The daily union., 1852-10-13
Letter from Hon. II. 8. Clinyman.
RALEIGH. October 5, 1852.

DEAR SIR In compliance with your request proceed
briefly TO sate in wrng the substance OF my c0nveFsa
ton with you in relation to the approaching presidential
election. do this The readily, not only because
nave TO political opinions that wish 10 conceal but be-
caase, as one OF my immediate constituents, you en-
nled to have them in form capable OF preservation
ior future reference.
From the time OF General Scoii's nomination Ihave
universally slatedn conversation with my colleagues,
other members OF Congress- and, in fact all who felt
interest an knowing my yiews-lha did not intend 10
support General Scott In Teply Also To such etters
received asking for my opinion repeatedly wrote the
same eect-to gentlemen OF both political parties who
were residents OF my district and also 10 from other
portions OF the State. Several OF these letters writ
len, after General Scots nomination, gsntlsmen
OF both parties canvassing for seats IN the legislature
mention this lest it should be charged that hessssd
commit myself in writing, since il easy for any
OF those geniemenhere being injunction OF secrecy
on hem-to have furnished evidence OF my position.
did not think il expeden make a publication on the
subject partly because said by the papers friendly
to General Scott that members OF Congress ought not TO
attempt to dictate TO the people, and in part ALSO because
preferred giving my views 10 my constituents face 10
lace IN all and free manner. my return 10 my dis
uict. 1907
In ls4s, seeing that the cones, was likely to be be-
tween General Taylor and General Scott, and that the
lormer had refused to take any position with reference
TO the great pending questions OF the day. and being
disposed to adopt him trust and bndly support him,
!. after long waiting for development OF General
Iaylors views, determined 10 advocate the nomination
OF General Scott rather than his Since then have had
no reason to regret that course. As apprehended and
predicted, The policy of General Taylors ad-
nnistraiion developed with reference the great
slavery questions then pending, |, ia conjunction with
majority oil the southern whg members OF Congress,
was thrown into opposition TO it. Though such the
condition ot things for several months before General
ay1rs death, yet the public not generally aware Of
H. His sudden demise prevented open and violent coll
llsoa About the fst OF July, 1850, it was determined
at meeting OF a decided majority OF the southern
before an open declaration Of hosilities, 10 advise
the then President of purposes, &c. Three gen
lemen lem were m selected for that purpose 70
the Hon.: Humphrey Marshall, of Kentucky, and
the Hon. Robert Toombs, of Georgia. They, in accord
ance with the views of the meeting, separately called
on the President, and him to understand that he
must expect our determined opposition If he persisted
IN resisting such compromise as we advocated, and
insisted on his policv of admitting California and New
Mexico as States, and supporting the claim OF the lat
ter 10 the territory this side of the Rio Grande.
According to their several reports to Gen. Taylor
unyieding, and frankly declared to them that
the constitution OF New Mexico reached him. which be
looked for IN few days, he should send in message 10
Congress recommending It's admission al once ~
also declared that Texas had right TO the territory
claimed by her. and that he disposed to support the
claim OF New Mexico against her. To of these gentle
men, he said that he placed in such position that he
would probably be forced to sacrifice wing OF his
party and that we ought not expect him 10 sacrifice
eighty -four from North rather than twenty nine
men from the South, these being the number Of
bers OF the northern aud southern sections OF the whg
party ~ Congress The grea, body OF the southern mem
oers oil Congress, with Mr. Clay at their head, woud
thus have been thrown into opposition, and would have
been compelled, with the AID o The conservative Of
the North 10 fight the whole force OF the administration
NE death OF General Tay or alone prevented srugge
which would have shaken the country 10 its centre.
he decree oil Providence thus aveed the contest; bat
me m lesson IS one which ought not to be lost on ua
Wilhout, however, going into detail on these points,
proceed al once to speak OF General Scott. .esSs
In the Summer OF lst9 his Canada annexation letter
was published General Taylor having Just been inau-
guraed seemed probable that he might be renominsied
Tor election, with the suppod then supposed.
OF the whole South IL would be necessary the
northern vote in opposition supersede him General
Scott therefore, while expressing his wish for the
QUESTION oil Canada voluntarily and without being Ques-
TONED on the point went on to declare his opposition TO
The acquisition OF Mexican territory. In substance he
said that while he for taking territory that would
strengthen the Norh. he opposed such acquisi-
ton as might IN like manner keep the South with
The North. then looked upon this open, unds-
gnsed declaration OF his wish 10 be regarded the
northern presidential candidate II could be considered
IN no other light than bid for northern support, aihe
expense, too, OF our essential interests. Daring my
journey through the northern States in the autumn of
that year, had other evidences the effect fell
that Gen Scott had not in the position he had voluntarily
taken any claims on me or any other southern On
the contrary, saw that the rights Of my section under
the constitution, as equals in the Union, had been put
up Tor sale ~ The political market for anti slavery
y was obvious thai General Scott believed he could be
elected by northern votes alone In fact have the best
reason to believe that he, much recently than the
time refer to- repeatedly expressed the opinion that he
could be elected without vote from slave State. For
the last three years he has been identified with The anti
slavery party OF the North but, in lsas, Mr. Seward.
who Is the leader OF that party, opposed TO him.
Daring the session Of the Wing Convention at Pha.
delphia in that year. had some conferences with Mr..
Thurlow Weed the editor OF the Albany Evening
Journal, and with Mr. Horace Greeley, The editor OF
the New York Tribune, both OF them being we'll
known as intimate friends and mouth pieces OF Wm.
a. Seward They were utterly hostile 10 Gen. Scott.
and saic he could not possibly be supported by them.
on account OF his naiivsm and various other points
enumerael by them. Why is il that Mr.. Seward and
these gentlemen have since taken up General Scott and
given him the nomination Because they found they
could make use OF him 10 destroy Messrs. Fillmore,
Webster. and other friends of the Compromise and
they therefore seized upon him fitting instrument
for that purpose But il is that he had In his private
expressed himself in favor OF those meas-
ures Ii Il be true, il makes the stronger against
him. Aer the passage OF the bills herce attack was
made those al the North who had had the liber-
atty TO as.st in getting them through Seward and his
followers took the field 10 crush Webster and Fillmore.
But while the storm OF raging for their desruc
ton, where General Scott As they had ony
done what he thought their duty to do, why did
he not stand by them like man A sentence from
his pen declaring his appreciation OF their course
would have materially aided them. Though appealed
to again and again, he would not write it. On the
trary he allowed his name 10 be inscribed on the
banners OF their enemies II under the cover OF his
military glory that Sc ward and his clan fou rh the battle
against allies Was such proceeding fair and hon.
orable the part OF Gen. Scoll Let me state similar
case io illustration. Suppose that. during his Mexican
campaign, portion OF his army bad in accordance with
his approbaton taken advanced and dangerous pos,-
uon which nevertheless II necessary for the safety
OF the army should be taken suppose too that when
they had been fefcey asaled by Santa Anna and his
armies, that Gen. Scot, though able protect them had
stood aloof and allowed them To be de esroyed: sno-
pose, too that he had, without objection permitted santa
Aaoa IN htS ~. hax. I. -. -