the commend of the army destined to invade Mexico, was to be given to the f rrner; but neither of the parties could have understood that the Generahin-chief should proceed to the Rio Grande, or beyond it, there to await the coming of the army of invasion. Such a proceeding is unheard of in military history; and yet if any meaning can be given to the letters of the Secretary, it is that Scott should invade Mexico alone, (or at mot t. with the small force now under Gen. Taylor, who was to be deprived of his command to no purpose,) and there await, in the enemy's country, the conking of the army of vol unteers. No win man would place himself in this position; and if Gen. Scat had placed himself in such a false attitude, without any w-itten orders frorn the Secretary of War to leave his post at Washington, he would have forfeited the confidence of the country in his jinlginent as a man, as well as in iris skill as a soldier. He has lived tno long and reen too much hard Ben ice, to be entrapped at this day by the intrigues of Mr. Marcy and tissue who confederate with him. The Secretory, by the advice of the President, has caused to be introduced into Congress a bill for the appointment of two nr v Major Generals in the army ; and it is said to be the intention of the President to mei, Sam. Houston and some other favorite, the new generals. The object of Polk and his Cabinet is to get rid of the old generals, particularly of Scott, whose war-worn figure terrifies them whenever he passes the President's house. "Coming events east their shadons before." The most frightful of all phantoms, in the minds of Polk and Marcy, is Scott returning in tiltimpli from a Mexican campaign. To prevent this they would willingly see the failure of a campaign, and the less of an army of their fellow-citizens. -Scott is fully aware of their designs. Had they succeeded in driving the old soldier into Mexico without writ ten orders and without the necessary army to sup port him, or the necessary means to sustain Its army, nothing could have been easier than the ruin of this brave man. It was only to withhold the necessary men, provisions, horses, arms and aged - ments of all sorts. All the blame of all the disas ters of the campaign, would have been laid upon the unfortunate General, who would have had no means of justifying himself before the country, trot even any authority to show for his conduct. It was the certain knowledge of these dangers, which led him to allude with indignation to the "fire in his rear front Washing/on." All honorable minds must and will approve the high and delicate sense of a brother soldier'. feel ings, which speaks out itl the following passage from Gem Scott's first letter, viz: " It is always unjust to a junior 0 neral who has done well, and is supposed to be doing well, to supercede him by a General of higher rank, without sending by the latter corresponding reinforcement.. I should esteem myself the unhappy instrument of wounding the honorable pride of the gallant and Judicious Taylor, if ordered to supercede bias under different circumstances." And all must feel, too, the act of justice which is done by one old soldier to another, in tendering to Gen. Tay for his choice of the divi4ion of the +luny of In , atrium Mr. Webster Vindicated, We learn from Washington, that the select com mittee appointed to investigate the charges preferred by Mr. Ingersool against Mr. Webster, have mode a repcirt which entirely acquits the Senator from iilas6achusetts. The report is signed by Messrs. Jones, Davis, Vinton and King—two Locofocos and two Whigs. Mr, Brinkerhoof, of Ohio, a bit ter and uncompromis;ng fort:rine*, made a minority report, easing off Mr. Ingersonl. The moral effect, says a Washington correspon dent, of this one to four, under the circumstances, cannot fail to make Mr. Ingersoll's case Worse titan before, as it is well known that there is nothinn in the testimony casting even the shadow of a suspi cion upon Mr. Webster. cri The Whigs of Allegheny have nominated the following ticket:—Congress, Moses Hampton; Assembly, A.Hilanils, T. J. Bigham, D aniel Mc- Curdy and John T. Wilson. Religious Notice By Divine pet mission. the Rev. Mn. HIES TER of Lewistown, will officiate in St. John's riot. Epic. Chu eh, in this hot °ugh, on Sunday next at the hour of 11 A . Nl., and 8i P. M. ArrousTmENTs.