Baton-Rouge gazette. [volume] (Baton-Rouge, La.) 1819-1856, 1852-10-16
scotf and the Compromise


Gen. scott and the Compromise
IMPORTANT LETTER FROM VIM. A. GRAHAM.
We request particular attention to The
subioined letter written by our noble car-
diaate for Vice President. in reply to an
invitation to intend a mass meeting at
s;tatesville. 1t will be seen that Gov.
Graham teslifes distinctively and nne-
~euivocally to the entire soundness Of Gen.
Scott on the slavery question, and pro.
claims that the Patriot and Hero was one
If tho earliest and earnes, advocates OF
thar measure, This testimony was hard
~ needed, but it will serve still more com
pietely to overthrow the ridiculous and
stupid attempts Of the opposition to show
that Gen. Scott is not TO be trusted by
the South
Letter OF Gov. Graham.
IN reply to an tnpiiatioa TO attend the Mas Meeting
at Statewide on as l0h inst,
HiLLsBoRouaH, Sept. 4, 1869.
Gentlemen /: I gratefully acknowledge
your favor of the Goth ult,, inviting me to
u mass meeting of our political friends in
tina. part Of the State at Statesville, on
the 10th instant, IN honor of the nominees
of the Wing Convention at Baltimore
for the Presidency and Vice Presidency Of
the United States.
You are pleased to add that this assem-
blage has been appointed at the site Of the
old S,atesville Academy, not very dis.
tan, from the place of my birth, and
whittier | was sent when | first left my
parental home, to pursue that course OF
education, which was to determine my
destiny in life and that the friends of my
youth, aud associates aud acquaintance
of my maturer years, will be there in large
numbers, to offer me a kindly greeting.
Few events. | beg to assure you, could
afford me more qualification than 10 com.
ply with this aattering and cordial invita-.
ton. 1t awakens recollections dear to my
heart, and adds the charms OF personal
friendship to political appreciation. Con.
tidence has been said to be a plant Of slow
growth. After a life. now past meridian,
and for near twenty consecutive years con-
nected with public affairs. it is, to me, re.
freshing TO be treasured that rs regards
myself it Is yet fresh and unbroken III the
sol! where it first took root.
You likewise suggest, that the occa.
sion will be an appropriate one to vindi-
cute the great man with whom I am asso-
cia,ed in this election, from charges Of
hostility to the South, and infdelity to the
compromise Of the last Congress.
It is one Of the shallowest and com-
monest devices Of party, to find ont what
is most odious or distasteful to the pre-
vniling sentiment of a country or section,
and impute that TO It's opponent. This
charge of favoring abolition, or being un-
der It's influence, has been a standing ac-
cusation at the South against every Wing
candidate for the Presidency for the last
sixteen years. 1t was alleged against
Harrison, whose competitor has since been
the abolition candidate for that high sta
t~iou--against Clay, whose successful COM
,petitor approved the Oregon territorial
Bill, inhibiting slavery therein-against
Taylor, whose rival declined to vote for
the Fugitive Slave Law. because it did
no, provide a jury trial for the returned
fugitive; in the federal courts, of course.
1t was alleged against Mr.. Webster so
long MS he stood a chance for the n%ornina.
ton, and his most patriotic speeches, a
divising acquiesceEce in the compromise,
were CARRIED and criticised to substan-
tiste it and it was freely imputed to Mr..
Fillmore by the opposition press Of this
State, even after lie had approved all the
compromise measures, and had issued or
ders for the execution of the Fugitive
Slave Law by military force, if occasion
should demand it. Had he or MIR. Web
s,er been the nominee OF the convention,
instead Of Gen. Scott, there would have
been, 90 far as regards this objection, if
we may Judge of the future by the past,
but the change of a name. The tale
would have been repeated, and probably
with more emphasis.
While the people of the South will be
vigilant and firm in the maintenance of
their just rights, / trust they will be misled
by no idle clamor.-After an agitation Of
many wears on matters connected with
slavery, there has been an adjustment. in
which I am persuaded the mass OF the
American people has acquiesced. The
authors and friends Of that adjustment, /
am sure, will BE- the last to reopen con-
tyoversy.
So far as may depend on me, the charges
against General Scott to which You refer,
have been already negatived, and that in a
manner indicating a stronger conviction
OH my part than any reasoning can en-.
ploy. Bound to North Carolina by every
tie of interest and affection which attaches
other men, | am under the additional obi.
cation Of gratitude for her highest honors
repeatedly bestowed. II I could consent
to compromit her interests or honor in a
matter vital to the South and the Union
by any combination or association adverse
70 her, / should be untrue, not merely to
the impulses of patriotism, but to the in
stincts of nature. When therefore, | ac.
cepted the nomination for the Vice Presi.
dency. (Which your delegates in the Con.
vention will bear me witness l had not
sought knowing what principles had been
declared by the convention, and that Gen.
Scott was my associate for the Presiden-
cy by that act, l proclaimed my conf
dence in him more emphatically than
can now do in words. | had known him
Familiarity for twelve years, and was init
ma,ely associated with him during the
most trying period of the compromise.
when its fate was suspended in doubtful
scales. I knew that he had been the
friend of these measures when they stood
in need Of friends. and that independently
OF his illustrious services. and worldwide
fame, which will place him, in American
history. side by side with Plutarch's men
in the republics Of antiquity, and which
forbid any pretty sectional or ~factious