The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1852-06-03
Robert e.. Scott. ESQ.
Letter from General Wool.


SIR: At the moment of leaving Washington
for my headquarters in this city, receive
your communication of the 18th instant, rela-
ting 20 the nominations TO be made by the Con-
yention which is to be assembled in few days
at Baltimore.
1t is true, my name has been associated with
the nomination for the Presidency, but without
SOLICITATION or agency on my part. Holding,
as ! do, that the office is @neither to be sought
nor declined" have not urged my friends to
present my name to the public, nor have ar
rayed myself in opposition to any of the dstin-
guished men who have been named for that
exalted station On the contrary 80 far as
am individually concerned or interested, |
would prefer that either of them should be
nominated rather than myself for assure you
! have no desire to enter another and new
field, where it is probable ! would be compel
led to encounter all the baser passions of the
human heart.
With these views, and not realizing that
can obtain the nomination, it only remains
for me, in reply to your requirement. to express
the wish, that whOmever the Convention nom-
mates for the Presidency, he may be a person
of exalted views, possessing great practical wis
dom, well acquainted with the affairs Of the
country and of nations, at the same time free
from all sectional feeling In other words that
he will neither be Northern, Southern, East
ern or Western man, but man for the Union
who will devote all his talents and energy to the
maintenapce Of the Constitution, and carrying
out faithfully sll its provisions and to the
preservation of the Union We are a nation
composed of States, or soyereignties, with d.
yerslfsd interests. 1t ought not to surprise us
# these should occasionally clash. in such q
case it should be the duty, the imperi0us duty,
of the President to do all in his power to pro-
mote Cancellation and harmony and to prevent
those heartburnings or contentious between the
States, or those parts which, ii encouraged
would do more than all else to destroy the har-
mony of our glorious Union. A more important
duty than this belongs not to the President, and
one which no should never for moment lose
sight Of
In conclusion, allow me TO say that in a
long public career in peace as well as in war,
my aspirations have never induced Inc to look
beyond the good opinion of'my countrymen,
which, assure YOU consider far more pre-
cious than Office.
am, very respectfully your obedient servant,
JOHN j. Wool.
Robert @. Scott, Esq. Richmond, Va.
Letter from w. l.. Marcy Esq
ALBANY May rs, 1852
was ip favor Of the Compromise measures
including that for the rsturp Of fugitive slaves,
and coneurred in the sentiment of congratula-
ton 20 generally entertained by the Democrat
ic party in this State, as well a. in others, at
the settlement by Congress, in this mode, of the
questions which then 80 deeply agitated the
country. The measures have answered the
main end for which they were designcd-agi-
tstion has almost entirely ceased, and the pub
lie mind has become comparatively tranquil
If in official station, should feel bound to
use all the power which for that purpose be-
lopged to it to enforce the faithful execution Of
all the provisions of these several measures
Iregard an asqu,ssdepf in this adjustment in
all its parts as On imperative duty, and should
exceedingly regret any endeavor to disturb it,
Viewing the subject in this light, should an
attempt lie made to change or modify these
measures. in whole or in port, 20 as TO impair
the constitutional rights thereby secured TO any
section of the country, or to render less effect
val the protection Of those rights, ! should NOT
only discountep anee the proceeding, but ip
whatever station might be, should use my in
Aueuce and authority to resist and defeat IT,
w, l.. MARCY.
Robert O. Scott, Rsg
Letter from Levis Cas- Esq
WASHINGTON, May rs 1852.
Sra: received your letter Of tho 18th inst
on Friday last and she'll proceed to spsver u
frankly and explicitly
I eonsider the series of Legislative measures