—The Governor has made the following appointments for Blair county. Geo. R. McFarlane and Daniel McConnell to be Associate Judges. Sheriff—Benj. FL Bette. Register and Recorder—Wm. McFarland. Prothonotaiy—Jeremiah Cunningham. Coroner—John Dougherty. The above appointments aro not very well re ceived by the party in Blair. The Register and Coroner have declined the honor, and returned their commissions to the Governor. The Tariff. The Washington correspondent of the U. S. Gazette, writing under date of the 7th inst states that an attempt has been made to ascertain, with some degree of accuracy, what is the state of opin ion in the House upon the Tariff question. Lists have been made out by members, of such members as they know the opinions of, and these lists show 112 members in favor of action upon the Tariff and 107 against it. He does not place much confidence in this statement, though perhaps it is as near an approximation to what the vote is likely to be as can be obtained. He thinks it likely, however, that many voles are set down as against the tariff that will not be given to disturb it. A Wino Goren-sou IN NEW llK3irsittns. The Convention of the two branches of the Now Hampshire Legislature has elected Gen. Anthony Colby, a Whig, Governor for the ensuing year, by a majority of 21 votes. The vote stood :—Fer An thony Colby, 149 ; for J. W. Williams, 125. Colby's majority, 21 The Legislature of New Hampshire have elected John P. Hale to the United States Senate for six years from the 4th of March next. The vote was very decisive in his favor. This is a glo rious victory over Locofoco Radicalism. Ysi to,Ml:tetiuueng to the Oregon Question and the Cabinet, says,that the settlement of the Oregon Question on the 49th parallel does not suit Mr. Bu chanan's views, and he will consequently ret ire from the State Department, and give place to Mr. Rich ard Rush, and that the President will embrace the occasion to rigout Mr. Bancroft to retire from the Navy Department and give place to Senator Hay • wood, the North American Cougar that rushes through the jungle and darts upon his prey ! g The following, among other resolutions, was of the enemy's wounded have been left in the hoe• adopted at a meeting of the Whigs of Alugheny pitals. Arista is in full retreat towards Monterey, township, Blair county, held on the Mb inst. j with the fragments of his army. Ile•oked, That when the time shall arrive for I deeply regret to report that Lieut. George Ste nominating a candidate for Governor, wo have ono yens, a very promising young officer of the second every way qualified its the person of Gen. JAMES Invitv, of Centre.county. dragoons, was accidentally drowned this morning, _ . _ Later From Mexico. while attempting to swim the river with his squadron. I am, sir, very respectfully, your obedient ser- In addition to the news given upon our first p a g e , vent, Z. TAYLOR, we insert the following additional particulars: Brevet Brig. Gen. U. S. A. conid'g. The blockade of Vera Cruz commenced on the To the ADJUTANT GENERAL of the Army, 2001 of May. Washington, D. C. Information reached Vera Cruz that Mazatlan Lopia had proclaimed in favor of Gen. Santa Anna. Gen. A lverez, in the South, was carrying en a disastrous war against the Government. It was reported that Gen. Paredes intended leav ing the city of Mexico with troupe to reinforce the army at the North. Great animosity prevailed against the Americans since the defeat of the Mexicans at Matamora. was Iwown. The enormous forced loans which the Govern ment have imposed upon the clergy, the latter had declared itself totally unable to meet. The Metro- politer' church was ordered to furnish a subsidy of 598,000 per month; the Mochocian $35,000; of Puebla 4;40,000; Guadelijara $2.0110; of During° 515,000; and of Oajaca $B,OOO. These great soots la, month show that the President is deter mined to prosecute the war with energy. In regard to Parades putting himself at the heed of the army, El Publicans says it is uncertain whether he will repair to the Itio - Ginntle or to Vera Cruz; but he will leave the capital as soon as Cow gress assembles. Full accounts of the disastrous actions of the Bth and 9th had reached the capital and appeared in the official journal. They are more accurate by tar than Mexican bulletins generally, and do credit to Arista. The news was received with profound regret, but with an apparent determination to light the war LATER. Correspondence of the North American Embargo Declared by Mexico! Nsw ORLEA NR, Juno 5. The barque Texidore, Capt. Major, has arrived from Tobaseo, whence she sailed on the 28th ult. There was great excitement prevailing there among the resident Americans in consequence of the re ception of an ardor for an embargo on all American vessels. The order came expi en from Mexico, and was immediately followed by an o. der for the captuio of Captain Wm 'a vessel, and at the came time fifty Mexican soldie a we, e placed in cha go of a New Cleans schooner. Tian a wet e 400 Mexican eold let e in Tobacco. Capt. Maio , was guarded to his vessel by twen ty of hie fr lends, and the soldie a we e of, aid to nit& him p honor. The sell'. Capt. Cu..,c of Now o leans, was seized and the crew imprisoned. The steamer Ventura was ordered to fire up and give chow to Capt. Major. She did not, how ever. ventu•e out. Gen. 