The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1851-10-05
General SCOTS Position Defihed-MOre Let
ter Writing.

General SCOTS Position DeAned-sIors Let.
ter Writing.
The following highly important and characteristic
letter from General Scott, will be read with
mon interest by the politicians of all parties. 1t ap-
pears that eight members Of the Pennsylvania
Senate caused letter to be written to the General
early last spring, as the undoubted wing eandi-
date for so, and here is his reply
WASHINGTON, March %, 1851.
SR-I have received your letter (mar ked connden
ti in which, after committing the Of supposing
to be fully before the country the whig candidate
for the Presidency you proceed to me In
many points OF grave public interest.
Permit me to say that, considering we shall probably
only have whig candidate for the Presidency through
National Convention, and that cannot be its nominee
except by the force Of the unsolicited Partially OF large
Considering also that if my character principles be
not already known il would be idle to attempt to supply
the deficient impressions by paper professions OF
wisdom aud virtue made for the OCCASION
And considering that If answer your queries mu ss
long series that would inevitably follow to the disgust Of
the public y.
your letter BY Subscribing myself with great respect
your obedent servant, WINFIELD s0oiH'
PSI must add, that write and say nothing on
public subjects which am unwilling to see pubshst
VS.
The ide ntical platform of Gen. Taylor, with al
the modern improvements Experience is the
mother Of wisdom. Gen. Scott's experience in
letter writing satisfies him that if he renewed that
line Of business, ga long series would inevitably
follow, to the disgust of the public" and so he
bows himself out "with great respect, your ODE
dent servant" The SIRE in the rear" of the
Mexican war, the 'hasty plate of soup" the regular
pitched battle with Secretary Marcy, have satisfied
the General that letter writing is not worth the
candle. Considering the aforesaid experiments
the brave old General is general enough to avoid
such ambuscadipg for the future. He says, soon
sideripg, also tina. if his character or principles
be not already known, it would be idle to attempt
to supply the deficient information by mere paper
professions Of wisdom and virtue" he intends to
com nit no such folly for the future.
But there are also other considerations. In the
letter Of November 10th, 1871, to George Washing
ton Reed and others, of Philadelphia, Gen. Scott
says
%" hesitate between xtendipg the period of resi-
der before naturalization and total repeal Of all acts
of Congress on the subject My mind inchnes to the
latter
That is to say, between requiring a naturaliza-
ton of twenty one years and the total exclusion
forever of the alien from the right to VOTE the mind
of the General, in lsil, inclined to the latter.
Considering this declaration, it is important to
know whether the General sticks to it or abandons
it. Considering, also, the sweeping character Of
this declaration, nothing short of new letter on
the subject will DO. But, again,
Considering that Gen. Scott, in 1919, wrote a
letter inclining to the annexation Of Canada, and
considering that he is now put forward as the
champion Of the free soil faction of the North for
the Presidency, one or two additional letters would
seem to be Indispensable, to place the hero Of
Mexico upon proper footing before the country.
If silence is 20 be taken for consent, what viii the
French, English, Scotch, Irish, Dutch, and other
adopted citizens do with the author Of that dreadful
letter Of 1917 No, no, Gen. Scott must yet write
one or two explanatory letter. and unless he does
that, the Reed letter will ruin him What are his
present opinions Of our adopted citizensl That's
the question.