Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1852-1859, 1852-11-02
Generals Scott and Pierce.

|
That excellent and eminent wing, Edward Bates,
of ST. Louis in letter of the 11th of Sep, 1852,
declining an invitation to attend Wing conven
ton at Rock Island, (Which every body should ready
thus graphically sketches the candidates of the
Wings and Democrats now before the people as
candidates for the Presidency:
/ GEN. PIERCE.
Against Gen. Pierce personally have nothing
| TO say. | have no doubt he is gentleman OF fair
nediocrity oftaent neither more or less. lie serv-
I'd six eight years i'll Congress; in both Houses,
without being at all noted for ability, or the lack oil
it Nobody feared him and nobody despised him.
His friends did not rally around him as leader who
| could conduct them safely through scenes of Trial
and difficulty; and his enemies, if he had any did
not consider him OF sufficient Importance to be the
object of any special assault. His nediocrIty ever
| exempted him from lenuncaton ior his perSerer
| opposition to those measures oil internal improve
nenl which were sanctioned by Congress and
President cminently Democratic. He was not at
all distinguished above the mass Of respectable
| nembers of Congress.
| But Mr.. Pierce, apprehend, was not nominal
led OH account Of any services done in Congress,
or any civil popularity outside of New Hampshire.
He was nominated because he was 4 General, and
in order to get his side the prestige of martial
| glory. Those who nominated him no doubt thought
that a civilian tFillmore or WebseD would be his
rival; and it is than likely that he would not
have been nominated at ALL If 1t had been known
be the Viii. candidate. Mr. Pierce may be as
brave man any in the world. It is no i'm
parchment of his courage that his horse fell and
disabled him; for William the First and William the
Third, Kingsof England both died by the starting
or stumbling OF their horses They, it is true,
experienced generals, who had commanded in ma
ny hard fought field; whereas Gen. Pierce was
young soldier, on h first campaign, without mill
tary education and without experience in war.
am willing to suppose that he has within him, I'M
Developed all the natural elements of a good sol
der; but it is mere folly to impute to him military
glory and able generalshp, merely because Mr..
Polk took him from undstinguished civil life, and
commissioned him General OF brigade.
In fact, nobody thought of Gen. Pierce as can
di,atc for the Presidency until all the Democratic
| statesmen of the first order had been weighed in
the Baltimore balance, and found wanting in the
requisites for that office. Then he, who was COM
paratvely small man, and had never greatly dis
tingushed himself, although favored with excel
lent opportunities to win renown IN halls oil legls-
lftion and fields of battle, was suddenly presented
asonished nation as candidate Tor the high
est office III the world. ltsometimes happens that
great men, who have fought their way up to high
distinction, and are Still aiming at hi her,
strained and held back by the wounded and Grip
pied a,.verSaries whom they have conquered and
left behind them in their onward march; and thus
they defeated i'll their last efforts OF honorable
ambition by the relies of their former victorles.-
They find, like Scott on his march to Mexico. that
the most dangerous enemy is IN the rear. Then Is
n happy time for men Of mcdiocrlly. The leaders
are III excluded by old enmties and grudgcs; and
yet there must be candidate, and some one IS 10
be chosen who is no, great enough to excite ealoi-
sy, nor strong enough TO be feared. And then the
fortunate nominee "lcarns the bleSsedneSs of teng
little
do not say that Gen, Pierce is bad man
weak man. only say that he has not given to the
country any evidence that he possesses that high
degree OF prudence, wisdom, and frmness which Ill
good men desire 10 in President of the United
States. That his history affords ample proof that
he is opposed TO the benign system OF internal I'M
provenient, which all the w higS and many oil the
best Democrats consider necessary TO the prosperity
and happiness of the country; and that his public
course and associations lay him open TO the sus-
picion of being uRde- the influence OF that danger
Gus ambition which has Scduced so many OF our
people into passion for foreign dominion, and into
a willingness to embrol our country IN the W rS
and revolutions Of foreign nations.
GENERAL SCOTT.
Look HOW at our candidate, General ScorT-a
man of mark from the beginning. His very person
distinguished him from all other understanding
like Saul, by the head and shoulders above all Is
racl. And his professional brethren, once his
equals super,ors III rank, no more object TO his
professional advancement than to his taller stature.
because they know that both these advantages
spring from the same efficient cauSe-a noble ma
turc, nobly cxerted and improved for the public
good.
The highest evidence that man can give OF his
fitness rule in the great and diversified business
of lie. is that he has discharged all the duties
signed hun with ability and skill. And when those
duties within the nsclves various, and lcquire
the exercise of variety Of talents and of knowl-
edge the successful discharge of them all is con-
elusive proof that he who uniformly does SO well
must possess great and various abilities.
Scott, from youth to age, has shown himself equal
to every emergency. Always ready; always rich
in resources, and displaying wonderful adapta-
ton of his powcrs and his means TO the end design
cd. When young soldier, in whom obedience
and courage the chief virtues he set an example
of respect for his supcrors and selforgetng bold
ness against the enemy. With that genius which
always finds or makes itself read to eminence. he
infused his own dariLg ntrepdiy into his soldiers,
| and more than once astonished both friends and
foes by gaining unlocked fer victories over superior
numbers Of the best troops of Europe. Afterwards,
when advanced to higher comm nd and acting on
q broader theatre, he proved to his atnirng coun-
try that he not merely the brave and impetu-
GUS soldier, rushing upon the enemy for instant
death or victory but also the strict yet kind dsci
plinarian the cool and prudent commander; the
wise and far seeing general His constant attention
10 the discipline and personal comfort OF his SOL
diers edeared him 10 Them as father and friend;
and the efficiency thus given TO the army enabled
him TO rely with confidence upon the troops to
ry out, in all their Details his intricate and compl-
Gated plans OF campaign. u
His pre- eminence III professional fame has not
excited the envy or jealousy of his brother soldiers.
They all acquiesce in the justice OF his election; ior
v.dly eminent as many OF them are for cour-
age and skill and science, none OF them clan TO be
his SuperIorS.
AS soldier and commander, it is happy for
tune to be most praised for those who themselves
are most deserving praise. His professional rep
utaon is complete. He has attained the highest
point ofmaral glory that his country can give him;
and now, as mlily man, all that he can hope
for is 10 preserve, in untarnished brightness, the
laurels which he has so nobly won. No doubt,
looking to posterity, he is animated by the laudi-
BILE ambition to Surmoumt the laurels ofwar with
the oak-leaf chapet Of civic excellence.
And for this he needs nothing but occasion and
opportunity. 1t is for and for the good of our
country to afford him the opportunity by eecting
him TO the Presidency. With him at the head OF
the Government, we shall have very desirable guar
anty OF internal peace, prosperity, and improve
| for f,,l ,nb ahI In