The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1852-07-20
speech Of the Hon. John G. spencer.

speech OF the Hon. John C. Spencer.
On taking the chair of the Wing Ratification
Meeting at Albany, N ", on the 10th instant,
the Hon. JOHN C. SPENCER made the follow
ing powerful and eloquent speech on the civil
qualifications of Gen. ScOTr and his eminent
fitness and ability to discharge the duties per-
tanning to the office of President Of the United
States. ia.
Mr.. SPENCER said: -
occupy the post which your fsvor, feliow-cit-
zens, has assigned me. with many thanks for the
distinguished honor you have conferred.
Retired as have been for several years from the
active scenes Of political strife, should not have
appeared at this meeting, had not sense of duty
to the distn guished man whose nomination tor the
Presidency you have met to 'atify, constrained me
to accept the opportunity, thus presented. of doing
justice to his character in particular that has not
been well understood. 81. 49, t
or his unsurpassed military exploits have no.
thing to say. The world ia full of his renowp; his
only competitor in that field, the Duke of yelling
ton, has but anticipated the judgment Of history.
do not underrats them, or their value to the coun
try; but others will speak Of them, and ! wish to
devote my share of your time to another subject.
wish to meet the objection that military men ire
not fitted for the highest civil employments, and
that there ID danger to our institutions in eIevatng
to the Chief Magistracy man whose life has been
employed in giving command, enforcing disci
pline, and maintaining obedience. Although il
might be an estoppsi, it is termed, to those who
make this objection, to remind them Of their sup-
port of G General Andrew Jackson--the success with
which, as they maintain, he administered the Gov
ment for eight years, and to remind them Of their
late candidate, General Cass, and Of their pre-
sent candidate, General Pierce. both of whom
were distinctly presented as having great milf
tary reputation-yct as closing the mouth Of an
adversary is not necessarily conclusive to others
to ourselves, propose to examine this point more
at large. " ."rs a- '@'.
The fitness Of military man for civil employ
ments depends upon two circumstances: first,
the natural constitution OF his mind and feelings;
and second, whether his military habits have
been SO mingled with, and tempered by, social
and civil duties, by extended and various inter
course with his ow-citizens, and by public EN-
pioyments requiring the talents, learning, and
adj otness of a statesman, as to have obliterated
all the stern and repugnant features Ut the
soldier .'at ~.
AS to the first is there man who has seen
General Scott who has not marked the legible
handwriting OF benehcent Creator in his noble
person and countenance, beaming with philanthro.
py and individual kindness? Who ever heard from
him a rude remark OF personal offence, or even in
his anger, an epithet unbecoming gentleman?
His way and manners gentle and kind as to
be almost feminine; and have heard foreigners
express their anna zement that q man 30 Injured TO
scenes of blood and carnage, should be aseeimple,
as natural. and as affectionate as child. Butcher
and Haynau would probably disown him asa col
der Of their mould. ...
And who does not know how this gentleness and
sympathy with his race have been exhibited con
stantly, daily, hourly by General Scott when in
the field, in the camp, on the march, in bar
racks? The sick, the disabled, the wounded the
dying, among the troops he has commanded, were
the peculiar objects Of his most assiduous care.
living witnesses Of this remarkable trait, or wit
nesses who have received and repeat the testimony
of their dead fathers and brothers. Pardon me for
sllasing to personal instance e., when visiting
Niagara, and who was dying within The British
lines. The recollection oil the sympathy and the
assistance Of General Scott on that and on another
occasion still more trying, swels my heart with
emotions that would breakit if they could not find
utterance, when speaking of the constitution o.
that mans nature Who has not heard of his un-
jusfable exposure Of his life among the troops
when the cholera swept them off thereby hundreds
in the Black Hawk war? Ask those who served
under him in the pestlential climate of Mexico,
whether he has heart open as melting charity TO
the sufferings of his fellow men, and a readiness
and ability to relieve them, equalled only by the
affection OF brother.
No, fellow citizens, the hardships and habits of
military life, instead Of indurating his heart, have
but touched him with feeling Of the infrmities
Vt our race, and have taught him the great duty Of
man in initiating The s~atnpo Of aie caviuur such
2 man will bring into the administration OF the
0overnment neither reserve, pride, arrogance, or
stubbornness.
The second circumstances which determines the
qualifications Of military man for civil employ
ment is whether he has already acquired the learn
ing, experience, and tact of statesman. The mil.
itary life in this country, which has been blessed
with peace for at least sixty five OF the nearly
enty years that have passed since our. independ-
ence was achieved, is not like that of the Euro
pean officer who has spent his life in long and
bloody wars, or secluded in garrisons and forts.
General Scott, probably more than any other of
great generals, has, from the nature Of his EN-.
ploy ment, maintained for the greater part of his
life an extended and various intercourse with his
fellow citizens In every part OF our Republic; and
with men Of all trades, business, and professions,
he has been in constant communion. The frank
ness and republican simplicity of his intercourse
with men 10 the result OF this extended acquaint.
ance with their habits, views, and feelings Strip
him Of his uniform and all other military trap
pings, and stranger would scarcely suspect him
Of being soldier. He is not citizen of the world,
but he is emphatically citizen of the whole Re-
public He has resided in every quarter of it., has
mestc life; that wherever he has lived, he is as
much. or more. loved as a neighbor than admired
as a soldier
No military man in this country has been called
often TO the discharge OF civil duties of the
greatest difficulty and deicaoy, and of the utmost
Importance, and indeed few civilians have encoun.
tered 30 many perplexing and sometimes repug-
nant occasions of public service.
Justice to him, and duty to a rejecting commu
nifty nxous to cast their votes worthily, demands
a brief synopsis Of some Of these services.
In the year 1916, after the termination of a war
which placed him at the very pinnacleo of glory,
be went to Europe and was employed there by
President Madison TO ascertain the views Of Great
Britain respecting the Island Of Cuba, in relation
to which there were some suspicious indications,
and also to fathom the designs of the European
courts respecting the revolutions in South Anne
rica-a subject Of great interest to our Government
and our citizens, who were apprehensive Of the
establishment Of monarchies in our neighbor hood.
The ability with which he performed these delicate
duties was attested by particular letter of thanks
written to him by the then Secretary of State, MIR.
Monroe, by the special directions Of President
Madison. In 1882 he confidentially employed
by General Jsckson to repair to South Carolina,
which openly threatened iorcible resistance Ind
notification Of the laws, and there maintain the
authority Of the Government, and secure order
and peace, and the protection Of the public forts
and property. Many Of US remember the alarm.
ing indications Of that period. We on the
verge of n civil war. The great presence of mind,
Goodness, forbearance and tact of General Scott
averted the dire calamity. Among an infatuated
people he mingled, and by acts Of kindness and
words of peace and patriotism, he accomplished
what the sword could not.
= E. ~ 49,