'Taylor iutetkla to take up his line of 'larch for Monterey and New Leon in ten daye, taking en route Canting°, Mier, &c. Capt. Thornt - on has been placed under an arrest by m der of Gen. Taylor, on cha• ges of disobe dience of o dm s and neglect of duty in suffering his command to be sat pt ised. The Delta learns f , om gentlemen art ived in the steamer Alabama, that. it is the least of Gen. Tay lo, 's intentions to test on his at ms for any length of time. iiiep.esent camp of the enemy is in New Leon, The Official Documents from Gen eral Taylor. From the Washington Union of Wednesday. OFFICIAL CORRESPONDENCE.. llsAnouArtrans Aux r or OccuraTrox, CITY or MATA3IIITI kR, May 18, 1848. 5 I have the honor to report that my very limited means for crossing rivers prevented a com plete prosecution of the victory of the 9th instant. A ponton train, the necessity of which I exhibited to the department last year, would have enabled the army to cross on the evening of the battle, take this city, with all the artillery and stores of the en emy, and a great number of prisoners—in short, to destroy entirely the Mexican army. But I was compelled to await the arrival of heavy mortars, with which to menace the town from the left bank, I and also the accumulation of small boats. In the meantime the enemy had somewhat recovered from the confusion of his fight, and ought still, with the 3,000 men left, to have made a respectable defence. I made every preparation to cross the river above ' the town, while Lieut. Col. Wilson made a diver sion on the side of Barite; and the order of march was given out for 1 o'clock yesterday, from the Camp near Fort Brown, when I was waited upon by General Roguena, empowered by Gen. Arista, commanding in chief the Mexican forces, to treat for an armistice until the government should finally settle the question. I replied to this, that an armi stice was entirely out of the question ; that a month since I had proposed one to Gen. Ampudia, which was declined; that circumstances were now chan ged ; that I was receiving large reinforcements, and could not now suspend operations which I had not initiated or provoked; that the possession of Mata ' moms was a sine qua non ; that our troops would occupy the town; but that Gen. Arista might with draw his forces, leaving the public property of every description. An answer to the above was promised in the af ternoon, but none came, and I repaired at sundown to join the army, already in position at a crossing 1101 , 1113 two miles above the town. Very early this morning the bank was occupied by our two 18 pounders and three batteries of field artillery—and the crossing commenced—the light companies of all the battalions were first thrown over, followed by the volunteer and regular cavalry. No resistance was made, and I was soon informed that Arista had abandoned the town with all his troops the evening belore, leaving only the sick and wounded. I im mediately despatched a stall' officer to the prefect to demand a surrender, and in the meantime a coin on the Barns point. I gave assurances that the civil rights of the citizens would be respected, and our troops at once dropped down opposite rho town, and crossed at the " Upper Ferry," the American flag being displayed at Fort Paredes," a Mexican redoubt near the crossing. The different corps are now encamped in the outskirts of the city. To morrow I shall make suitable arrangements for the occupation of the town, and for taking possession of the public property. More than three hundred HEAOQUATITERII, ARMY OF OCCUFATION,} Matamoras, Mexico, May 20, 1846. Brat On the 20th of April I had occasion to advise the department that hostilities had actually broken out, arid that in consequence I had found it necessary to use the authority with which I was vested, and call upon the governors of Louisiana and Texas for a force, each, of four regiments.— The eight regiments thus called for would make a force of nearly 5,000 men, which I deemed suffi cient to meet the wants of the service in this quar ter. At the same time that I wrote to the Governor of Louisiana requesting this volunteer force, I ad dress.' a letter to Gen. Gaines, desiring him to as sist in organizing these regiments, and having them promptly supplied. lit my communication to the Governor, the organization was very exactly pre scribed—being that indicated from your office on the 25th of August, 1845. I find, however, that the organization has been exceeded, and moreover, that Gen. Gaines has called for many more volun teers than I deemed necessary, extending the call to other States besides Lo,:siana. It will, of course, be fur the government to de cide whether tho future operations in this quarter will require the amount of force (entirely unknown) which is coming hither. I only desire to say, that this reinforcement, beyond the eight regiments mentioned above, was never asked for by me, and that in making the call of the 26th of April, I well knew that if the Mexicans fought us at all, it would be before the arrival of the volunteers. It was fur the purpose of clearing the river, and performing such other service as the government might direct, that I thought it proper to ask for reinforcements. It is extternely dopbtful whether the foot regi ments from Texas can be raised, and I