The southerner., 1852-07-17
pOLQpl1Al.
From, the Southern Press.
WASHINGTON, July 3, 1852

prchension, we the undersigned, Mem
bers Of Congress, adopt this method of
making a joint statement to our consti-
tuents respectively, and to all who may
take an interest in the subject, that We
cannot and will not support Gen. Scott
for the Presidency, as he stands before
the American People, for the following
amongst other reasons:
He obstinately refused, to the time
of his nomination, to give any public
opinion in favor Of that series of meas
ures of the last Congress known as the
compromise; the permanent maintain
ancc of which with us is question of
paramount importance. Nor has he
since his nomination made any declara-
ton of his approval of those measures
as u final adjustment of the issues in
controversy.
It is true the resolutions Of the con
vention that nominated him are as clear
and as explicit upon this question as
need be; but Gen. Scott, in his letter
of acceptance, which contains all that
we have from him on that matter,
does not give them the approval of his
Judgment. This he studiously avoid
ed. lie accepts the nomination "witl1
the resolutions annexed" That is he
takes the nomination Gun, onere, as ar
individual takes an estate, with whatever
membranes it may be toa1ef' with
And the only pledge and guaranty he
offers for his "adhcrence to the princi
pies of the resolutions are "the known
incidents of a long public life,' &c.
Amongst these "h'to'cn incidents" o
his, there is not one, so far as we are
aware of, in favor of the principles Of
the compromise. In one, at least, O
his public letters, be has expressed sen
timents inimical to the institutions o
fifteen States of the Union. Since til,
passage Of the compromise he has suffer
ed his name to be held up before th(
States as candidate for the Presiden
cy by the open and avowed enemies Q
those measures. Aud in the Convcn
ton that conferred this nomination up
on him he permitted himself to be uset
by the Free .Soi2crS in that body to dc
feat Mr.. Fillmore and Mr. Webster, be
cause of their advocacy of those meas
: ures and their firm adherence to tn
policy that sustained them.
To join such men, and aid them j,
completing their triumph over, and sac
r!f r of true and tried friends of th
constitution is what we can never do
The dictates of duty and patriotism
sternly forbid it.
We consider Gen Scott as the faro,
ite candidate of the Free Soil wing c
the Wing party. That his policy,
he should be elected, would be warpe
< and shaped to conform to their views
and to elevate them to power in the &C
ministration of the Government, ca
but be considered as legitimate an
y probable result. And believing as W
: do, that the views of that tactic
of mischievous men are dangerous nc
only to the just and constitution;
rights Of the Southern States, (whic
VIC represent in part but to the peac
= and quiet of the whole country, and t
the permanent union of the States, W
regard it as the highest duty of the we
e wishers of the country every wher
d whatever else they may do, to at leas
1t withhold from him their support. Th
e we intend to do.
} ALEX'R Fl. STEPHENS, of Ga.
-e CHARLES J. FAULKNER, of V.
) W. BROOKE, of Miss.
ALEX, WHITE, of Ala.
JAMES ABERCROMBE, of Ala.
r. TOOMBS, of Ga.
JAMES JOHNSON, of Ga.
Il For reasons to some extent indicate
~ in speeches and addresses heretofol
made by the undersigned, they dee1
it to be their duty to withhold the
= support from Gen. Scott as a candida
l. for the Presidency. Ifit should see
- to be necessary, we will hereafter,
some form exhibit more fully to o,
constituents the facts and reasons whic
4 have brought us to this determination.
NJ. P. GENTRY, Tenn.
g 9. II. WILLIAMS, Tenn.
rs a Bird az the HIND is acorth taco ,
)e the Bush -Henaral Scott II .nnoor,