Daily American telegraph. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1851-1852, 1852-05-17
TELEGRAPH.
MIR. Botts's Letter,
WASHINGTON, May 3, 1856!

WASHINGTON, May 3, 1862.
Ny DEAR SIR You have no doubt been look |
ing for letter from me for the last several days.
but did not reach here till yesterday, having
been detained by indsposition at home.
This morning called General Scott, and
stated to him all that had passed between u.s. |
had very long, free, and full interchange of
views with him, and found his position to be
precisely this in reference to writing: he is diff
ferently advised by friends North and South
(whose counsels are entitled to consideration to
write, and not to write n large majority, incu
ding many from the South, urging him to remain
silent, This condition of things embarrasses him
not n little, as his individual preference would be
to publish his views at large, while he does not
feel himself at liberty in his present position, to
take the bit between his teeth, in disregard of
the advice of much the larger portion of his
friends from both sections of the country If he
writes, he obliges small, and perhaps ofends a
large number of those whose counsels he ought to
listen to; while if he remains passive, he gives
no particular cause of offence to either
Gen. Scott occupies no doubtful or equivocal
position on the Compromise, nor does he desire
to do SO; and if he did, would not support him
even if nominated. His views are freely expressed
to every man who approaches him, no matter to
what party or section he may belong. He is ac-
cessible to every respectable man in the country
never hestated to say that he is in favor Of
the Compromise measures in all their parts, and
opposed to any disturbance, agitation, or altera-
ton of the fugitive slave law; and he enjoins
confidence and secrecy on no man to whom he
makes this communication
Now, what more could we ask? Suppose he
was to write, would it satisfy any of those now
opposed to him? | venture to say not one For
they cannot now doubt his perfect and entire
aouudnees On that uuestion He has exnressad
himself to hundreds of the first men in the coun-
try, and no man has yet been found who has said
he ever held any other language to any human
being.
1t is an outrage upon decency, justice, and fair
dealing that any man should, at this day, pretend
to question the nationality patriotism of Win
field Scott did not expect him to escape the
animadversons, misrepresentation, and abuse of
the more unscrupulous portions of the Demo
cratic press, but do think his reputation is en-
titled to the respect and protection of every true
and honest Whig.
Under the circumstances mentioned, he has
come to the conclusion land | incline to think
wisely that the true course for him to pursue is
to publish nothing unless he shall be the nomi-
nee; when, if the convention shall adopt course
that will make his acceptance necessary or other |
wise afford him the opportunity, he will speak
out freely and fully; and this would place him.
in my opinion in a more elevated position than
if he were to permit himself now to be b,Alied
into writing to receive the nomination
His condition is, indeed, hard one. If he writes,
it will be at the dctation of those who not his
friends, many of whom desire an opportunity of
going to the other party, land God grant they
may have it, and he will thus be made to verify
the predictions often and early made that he
would write himself to death whereas, if he don't
write, he is to be killed by the denunciations of
processing friends for not writing. Gen. Scott is
too old and too good n soldier to be frightened by
bugbears or bullied by his enemies.
For my own part, | cannot perceive the wis
dom of the South agitating this question at all,
and especially of agitating for the benefit of
those we have labored for more than twenty years
to defeat l think the Compromise has no busi-
ness in either the Whig or Democratic National
Convention. The fugitive law has passed; it
remains not only unrepeaed, but no PROPOSE
ton is made, nor, as | believe, ever will be
made, to repeal it; and if it is, it cannot sue
ceed. 1t is acquiesced in by the North more
and more every day and if the South will let |
it alone, all opposition to it will cease in two
years. 1t has already been reafhrmed by the
representative body that has been elected since
it's passage and since the "appea to the higher
law" and | see no more propriety in pressing
the North to the wall on this subject, when they
submitting to the quiet and peaceable execu-
ton of the law, than there would be in requiring
them to reaffirm the principles of the Missouri
Compromise, which is quite as likely to be re-
peaed as the fugitive slave law. In point of fact
question if, in few years. the fugitive law will
not have fulfilled its work and become inopera-
tive, as it will have been enforced against all
those slaves that are now settled in the North
and it is only as to those that have been long
settled and have made friends that we can have
any serious trouble-and already the practice of
slaves leaving their masters for the North has
been greatly arrested.
If we know that our candidate is sound, whnt
do we care for the abstract opinions OF Mr. seq
ard and his associates upon the general principles
of the Compromise? II the law was not already
on the statute book, there might be some show
of reason and good sense in requiring the North
to Weld their diosyncrases before would CO.
operate with them; but when before was it known
that our party, or any other party, objected to
Abolitionists Freesoilers Native Americans,
Democrats or Wings helping them to elect their
own candidate in Presidential or other election?
What party or candidate ever yet complained
that those Of another party would help them to
success? If Mr.. Clay were now before the peQ
Pile, do not doubt he could get q large Freesoil,
Abolition and Democratic vote and would he or
his friends complain of it, or make an objection
to him And why should we object to their sup
port of General Scott if he should be the nominee
of the party! For myself can say (however it
may be with others that when | have been
candidate, was never so proud or so foolish Ms
to object to any good vote could get. This ab-
surd cry in the South against the Abolition vote
for Scott indicates want of candor that is with
out parelle, or it betrays want of reason that
amounts to foolery. 1t only serves to create pre-
JUDGES that we ourselves may be called on in a
few weeks to remove when, in the mean time,
we have put the weapon in the hands of our I'D,
versaries to be used against us. The truth ~,
all the Democratic candidates, and oil their
friends want the vote; and because they can't
get it, they unite in complaint against Scott