The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1851-10-08


We mentioned day TWO since that Gen. Scott had
written letter somebody IN Pennsy wanna, declining
give his opinions the great questions of the day
The letter itself is remarkable that we deem IL worth
while 10 place IL record in our columns;
WASHINGTON March 20, 1851
Sir have received your Letter (lnaked confidential
fully before the country me wing candidate for me
presidency, you proceed TO inerrogate on many ro
Permit me say that, considering we shal probably
only have wing candidate Tor the presidency hrons n
national convention, and that cannot be inc ~ -
cept by the force OF the unsolicited partially OF 'ase
masses OF my country u ;,.i,,,.s ~,
not already known IL would be idle TO atls 70 su
ply the deficient Information by mere paper
And considering that answer your queries, must 70
on. and others already oeoe me, INV wa din 5
long series thar would hestaoS 'oA'"' :" ''' an'S -
'nY a asrm.son 10 close ,hs acknowledgment of your
ie"ef W 'u''''s WINFIELD SCOTT.
Ps must add that | write and say nothing on public
subjects which an unwilling 10 see published.
The General has no more mercy on the English Ian :
gusge than upon the enemy in the heat OF battle We
wonder that while he pennng the above the ghost
OF Lindley Murray had not appeared and called for
He talks of 'mere paper professions of wisdom and
vrue," and declines furnishing them his correspond
ent We doubt, however, whether an honest, straight
forward, manly expression Of opinion upon the various
exciting topics OF the day. and which the two great
parties are divided, would have been particularly
heiaous offence. Time was when General Scott had a
pendant for letter writing His pen ready al min
ute's warning upon any subject But he has burned his
fingers often with hasty plates of SOUP" that pre-.
sumo he has determined hereafter keep silent; Or
which il more ikey-such men as Seward having taken
him in keeping and knowing his eakness have ordered
him TO be mum Very likely j IS renewal OF the com
mitteeshp that Gagged poor old General Harrison.
"Thers is but step from the sublime the rdicu
lous," and General Scott has taken that step
General, J" writes correspondent "the compromise
measures are vital to the peace of the Union; you
are candidate for the presidency will you say what
your opinion OF those measures is /"
"No, sir" responds the General. Look 10 my char
acter or principles"
"We win you be good enough to tell us what you
think of the fugitive. slave law the tariff You
General. we want to know for uhat well for Whom
vote Neither your past character nor principles
enlighen on these points"
Sir. eosid er ing sundry objections shall
nothing"
This game of stupidity has been played by two whg
generals with success, and third thinks he win
in the same way He will find himself mistaken.
He shows excellent good sense, by the way, in one
paragraph; for he says il he TO the queries
put 10 him. it would be io he disgust Of The public.
We have not the slightest doubt OF it,
His postscript is magnaninous. Having declined say
ing anything, he boldly that he is perfectly will
ling to have what he writes and says published Elk
quisite