shall desire the Governer, who is expected here, to suspend the call for them. None of the mounted companies, except Capt. Price's already in service, have report ed to tne. I fear the volunteers have exhaused the supply of tents deposited in New Orleans, for the use of this army. We are greatly in waist of them ; and 1 usual request that immediate inea4uten be taken to send direct to Brazos Santiago, say 1,000 tents, for the two of the army in the field. The tents of the 7th Infantry were cut up to make sand-bags, during the recent bombardment of Port Brown. I am, sir, very respectfully, your out serv't, Z. TAYLOR, Brevet Drig. Gen. U. S. A. Conitling. The ADJUTANT GENERAL of the Army, Washington, D. C. Extracts from a despatch from General Taylor, da. ted Matamoros, May 21,1846, Our future movements must depend, in a great degree, on the extent to which the Rio Grande is navigable for steamboats, and I fear that my expec tations in this particular will not be realized.— Though, at times, navigable as high as Camargo, or even Mier, it id doubtful whether a boat can now be pushed higher than Roinosa. Indeed the Nova' which is in the river, and accompanied the expe dition under General Smith, has not yet reached this place, though hourly expected. " r I shall lose no time in ascertaining the practicabil ity of the river for steamboats, and shall occupy Reinosa, and such other points as a boat may be able to reach. a All the cavalry (ecgular and irregular) of the army, under command of Lieut. Col. Garland, is in pursuit of the retreating army, to harass its rear, and capture prisoners and baggage. We have no authentic intelligence from the Lieutenant Colonel since his departure. Deserters are, however, coming in from the Mexicans." Lieut. Col. Wilson's battalion, Ist infantry, with some 200 volunteers, was at Barite on the 17th and has since been reinforced by Gen. Smith, with about 700 Louisiana volunteers. This column is ordered to move up the right bank of the river, and I look hourly for its arrival. "A large amount of public stores, Chiefly ord nance, has been fonnd concealed in this town. We are gradually recovering it from the places where it was hidden. Two field-pieces, several hundred muskets, and 200 shells, are among the articles re covered." HisAnatrAwrzns, ARMY OF OCCVPATTON, Z City of Matamoros, May 24, 1846. S Sin :—I have to report the arrival this day of Gen. Smith, with the battalion of the Ist Infantry, the Washington regiment of Louisiana volunteers, and a company of volunteers from Mobile. Anoth er regiment of Louisiana volunteers is below, and will probably arrive this evening or to-morrow.— This command was accompanied from the mouth of the river by the steamboat Neva, which succeeded without difficulty in reaching this place. Lieut. Col. Garland returned on the 22d, from his expedition in pursuit of the retreating army.— He succeeded in capturing a small rear party, after a trifling skirmish in the night, in which a man, and unfortunately a woman, were killed on the Mex ic,O.sids2_l.n..d..!wl .I,lgn sli 'eV trren " rniVtorsiX i t i ; miles, and then returned, agreeably to his instruc tions. The scarcity of water, and condition of his horses, made it useless to proceed farther. I would respectfully solicit instructions as to the disposition to be made of certain property captured in the camp of Gen. Arista. A pavillion and sev eral pieces of massive plate, are among the articles. His clothing, and other property purely personal, have been deposited in this city, with a view of be• ing returned to him. I would suggest that the pa villion be sent to Washington, to be disposed of as the President may direct. The recovery of ordnance and other public stores, still continues here. Two pieces of cannon have beer, taken from the river, and small arms in consid erable numbers have been taken in the town, I am, Sir, very respectfully, Your obedient servant, Z. TAYLOR, Brevet R rig. Gen. U.S. A. Commanding. The Adjutant General of the Army , Washington, D. C FROM IP I SIBI.iG T THE OREGON QUESTION SETTLED! Tho Washington corrrespondent of the North American furnishes the following important and gratifying intelligence under date of June 12, 1846, 6 o'clock P. M.—Transmitted by Telegraph : Huzza for the glorious Senate! The great ques tion of the Session is settled. The Senate has saved the country from all danger of war. It has just given their advice by the Constitutional majority, and a Treaty will be immediately framed upon the terms offered by Great Britain. The vote was 38 ayes to 12 nays. Mr. Corwin was detained from his seat by sickness, and Mr. Crittenden and Mr. Barrow are in Virginia; a fourth Whig vote might have been obtained, if ne• cessary. Mr. Atchison did not vote and Mr. Bright wan absent. The following from the Baltimore Sun of June 10, gives the terms of the treaty: The President's message which was under dis cussion, transmits the proposal of Great Britain, for a settlement of the Oregon difficulties on the 