The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1851-12-11
POSITION OF PARTIES THE PRESIDENTIAL
QUESTION"

To tie Editor of The National Era
| The interest awakened by your article un
der this head, Mr. Editor, has been ccrtainl,
increased by the reflections of your CORES
pendent New Hampshire. But yet am skep
teal about the popularity and certainty of sue
cess, should he be nominated for the Presi
dency, of General Scott. have prediction
that do not care to put on record and it il
not one that was born yesterday, either.
can't gainsay, indeed think that New
Hampshire is correct in his estimate of the
Generals popularity in New England but
everywhere else am sure he will not run well
not AZ well as Daniel Webster. Ohio Wings
are anxious to have Scott nominated this
they declared in their State Convention But
it il because he occupies an equiyocal position
on the question of Slavery that they want hin,
nominated, and they do not deny it. They
want an available candidate and suppose that
one whose views are not known, or at least
uncertain, is most available. They wish to
run Scott as General Taylor was run--on
trust. and rely on his honesty TO bring back
the Government. ~ they say now, and said in
1913, to the policy of the earlier Presidents.
This wish of the free States will bear hard on
Scott in Convention, and if nominated, will
defeat him before the People.
The Wings elected General Harrison by the
cry of abuse Regal Splendor in the
White House. &c, and the application of ar
tifcial stimulants producing an unnatural ex-
element But when they tried to elect Mr..
Clay by an analogous process, they failed most
signally II was not the votes Of Wings only
that elected General Taylor but his equivo-
cal position ON the Slavery question and his
military reputation pressed thousands into his
aid, who will never be guilty of like breach
! Of party allegiance Now nothing can secure
to General Scott the Wing nomination, but
these same supposed available qualities; and
his defeat should he be nominated, is rs cer-
tain, to my mind as anything in the future
can be. Somebody says ! think DIR. Elder,
"The Wings have no permanent interest in
| the administration Of the Government they
have only tinker's lien for repairs" They
repaired with General Taylor the People will
not 30 easily see the need Of Scott for the same
Office. Scott, if nominated, cannot carry q
single Western State, Kentucky excepted. But
| | do not think he will be nominated Mr..
Webster has presented his claims TO the Presi.
dency. and will surrender them TO no one, un-
less L be 10 President Fillmore, or some one
else. representing his (Mr. Websters) views on
the Adjustment measures of last Congress.
And Mr.. Webster has influence. His North
ern friends, with the preference OF the South
for him. will control the action OF the nomi-
mating Convention So think The begin
nino Of the first session of the last Congress
shows what Southern management can effect,
and that in the Wing party. Let who will be
chosen as the standard-bearer Of the Wings,
the Democrats have only to nominate a man Of
the Andrew jackson school-one who will
take the responsibility of preserving the Union,
Slavery or no Slavery. Sam Houston'is such q
one, and they will nominate him General
Houston can get Ohio by 10000 majority at
least and every Western State except Ken
mcky the South and Southwest and Pennsyl,
yania. and has an even chance for New York
The expression Of his ardent devotion to the
Union, and apparently faint adherence to Sla-
very will let in thousands Of tender conscen-
ces at the North, to his support while the
South understand him, and correctly, too, TO
maintain that the preservation Of Slavery and
the preservation Of the Union are identical
If the Union, say they, ispreserved IN IT. m
teority. then Slavery Is safe, and only then a
faction South and faction North would each
respectively prefer man representing their
own views But the party has the best drill.
sergcants out OF Monarchy, and who Will zee