The Evansville daily journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ia. [i.e. Ind.]) 1848-1862, 1852-07-31
J. Spencer's Speech az Albany.
IEXTRACT.


mes the qualifications of a military man for
civil employment , is whether he has already
acquired the learning, experience, and tact
of statesman. The military life in this
country, which has been blessed with peace
for at least sixtyfive of the nearly seventy
years that have passed since our indepen-
&C was achieved, is not like that of the Euro
pean officer who has spent his life in long
and bloody wars, or secluded in garrisons
and forts. Gen. Scott probably more than
any other of our great generals, has, from
the nature of his employment, maintained
tor the greater part of his life an extended
and various intercourse with his fellow-cti-
zens in every part OF our Republic; and with
men of all trades, business, and professions
he has been in constant communion. The
frankness and republican simplicity Of his
intercourse with men is the result of his ex-
tended acquaintance with their habits, views
and feelings. Strip him of his uniform and
all other military trappngs, and stranger
would scarcely suspect him of being a SOL
der. He is not citizen ofthe world, but
he is emphatcally citizen of the whole Re-
public. He has resided in every qnarter of
/ it, has cultivated the intercourse OF families
"a If domestic life, so that wherever he has
a.. IS a.. much or more loved as neigh
hor than ADM, I'd as :. soldier
No military man in his country has been
called so often to the discharg~ Vi civil uu'''
of the greatest difficulty and delicaG,,,'. and
of the utmost importance, and indeed te~
civilians have encounteret so many perplex-
ing and sometimes repugnant occasions of
pubic service.
Justice to him and duty to rejecting
community, anxious to cast their votes
worthily, demand brief synopsis of some
of these services.
In the year 1915, after the termination Of
war which placed him at the very pinacle
of glory, he went to Europe, and was en-
ployed there by President Madison to ascer-
tain the views of Great Britain respecting
the island of Cuba, in relation to which there
were some suspicious indications, and also to
fathom the designs of the European courts
respecting the revolutions in South America
"a subject of great interest to our Govern
ment and our citizens, who were apprehen-
sive of the establishment of monarchies i'm
our neighborhood. The ability with which
he performed these delicate duties was at
tested by a particular letter of thanks written
to him by the then Secretary of State, Mr..
Monroe, by the special direction of Presi-
dent Madison. In 1882 he was confidentially
employed by General Jackson to repair to
South Carolina, which openly threatened for
chile resistance and notification of the laws,
and there maintain the authority of the CO.
vernment, and secure order and peace and
the protection of the public forts and pro-
perty. Many of US remember the alarming
indications of that period. We were OH the
verge of a civil war. The presence of mind,
GOODNESS, forbcrance, and tact of Gen. Scott
averted the dire calamity. Among an infu.
rated people he mingled, and by acts of
kindness and words of peace and patriotism
he accomplished what the sword could not.
In 1888, our own frontier was in arms
against a neighboring province, and there
existed phrenzy that threatened to bring
on war with England. General Scott was
dispatched by President Van Buren, to the
heatre of disorder; not so much to queH it
by force, for he had no army with him, but to
subdue it by his wisdom, his eloquence, and
6rmness. These events are so recent that
it is only necessary to recall your recollection
Of the universal applause bestowed, without
distinction of party, upon the successful pa
ciicator. Day and night they travefsed,
through the most intense cold, the frosty
fCSiouS vi ttC ANOilu iIOiu DttTOlL tOOgQpnS-
burg, and lIarangued the misguided people.
until they abandoned their project. During
these scenes he visited our own city, and
at supper given him by members of the Lee
gislature and our own most distinguished CT
teens, the following toast was given and rap
turously drank. As he was not then can
didate for any Office, it may besupposed that
the truth was spoken and acknowledged
by the men Of all parties there assembled,
and beg leave to quote it. not only as evil
dence of what we all then thought but of a
tact of the greatest weight in the estimation
OF his civil character:
"The soldier, who has ever made the law
of the land his supreme rule of action, and
who, while he has always fulfilled its ut
most requirements, has never in a single in
stance trans ;ended its limits"
Fellow-citizens, can loitier praise be be-
slowed on military chieftain, who, with
hosts at his command ready to obey his slig-
prda al l.,