The daily union., 1852-08-14
General SCOTS Political biography.

al MaChlas
General SCOTS Political Biography.
The Rochester democratic chapter of 1889. which
yesterday contributed TO the elucidaton Of this very
engmatical subject suggests few reflections
The first is, that to the future collector OF political ecu
rosies future Dlsrae OF political literature-the
deneaon OF General Scott in his various assumed po
itca characters, will be theme full of variety and filled
with that interest which belongs the rapid changes and
tricks of political harequnade The compilation, how
ever will be in respects like that OF dictionary, Of
which the patient suden! remarked that the swords
beautiful, though he could exactly make out the story %
The earliest authenticated political position OF General
Scott is that of admrer and supporter OF the admins
tratons OF Jefferson and Madison This fact is stated 10
the country, over his signature his published po
lca circular letter Of ls4 1t is perhaps germane to
this point in General Scotts political history to remark
that Mr. Jefferson gave him commission, and Mr.. Mad
ison gave him promotion, in the army.
| The next authentic information we have as to Gen.
Scots politics is also given ever his signature, in
his letter of 1s4l TO Reed, in which he that in
1898 bs began TO be native American.
In the order Of dates, the next information have
Of him. politically is from the Rochester Sun OF 1892
published yesterday in columns, which journal
being the organ OF the then Scott party-represenied
him. on repeated consultations with himself. as
" Jacksonaa Js6eronian demoerdt'-" dead" for Gin
dependent treasury" dead" against all shinplasters
dead" for bard money, and dead for General Jack
sons policy in general
In the course OF 1889 the Rochester democratic Scott
movement itself became dead in good earnes,-the
men who composed it having summarily abandoned
their candidate upon better political knowledge of
nd tha nfo have af
Scott politician. bears date Of ls4l, and informs u.s. over
his own signature, that he, who two years before was
50 dead" for Jackson, Jefferson, and hard money
and independent, treasury, is now, in ls4i, equally
"dead" for "a national bank for the bankrupt bill /!
for the land-dstIibuon bill 4! and for the wing
measures of the odous "exta session" Of 1s4 gencr-
ally In the letter OF 1s41 learn that this recent
disciple Of Jackson is "dead" against the poer OF
the President and "dead" for extension OF the presi
Dental TERM and so far aswe understand him. dead
favor OF fixed Of Office in the executive de.
partments, conditioned only on capacity and fidelity,
without regard to political opinions All this chapter
being the Scott Exodus from the Jacksonism OF 1885,
bears date OF October 25b, ls4 10 this letter we are
told that General Scors political opinions as thus given
are "eonvctions'by which is meant Of course icon.
victions" Of eighteen months standing-and which, not
for the presidency 10 last il seems, one utos fort
night longer.
For on the 10th Of the next monih-being November,
ls4lwe find, by Gen. Seotls letter Reed, that The
native .Americanism which we have seen beginning 10
sprout n bis mind in 1895 had now blossomed in,o full
concurrence in the principles OF the Philadelphia Church
burnng) movement" and had, under the orrd beams OF
fiery indignation" borne the fruit In "the Asior House
paror Of native American organization based the
idea Of "lota repeal OF the naturalization laws" in
order forever to deprive citizens OF the right
TO vote
This political affection OF the General appears to have
been in arison with his other types OF political dis
ease, somewhat chronic for find raging in his system
TIL 1914, when, n the month OF December of that year,
il broke out in he paper published in the National Intel
igencsr, the signature OF "Amercus," IN which
General Scott elaboraey urged that foreigners arriving
in the country should be nauraiizsd without much de-
lay but that the act OF their naturalization should for
ever deprive them OF the right to yote except in OF
enlistment and service in the army or navy
This phase Of General Scotts politics lasted till the
29th OF May, 1885, week two before the Wing Con.
vention Of that year assembled to make nomination
for the presidency; when, selecting Wm. T. Robinson
for his correspondent he, in a published letter,
bosomed himself OF the fact that he ready to bet the
naturalization laws stand they and that his "mil
iary experience had cured his natiye-Americansm.
As 10 this chapter Of General Scots political biog
aphy, the future historian viii doubtless bear in mind
the direct testimony OF Col. Webb, Of the New York
Courier and Enquirer, that in this letter General Scott
"repudised his convictions to remove out OF his
way "a stumbling block" between him and presi-
leniia nomination History will also chronicle the fact
hat al this time native Americanism had become odous
land contemplate, and by creed suitable for