The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1852-07-31
Vol. w..
TIL d R EPU BLIC.
SPEECH OF HON. HIRAM BELL,

In me h0useg Representatives, July 90 1852, sn
Ply 10 Hon. E. b. Olds on the Presidency Generals
Scott and Pierce, their comparative qualifications
and merits, &c.
Mr.. BELL said:
Mr.. CHAIRMAN: do not rise to reply to all that
has fallen from my colleague, (Mr. OLDs.) for
have not been N position to hear all that he said;
aud besides, as he has exhibited written argu-
inent, which he intends to publish, it would be i'm
poss lble to reply to 1t, not knowing what is in it,
But have been watching my colleague with some
little interest, for understand somewhat the mode
OF warfare pursued by that party in my own State
of which my colleague is a prominent leader. i
perceive that my honorable friend and those who
act with him are not willing to canvass before the
people the principles, acts, and votes Of the man
whom they have nominated Tor President; but they
expect to accomplish much by making charges to
put the friends of the Old veteran the defensive.
Well cir 4 Is not the first time that General Scott
has been upon the defensive, but he never yet re.
treated, unless it was to recharge upon the enemy
and gain victory. " -.
The honorable member (Mr. OLDs) said that he
would not pluck one leaf from the laurel that
adorns the brow Of General Scott--that he was the
greatest captain of the age. 1t was his civil quail
ifcaions he proposed to canvass He also told
that the Democratic party, in nominating General
Pierce as their candidate, endorsed his (Pierce's)
official record; and that his votes, letters, and
apeeches composed that record; and which they
the Democratic party cheerfully handed over to
the Wing party for investigation and scrutiny.
Mr.. Chairman, am glad that the friends Of
General Pierce have tbrewn that record before the
country With SUCH challenge; for assure you
it will prove most unfortunate record for the
success of the Democratic party this fall. / will
speak of that record hereafter. The honorable
member, for fear of the effect some other cause
equally potent, that the publication OF the votes Of
Mr. Pierce would produce upon the Presidential
election, has Jailed to refer to the record of such
votes Is he afraid to let the people know what the
principles of Franklin Pierce are? How he voted
on measures of national policy? He is. He dare
not publish his votes.
Mr hat fwith ofop
gard my colleague (Mr. OLDs) appeared to have
for the fair fame of General Scott in the com.
menccment Of his remarks, l submit TO this com
mittee whether his whole speech was not q per-
sonal attack upon that veteran hero aud his public
life Such was its character, and that its object.
And why? will tell you, Mr.. Chairman. The
honorable member. and the leaders of the party
with whom he ia associated are not willing to
meet the issues that now divide the two great DO.
litical parties. 1t is their object to get up false
issues. Hence my colleague in bis remarks has
studiously avoided touching upon any of the pend
ing measures that now interest the people.
The ghosts of the Alien and Sedition laws, the
United States Bank, the Native American party,
and slmilar questions, some of which have been
consigned to the tomb half century ago, accord
ing to his own account, now appear most to haunt
the gent'eman's imagination; questions that have
not for years been in issue and that not
now IN issue, but out Of which he fancies he can
make some political capital. The same game was
tried by his party in 1910, and the results Of that
campaign show the efficacy Of warfare of this
kind. What surprised me most was that my
friend should go SO far back in the history Of the
Wing party as TO convict himself If had been
near enough to my colleague would have whs-
pered in his ear, Friend, be careful, you
treading on forbidden ground" If the Wing
party are chargeable with what my honorable
colleague says they are, which Geny, and if those
charges are to apply SO far back, the votes of my
colleague and his political life would prove an old
adage TO be true, that The greatest rascals fire.
quenty turn States evidence" tLaughterl
NATURALrzATIoN LAWS AND NATuRALrzED cIrI-
To-. ... zeNe.
Mycolleague has charged General Scott as being
unfriendly to citizens or foreign BIRTH and read
before the committee part Of his letter in iS4l;
but his other and subsequent letters he has with.
held. Why not read ALI II he wished to do JUS
tice TO an old soldier should he not have read all
General Scott had said or written that subject
publicly! Yes, sir, he should; but he did not do
1t, He dare not tell the whole facts, and give the
,DhoN truth ON that subject, to 60 before the public.
What are the iacts? Simply these sir: The fret
letter, part only Of which my colleague read. of
General Scott, was written under the influence of
great excitement produced in one Of your cities
(Phadelphia) by conflict and loss of life be
tween Americans and foreigners After this ex-
citemcnt died away, and when General Scott had
become better acquainted with that Glass; he wrote
the following letter: ...
'"WAsHIHGToN, May 30, lS4S.
"DEAR SIR: In reply to your kind letter of The sth
instant, take pleasure in saying that, grateful
for the too partial estima tie you place on my pub
lie services, you do me no more than justice in
Stunning that l entertain 'kind and liberal views
towards our natara!ized citizens.' Certainly, it
would be impossible for me to recommend or sup
port any measure intended to exclude them from
just and full participation in all civil and political
rights now secured to them by republican
laws and institutions.
at ia true, that in season of unusual excitement
some years ago, VII en- both parties complained of
fraudulent practices in the naturalization of for
eigners and when there seemed TO be danger that
foI
arrayed against each other in hostile factions, l
was inclined to concur in the opinion then avowed
by many leading statesmen, that some modifica-
ton of the naturalization laws might be necessary,
in order to prevent abuses allay strife, and
harmony between the different classes of our poo
pie. But later experience and reflection have en-.
urely removed this impression, and dssipated my
apprchcnsons.
ain my recent campaign in Mexico, Il very large
proportion Of the men under my command were
your countrymen, Urish,) Germans &c. l wit.
messed with admiration their zeal, fidelity, and
valur in maintaining our flag in the face of every
danger. Vieing with each other and our native.
DO. II soldiers in the same ranks in patriotism, con.
sancy, and heroic daring, was happy to call
them brothers in the field, rs shall always be to
salute them as countrymen at home.
I'll remain, dear cir, with great esteem, yours,
truly, WINFIELD SCOTT
"WM. E. ROBINSON, ESQ "
General Scott, in his letter of acceptance of the
nomination, dated Gath June, 1852, in speaking of
lowing language: That he would "approve sin
gle alteration In our naturalization laws, suggested
by my military experience, viz: giving to all for
eigners the right Of citizenship who shall faith
fully serve, in time Of war, one year on board of
our public ships. or in land forces. regular
volunteer, on their receiving an honorable dis.
charge from service"
These, Mr.. chairman, the sentiments and
opinions of General Scott. wish them known
and published through the length and breadth Of
the land. These we're known to the honorable
member (Mr. OLps) when he read an extract of
prior letter. presume he had all those letters
before him. He had read them hundred times.
With all these facts before him, he reads an old
extract from some paper, that General Scott had
no more connexion with than the moon, and still
persists in his uryounded charges against General
Scott, Of hostility to adopted citiz,ns When men
will 30 far misrepresent fellow citizen for poiti
cal purposes, il is time that the honest, independ
ent, and patriotic citizens Of this country arise in
their strength and aix their seal OF condemnation
upou such conduct at the ballot box. They will
do it, sir. The people are moving. They are be-
coming aroused. They will protect the character
and fame of that man who has protected them in
the hour Of peril.
The honorable member says man Ia known by
the company he keeps, and that the Senator from