49th parallel, with the whole of Vancouver's Island, and the free navigation of the Columbia river by the Hudson's Bay Company, until the expiration of their charter; the British government apprehend mg that it might otherwise be compelled to pay that Company too large an indemnity. The free navigation of the Straits of Fuca, and the free use of the Buys and Inlets of Vancouver's Island to be allowed to us for tho same period, and some other privileges, not heretofore anticipated by the 49 men." The President asked the advice of the Senate. Deplorable Masacres in Texas: A letter fi inn San Antonio do Beset., gives de plo, able accounts of inu , de i ing and , obbe, lee com mitted upon the people inhatiting the westoi n fi on lier of Texas by Uarnanches and Lipsns. Most of the able bodied men of the colonies of New Braunfels, Cast, oville end Lake Quill having joined the a, my under (len. Taylor, the savages pi ofiting by thei , absence th. ew themselves upon the old men, women and children, burnt the houses and ci ups of co, n, mutilated the dead bodies, via. fated the women, and cart led off a number of child. en into slave t y. Important Correspondence. GEN. SCOTT AND THE SECRETARY OF WAR. HEADQUARTERS OF THE ARMY, Washington, May, 21, 1846. Sin heti received no orders, as yet, using ing me to the immediate command of the army about to he raised to conquer a peace within Mex ico ; but I have been told to hold myself in readi ness for that service. From that moment I have occupied myself, incessantly, with the vast prelimi nary arrangements which can only be made advan tageously at this place, through the respective chiefs of the general stab--the adjutant general, quarter master general, commissary general of subsistence, chief of ordnance, and surgeon general. I have been much occupied, also, in the distribution of the quotas of voluteners needed among the several States; in apportioning the horse to the foot; in the study of the routes of march, and writer conveyan ces for the several bodies of troops to the best points in the frontiers of Mexico; in the study of the northern interior, and the southern routes of that republic; in looking to the means of transportation on the Rio Grande, to and beyond that river; in determining the depots of supplies of all sorts on this aide, &c., &c. As these matters are respectively settled, orders and instructions have been, or will be given, to the chief of the general staff at this place, and the routes of mardh and water conveyances, together with the depots for supplies of every description, are finally to be communicated to the unknown commanders of volunteers whose services are to be accepted. In the midst of these multitudinous and indis pensable occupations, I have learned from you that much impatience is already felt, perhaps in high quarters, that I have not already put myself in route for the Rio G'rande ; and now, with fourteen hours a day of preliminary work remaining on my hands for many days, I find myself compelled to stop that necessary work to guard myself against, perhaps, utter condemnation in the quarters alluded to. I am too old a soldier, and have had too mach special experience, not to feel the infinite importance of se curing myself against danger (ill-will or pre-con damnation) in my rear before advancing upon the public enemy. Not an advantageous step can be taken in a for ward march without the confidence that all is well behind. If insecure in that quarter, no general can put his whole heart and mind into the work to be done in front. I am, therefore, not a little alarmed, nay, crippled in my energies, by the knowledge of the impatience in question, and I beg to eay / fear no other danger. My intentions have been, after making all pre liminary arrangements here, to pass down the Ohio and Mississippi, to see, or to assure myself by cor respondence, that the volunteers, on whom we are mostly to rely in the prosecution of the existing war, aro rapidly assembling for the service ; to learn the probable time of their readiness to advance upon Mexico; to ascertain if their supplies of every kind are in place, or are likely to be in place in sufficient time; to hasten one and the other; to harmonize the movements of volunteers, and to modify their routes (if necessary) so that all, or at least a suffi cient number, shall arrive at the indicated points on the Mexican frontier at the best periods, and, as far as practicable, about the same time. All that I have but sketched, I deem to be not only useful to success, but indispensable. As a soldier, I make this assertion without the fear of contradiction from Against the ad captandurn condemnation of all other persons, whoever may be designatLd for the high command in question, there can be nu reliance (in his absence) other than the active, candid, and steady support of his government. If I cannot have that sure basis to rest upon, it will be infinite ly bettor fur the country (not to speak of my per sonal security) that some