Glasgow weekly times. (Glasgow, Mo.) 1848-1861, 1852-10-21
Letter of Hon. VIM. A. Graham-Vin-
dication of General Scott.

from the Hot. WM, A. GRAHAM, the Wing
candidate for the Vice Presidency:
HILLsBoRouGH, Sept. 4, 1862.
GENTLEMEN gratefully acknowledge
your favor of the 26th ultmo., inviting me
to q mass meeting of our political friends in
that part Of the State, at Statesville, on the
10th instant, in honor of the nominees of the
Wing Convention at Baltimore, for the Pres
idency and Vice Presidency of the United
States.
You are pleased to add that this assem-
blage has been appointed at the site of the
old Statesvile Academy, not very distant
from the place of my birth, and whittier |
was sent, when first left my parental
home, 10 pursue the course of education
which was to datermine my destiny in life;
and that the friends of my youth, and asSo-
ciates and acquaintances of maturer years,
will be there in large numbers TO offer me a
friendly greeting.
Few events, beg to assure you, could
afford me more qualification than to comply
with this flattering and cordial invitation.
1t awakens recollectons dear to my heart,
and adds the charms of personal friend hip
to political appreciation. Confidence has
been said TO be a plant Of slow growth. Af-
ter life now past meridian, and for nearly
twenty consecutive years connected with
public affairs, it is to Inc refreshing to be re-
assured that, as regards myself, it is yet
fresh and unbroken in the soil where it first
took root.
You likewise suggest that the occasion
will be an appropriate one to vindicatc the
great man with whom am associated in this
election, from charges of hostility to the
South and infidelity to the Compromise Of
the last Congress.
1t is one of the shalowest and commonest
devices of party to find out what is most
odious or distasteiul to the prevailing SEN
timent of a country or section, and impute
that TO its opponent. This charge of favor
ing Abolition or being under its influence,
has been a standing accusation at the South
against every Wing candidate for the Pres
idency for the last sixteen years. 1t was
alleged against Harrison, whose competitor
has been the Abolition candidate for that high
station-against Mr.. Clay, whose successful
competitor approved the Oregon Territorial
bill, inhibiting slavery therein-against
Taylor! whose rival declined to vote for the
Fugitive Slave law, because it did not pro-
vide jury trial for the returned fugitive
in the Federal Courts, of course 1t was
alleged against Mr.. Webster, so long as he
stood a chance toI the nominations; and his
most patriotic speeches, advising acquiesence
in the Compromise, were garbled and criti-
cised to substantate it; and it was freely
imputed to Mr.. Fillmore by the opposition
press of this State, even after he had ap-
proved all the Compromise measures, and is
sued orders for the execution of the Fugitive
Slave law by military force, if occasion
should demand it. And had he or Mr.. Web
ster been the nominee of the convention, in
stead of General Scott, there would have
been, SO far as regards this objection, if we
may judge of the future by the past, but the
change Of name. The tale would have
been repeated, and probably with more en-
phasis. While the people of the South will
be vigilant and firm in the maintenance of
their just rights. trust they will be mis-
led by no idle clamor. After an agitation of
many years on matters connected with slave
ry, there has been an adjustment, in which |
am persuaded the mass of the American
people has acguiesced. The authors and the
friends of that adjustment, am sure, will
be the last to reopen the controversy.
So far as may depend on me, the charges
against General Scott to which you refer,
have been already negatived, and that i'll a
manner indicating stronger conviction on
my part than any reasoning | can employ
Bound to North Carolina by every tie OF in
terest and affection which attaches other men
i am under the additional obligation of
gratitude for her highest honors repeatedly
bestowed, if could consent to compromit
her interest or honor, in matter vital to the
South and the Union, by any combination
or association adverse to her, | should be
untrue, not merely 10 the impulse of patriot
ism, but TO the instincts of nature. When
therefore, accepted the nomination for the
Vice Presidency which your delegates in
the Convention will bear me witness had
not sought) knowing what principles had
been declared by a Convention, and that
idency, by that act / proclaimed my conf
dence in him more emphatically than l
can do in words. had known him famil-
iarly for twelve years, and was intimately
associated with him dnring the most trying
period of the Compromise, when its fate
was suspended in doubtful scales. | knew
that he had been the friend of these meas
ures when they stood in need of friends
that independently of his ilustrious services
and world wide fame, which will place him
in American history side by side with Plu-
tarch's men in the republics of antiquity,
and which forbid any petty sectional or fac
tious views to be entertained by him, he
was committed to the Compromise as one Of
the most effective supporters at the time Of
its adoption. And to me, who has been in
position ever since to observe the progress
OF events in connection with this subject
and TO whose lot it fell to issue the orders
for the exerution of the Fugitive Slave law
by military force, if necessity should re,
quire it, within forty days after its enactment
it has been gratifying to observe how op.
| DOsltiOn 10 the Com mDromisa has nix,an ,,ox-