The daily union., 1852-09-12
Clay and Scott.

roisiuey military man. c,tout The experience a
Jd6red and aray living in the camp with his his
aide and his epaes his shouders proposed transfer him
from hts actual position Of Ia ofe army the
eA asstray Of ts great and glorious Republic EsKY CLAY
However controlling may have been the influence with
which Mr.. Clay swayed the whg party during the
greater portion Of his lfe il cannot be disputed that OF
late years he ruled it, if he ruled at all with advded
pre and diminished power Instances of contempt for bis
COUNSEL and rebellion against his authority snce 1s4S,
have been so frequent in the whig ranks TO convince
the public that the scepe had fallen from his hands In
declining life his glory eclipsed by the overshad
owing influence OF Seward, and he descended to the
grave shorn almost entirely Of that absolute sway which
first signal instance of contempt for his authority and
disregard of his feelings the nomination Of Taylor
against his urgent remons,rance and emphatic protest
The last outrage which the whig party inflicted upon
MIR. Clay was the nomination OF Scott.
That Mr.. Clay was opposed to the nomination Of
General Scott is fact which the whg press do not
pretend to dispute. 1t is notorious that the anxiety
which he expressed for the nomination of Mr. Fill
more sprang not only from his preference for that
gentleman but from his opposition 10 the rival candidate
whom Seward had set up. Both in private conver-
saton and in public correspondence he betrayed an
extreme apprehension Of the success OF that faction in
the whis party which compassed the ruin of Mr. Fill
and his compromise friends through the instrument
ality OF General Scott.
But concedng that Mr. Clay was opposed 10 the NOM
nation of General Scott the whg press would ain have
the public beete that he nevertheless anxious for
the election OF the whg candidate. They produce no
evidence Of this. They prove that Mr. Clay ever,
hy INN ovad III
Convention. On the contrary, certain notorious facts
make il absolutely impossible that he should ever have
been the advocate OF Scotfs election. Mr. Clay was
pledged by his so,emt recorded VOW support no
ran for any Office who refused to commit himself to the
6nalty Of the Compromise.
This pledge was an nsuperable barrier between him
and the wing candidate; for, despite the reckless
lions OF the whg press, General Scors position upon the
Compromise is Identical with Stewards. Then, again.
Mr. Clay pernaciousy and positively refused to do any
act or to utter word, in commentator sanction OF
General Scots nomination. All sorts OF influences were
brought TO bear upon him by the Scott 10 draw from
hun some token OF appreciation OF the Seward nomina
lion, but the last he continued relcnessy silent He
would not speak the word-he would not make the sign
He to his grave with lips sealed. and be left behind
him no testament OF confidence ia Scott or desire for his
election. This fact is deeply significant Indeed, il is
conclusive evidence that Mr. Clay ds,rused the whis
candidate and deprecated his election. II was rumoed
Washiugton--,ha, Mr. Clay was opposed to Gen Scotfs
election. This brought to the knowledge Of
Mr Clay by scofs friends. and they implored him to
contradict it, and not suffer his name to be used in oppo.
ston 10 the whg candidate II he had been anxious for
the success OF the whig candidate, would he have re.
fused to say so Would he have suffered his name to
be used by the democratic party against the candidate OF
that party for whose ascendency be had devoted the la
bors OF his lifel The inference is irresistible that Mir
Clay did not mean that his country should hold him re.
sponsbe for the calamies which he foresaw would be
the result OF General Scou's election.
Mr. Clay's opposition TO the election OF General Scott
was not only provoked by General Scotrs completely
with Seward and his faction of abolition agators, but
the logical and consistent consequence OF dsrust
OF military Presidents. The paragraph prefxed 10 this
article is emphatic protest against the election OF Gen
Scott II is true that it written in remonsrance
against the election Of General Taylor; bat, by simple
change OF and date. il becomes eloquent sdmo.
milton against the election OF the present whg candidate
Like General Taylor, General Scott is Exclusively a
rience in civil affairs" Like General Taylor, he was
"bon and bred in the camp" Like General Taylor, he
has his "sword by his side and his epaueis on his
shoulders" Like General Taylor, he asks the people Of
this country to transfer him from hs actual position
first in command Of the army the chief magstracy OF
this great and glorious republic The absurdy OF uch
demand was treated by Mr. Clay with mingled con-
tempt and amazemcnt He did not stop to expose the
folly and danger Of eevating to the presidency such a
man in such position !" but by dash OF the pen
simple mark OF wonder ()-hc Indicated an emphasis
Of conviction and intensity Of feeling which language
cannot fully express.
Although the name Of Henry Clay, in consequence Of
the asccndency and corrupt influence OF bad no
longer that magic power with the whig party oil
which il could boast, yet there are still individual
wings who his opinion and submit to bis au-
tbory. To them we commend the example and the pre-
cep of their great leader In hs eloquent and earnest
language, we warn them OF the peril OF transferring
to the chief magstacy Of this great and glorious repub-
lie unfit for the presidency is the candidate,
not Of the whig party, but Of the Seward faction Of aso
litionists and sctators.