other commander of the new army against Mexico should be selected. No matter who he may be, he shall, at least, Its judged and supported by me, in this office and every where else, as I would desire, if personally in that com mand, to be m, self judged and supported. My explicit moaning is, that 1 do not desire to place myself in the most perilous of all positions— afire upon my rear from WashingtLn, and the fire in front from the Illex'eans. It was distinctly admitted, and laid down as a ba sis, in the interviews I had the honor to hold with the President and yourself on the subject, that a I special army of some thirty thousand troops, regu lars, and twelve months' volunteers, would be neces sary for the march against, and the conquest of a peace in, Mexico. I adhere to that opinion. It is foreseen, with totearable certainty, that we shall not have, in many months, rnore than seven thou sand (if quite so many) regulars, applicable to that service. The remaining numbers are to be made up in volunteer horse and foot. I suppose of these, taken together, about 17,000 have been actually called for. There is yet good time, 1 think, to make ' the additions suggested in ono of the tables I bad the honor to submit last night. The question follows: By what Limo can an army of about 30,000, as above, be brought to act from the different points agreed upon in the interviews I alluded to upon Mexico? More than the half of the 7,000 regulars remain to be recruited. I hope they may be obtained and taken to the Rio Grande, though raw or uninstruct ' ed, by the first of September next. Can two-thirds, or even a half, of the volunteer horses ba got to that river much before that time I I greatly doubt the possibility—without the shadow of a doubt about the patriotism or zeal of the citizens who have been specially called span. The foot volunteers, aided by water transportation, (believed to be im possible with the horse,) may, probably, reach all the paints for commencing operations a week or two earlier. But if horse be a necessary element to success (and two-thirds, if not three-fourths of the Mexican army ore understood to be in the sad dle,) what utility would be in forcing the foot much ahead of the horse / This ought to be a matter of arrangement, left to the commander of tho special army, as information may open upon him in his progress to the Mexican frontier, near the heads of columns, or within easy corresponding distance with most of them, The particular question here then recurs. Can the horse regiment from Ken tucky, (the most distant from Mexico) or that from Tennessee (say nineteen days nearer) reach the Rio Grande (by land he it remembered) much be fore the day (Ist of September) before mentioned I I have learned personally from the zealous and in telligent Adjutant General (Dudley) of Kentucky, that that most distant horse regiment cannot be as sembled (say) at Frankfurt, on the Bowling -green, earlier than the latter part of June. Thence It will probably be obliged to march via Memphis, Fulton, or. the Red river, San Antonia de Boxer, &c., u line of some 1,200 miles. The routes of the Tennessee, Arkansas, and Mississippi horse will be respectively, say 400, 600, and 700 miles shorter, but oven the middle or Tennessee horse regiment, cannot, allowing not a day for in struction at its rendezvous, or on the route, reach the Rol Grande, before (according to all computa tions we can make hero) the middle of August. I think, considering that we cannot hope to have more than 800 regular cavalry on the lower Rio Grande, no commander would be willing to enter Mexico without both the Kentucky and Tennessee regiments of horse, and nll that have been called mum points nearer to the field of expected opera tions. I niav now town n fort conclusive ns to the period best Mr letting op Inure of operations from and beyond the lower Rio Grande, All the information that can be obtained here rep. resents that the rainy mason on, and south of the Rio Grande, begins about June, and terminates about the tat of September; that during that sea son, the hoof of the horse and the mule becomes softened (though abed) and diseased so as to dis able the animal for travel end work. Again, it is n the end of the rainy season, and for so e wee later, that in the northern provinces of Me rio i: and horses would have the best chance, ill ,[,,, drinking water, the horses the best grazin u- ~1 , ,, commissaries the best beef and mutton for • But another reason has been mentione •d , I should leave the preliminary work to be do cl and abandon the twelve month's volunteers d their way as they may to the Mexican fro ' - viz t the number of patriotic Louisianian ^ who have poured, and are pouring in, upon Brevet Brig oilier General Taylor, at Point Isabel or opposite to MatamOras. . . Those meritorious volunteers can, under the cir cumstances, have legally engaged for three menthe only. They could have had no knowledge of the volunteer act of May 13, 1846, without which no enrolment for more than three months would be binding upon them. After that term, without e formal enrolment, under the recent act, for the long er period, not an officer or a man could be legally held to service or tried for any offence whatever.