Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1852-06-16
The Scott Correspondence.

For several weeks previous to the meeting Of
the late Baltimore Convention, the Democratic
papers OF Virginia and other Southern States, were
pretty much filled up with letters from most the
gentlemen named as candidates of that party fol
the Presidency. These letters were in response
to circular issued by Mr.. RoBT. g. SooTT, Of
Richmond, one Of the Democratic Electors of Vir-
GINA, asking the viewsof each individual to whom
it was addressed in reference to the fugitive slave
law, and particularly whether, in the event of his
election to the Presidency, he wo6ld veto any bill
repeating or essentially modifying that important
measure. all the replies were explicit and salts
factory-each aspirant pledging himself most en-
phaticay to interpose the Presidential veto in the
emergency alluded to, and bidding as high as pos
sble for the Southern vote. 1t was observed that
no answers were received from two of the gentle
men written to, Gen. BUTLER and Gen. FRANK
LIN PIERCE, but an explanation was readily CIV
en--they lived remote from Richmond and the
mails Were very irregular-their replies would no
doubt come to hand in due time
These letters threw the whole Democracy into
extacies. The Richmond Enquirer heralded them
to the public as ''the true Democratic PLATFORM"
and challenged the Whig to procure similar re-
Spouse from Gen. SooTT, "bgore the Wing nomi-
nation at Baltimore" The New York Herald,
also, pronounced the movement "masterly and de-
cisive," and remarked, 'If this does not bring out
General ScoTT, in something better than "a hasty
plate of soup on that critical question: he will be
most signally Defeated
The days, however, rolled away-the Baltimore
Convention met and no lettor had been received
from Gen. PIERcE-he lived very far from Rich
mond and the mails were very irregular The
Convention proceeded to business, and after bal
loting several days, with the utmost deliberation
repudiated every man who had replied to Mr..
ScorT's circular, and nominated Gen. PIERCE,
who. it is now ascertained, did not write at all and
never intended to write! Such is the result of an
fsadmirable movement" which the Enquirer tho't
entitled Mr.. ScoTT to ''the thanks Of every true
Democrat in the land"
But the most cruel part of the whole affair is,
1
that the New York Herald turns about and pokes
fun at its Southern allies. That paper now says
that Gen. PIERCE never writes letters, that she
didn't even answer the letter of Captain SCOTT of
Virginia, enquiring how he would use the veto
power, and that he was the only coon that did not
come down."
Some of Gen. P1ERcE's friends in Virginia, de-
termned to justify the course of their nominee, and
at the same time extricate themselves from an
awkward position, aledge that the General did not
write because he had declined being considered
candidate. Other gentlemen, however, occupied
the same ground, and stated in their letters, yet
they wrote nevertheless. But whatever else may
result from these famous letters, the use that will
be made of them during the canvass, is no doubt
anticipated by the New York Commercial .4dcer-
tiser-when the North complains ofthe Baltimore
Platform, ''they will be reminded that the Con-
vention marked with its disapproval every man
who had pledged himself by the SCOTT conespon-
dence to veto any Legislation that would disturb
the compromise"