The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1852-09-22
GENERAL SCOTT A STATESMAN.

man OF all this world in military renown
but that he is also a statesman of mature
experience, Of profound wisdom. and pro-
pheiic sagacity. When and in what man
ner Gen. Scott contrived to bacome so ia
military conversant with public affairs, and
80 accomplished a master OF the science
Of government, wing politicians do not
deign TO inform us. nor is il easy to con-
lecture. Such commonplace mortals As
Edmund Burke, Daniel Wabster. and
John G.. Calhoun exhausted the energies
of a lifetime in the attempt to master the
vast and profound science of government,
and even then were sensible that their ut
most %attainments were limited and made
quate. 1t is possible that the wing candi-
date has invented some "short and easy
method" for attaining a competent knowl-
edge Of public affairs-has discovered
some royal road to statesmanship-or else
comprehends by intuition what other men
learn only by the laborious process of
study and practice; for, if Gen. Scott be
the statesman he is represented by the ad.
ulation of partisan writer's, he has become
such without the aid Of those opportunities
and facilities by which other men, in all
ages and countries. have attained to a
knowledge Of political philosophy. and a
skill in the administIat Of government.
1t is true that in early life he was a student
Of law, but that he was a proficient in the
profession the tradition of his abortive eff.
forts at the bar conclusively contradicts.
Nor has he in his subsequent career given
the least evidence Of legal learning. if we
except his familiar acquaintance with the
doctrines taught in the ~"Appendix 10
fuckers edition of Blackstone's
taries." His life has been spent in the
camp. He has made the science of war
his exclusive study. Any attention which
he may have bestowed upon civil affairs
has been occasionally and superficial.
when he was impelled by the stimulus Of
an ambition to figure as a politician. The
habits Of military life have given cast and
complexion to his character. They have
stamped upon his mind a peculiar bias
They have made him obstinate and dicta.
torial-impatient ofcontradiction--unwill-
ing 10 show respect to the opinions of 9TH
ers-incapable of laborious investigation,
or Of a calm and comprehensive survey
of a subject-hasty and violent in his re.
sentiments, envious, jealous, and truculent.
OF that caution, that dispassionate DISPOSE
ton. and that far-reachlng sagacity which
mankind are agreed to deem essential to
the character of the statesman, Gen. Scott
is not possessed in the slightest degree
So invariably have soldiers by trade been
made the tools of subtle civilians when
they presumed to NEEDLE in political af.
fairs. that the simplicity Of the soldier is
regarded as much an attribute of his char
acter as his violence or his valor. For
this q%uality-this want Of tact and sagaci-
ty-this facility Of being hoodwinked. in.
weighted, and bamboozled-ot being con.
trolled by the flattery and f%awning of willy
northumberland Scott is now, and
has always been, pre-eminently conspicu-
Gus. Hence the we'll grounded apprehen-
sion that he would, if elected, become the
supple though unconscious instrument Of
Seward.
Besides these defects Of education, Gen.
Scott possesses certain traits of character
and constitutional %propensities which to-
tally disqualify him for the wise and safe
administration Of the difficult and awfully
responsible duties of the presidency. In
fact, his military education has bu, served
to develop into monstrous prominence the
native characteristics of his mind. Infa-
ted with a conceit Of his own wisdom, he
would disdain to surrender his opinions 10
the suggestions Of others. OF an arrogant
and arbitrary disposition, he wonld brook
no restraint or opposition, and would in
evetably, if elected TO the presidency. in
volve the executive in difficulties with the
other departments OF the government. In
every element. native or acquired, essen
tial to the character Of the statesman and
the wise ruler. the whig candidate is de-
plorably deficient.
But what are the evidences of General
craftsmanship? and where are the
instances OF his skill in the administration
Of public affairs? His public letters. we
presume. will be adduced in proof Of his
craftsmanship. as they are his only essays
in the province OF politics. And very re-
.arkable epist'es they are, but not, at all
calculated, in the opinion of intelligent
persons, to reflect credit upon their author.
They are a medley OF contradictory opin-
ions. of shallow thought, Of incorrect as
and Of incoherent reasoning
Take the system of naturalization pro-
by Gen. Scott in his various let.
and essays, and say if anything could
be more absurd and impractical
BILE.
They whose business it is to represent
General Scott as fit for the presidency,
allege that on various occasions he has
displayed great sagacity and skill in diplo.
macy, and they instance the settlement of
he northeastern boundary difficulty. the
pacifcation Of South Carolina in 1888,