— They evidently hastened to the eceue of danger to succour our army there; to save it from what they no doubt, deemed probable surrender or destruction. Many of the Louisianians may he reedy to become twelve months volunteers, & to be organized legally as such. As three months men they could hardly, even in the absence of hostile forces, march to Mon terey, before becoming entitled to (no doubt) an honorable discharge. Before the time for that dis charge, it may certainly be w.:ll—if numbers of them do not volunteer under the recent act—to send the quotas of foot, called for from the lower Mississippi, to aid Gen. Taylor in defending his positions, and, perhaps, taking new ones on the other side of the Rio Grande. _ . But for the conquest of a peace, by regular, in cessant, and forward movements, the basis of our calculations here (as to numbers) must be altogether extravagant, if a much larger army, including that in position, and one very difftrently composed, (in horse and foot.) be not necessary. It was to cunt' mend such larger army that I understood myself as likely to be sent to the Mexican frontier, as it is always unjust to a junior General who has done well, and is supposed to be doing well, to supercedo him by a General of higher rank, without sending with the tatter corresponding reinforcements. i should esteem myself the unhappy instrument of wounding the honorable pride of tho gallant and the judicious Taylor, if ordered to supercede him under different circumstances. However, the foregoing suggestions (hastily thrown together) may be viewed, I have deemed it due more to the country than my humble self, that I should present them, and await the wishes or the orders of the President. -. . . ... With great respect, I have tho honor to remain, sir, your most obedient servant, WINFIELD SCOTT. Hon. W. L. MAncr, Secretary of 'War. WAR DEPARTMENT, May 25, 1846, ` 4 111:—I have received your letter of the IA instant and considering its extriordi nary character, and the grave matters set lorth therein, reflecting upon the motives and objects of the President in tendering to you, as he has, in an explicit mariner, the command of the forces destined fur the war against Mexico. I deemed it to be my duty to lay it before him, and to take his direction in regard to its contents. The passages in your letter which have excised his surprise and deep regret, are those in which yuu impute to the Presi dent, in terms not inexplicit, ill will to wards yourself, or precondemnation, and a course of conduct on his part which has already, as you allege, impeded your la bours of preparation and crippled your en ergies. A reference to two or three paragraphs in your letter will show that he is not at librety to give a different construction to your language. You were, through me,and also at a personal interview witn the Pres.. ident, made acquainted with his settled determination to put you in immediate com mand of the force to be employed in car rying on the war with Mexico, and you had as you state, been devoting your time and attention to preliminary and preparatory arrangements. .1n the midst of these multitudinous and indespensible occupa tions," (you say, "1 have learned from you that much impatience is already felt, per haps in high quarters, that 1 have not al ready put myself in route for the Rio Grande; and now with fourteen hours a day of preliminary work remaining on my hands for many days, 1 find myself com pelled to stop that necessary work to guard myself against, perhaps utter condemna tion in the quarters alluded to. lam too old a soldier, and have had twoonuch ape ctvl experience, not to feel the infinite im portance of securing myself against dan g,er—(ill will, or precondemnation) in my rear, before advancing, upon the public en emy. Not an advantageous step can be taken in a forward march, without the con fidence that all is well behind. If insecure in that quarter, no keneral can put his whole heart and mind into the work to be done in front. 1 am, therefore, not a lit tle alarmed—nay, crippled in my energies ay the knowledge of the impatience in question ; and I beg to say I fear no other danger." This language scarcely needs a com ment.—That it conveys the strongest sus picion—not to say a direct imputation of most unworthy motive in our Executive government—of bad faith towards your self—ot a reckless disregard of the inter ests of the couutry—of a design to carry on a war against the public enemy, there can be, I think, no question. You must allow me to advert to the only fact which you allude as the foundation for such grave imputation. You have learned, you say, from me that much impatience is felt, per haps in high quarters, that you are not al ready put in route for the Rio Grande,