Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1852-10-30
A CALM APPEAL.


integrity industry, ana capacity, which were merit
ed by the uniform tenor Of long life, would our
reader not accept him from confidence that as had
been the past so would be the future Or would he
decline the services Of this man lest he might prove
derect to the character achieved by life probty,
and yield himself up to dishonesty and aithlessness
under the first, or perhaps no, temptation? Sup
pose he did so, and took into his service man who
was doubtless honest but who had given no evidence
of capacity experience in his business and should
reply to the nterrogaores of his neighbors that he
knew no harm of him, and that perhaps he might
turn out well What would be thought of that
employers discretion and judgment? And yet with
such needless want Of perception would the Anne
rican people act should they, upon any grounds that
we have seen alleged be induced to reject the claims
of General ScoTT, the Wing candidate for the Pre-
sidency.
We have never for moment denied the right of
General PIERCE to be considered an intelligent, re-
spectacle gentleman, as many of the Democratic
members who served with him in both Houses of
Congress; and those who remember the terms in
which we announced his nomination by the Bati-
more Convention will do us the justice to say that
we attempted no disparagement of him personally.
Since that time, we have placed in our columns
summary of his public exploits in Congress, and
have done nothing to underyaue whatever claims
he may be thought by his friends to possess to pub
lie esteem and consideration. But there justice
compels Us to stop, as, consistently with truth, we
could not say more than that, in common with many
hundreds Of our citizens he has fulfilled the ordinary
obligations imposed him in his brief career as
Representative Of his State. Of his military servi-
ces in Mexico we have said nothing literally because
there was nothing to say. We have never Joined
in decrying his deeds during that war, because we
have no reason TO doubt that, had opportunity oc-
Cured, and had he not been disabled by painful
accident he would have performed his duty credita-
bly, in common with all his brother officers. Per-
sonal courage is so common an attribute in this
country that its possession confers no particular
merit as its absence is happily almost unknown
1t is not now, however, question of negative re-
spectability of character but whether a person so
described is fit competitor for the highest Office in
the Republic with one who has impressed his name
upon every page Of our history for forty years. and
d
to our annals ever worthy Of the admiration of
posterity.
1t would be late in his life indeed if we now be-
gan to pen his eulogy, and as futile as late. Not
an American press in existence, contemporary with
his exploits but has We'd with others in expressions
Of appreciation and admiration. We by no means
intend to exclude those most violent in his de-
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candidate for Office, the newspapers most opposed
to him would continue to praise-not his military
achievements, for those they could not refuse
knowledge without stultifying themselves--but his
civic services, which, appealing less loudly to the
popular appreciation, have been until lately less
widely felt But now, We are glad to believe, the
history OF those less striking but not less Important
acts of his eventfu life have been far spread out for
the intelligent consideration Of our whole people,
and, wherever read and properly estimated, must
give his name higher niche among the jealous and
patriotic servtors of his country than he already de-
served by that brilliant series Of strategy and tactics
which fastened the eyes Of all Europe upon him
pending the Mexican war, and tended strongly to
elevate reputation for proves and military skill
far beyond what it had ever been, and to SHOW
what had been previously denied-that we were
competent to carry on extended operations to plan
and conduct to successful issue great war, if we
should be unfortunately provoked to it.
We have nothing new to disclose in regard to
General ScoTT's life, actions, and character Al
ready have these been freely described by his friends
and quite freely scrutinized, sifted, Knocked at
and illuminated by his less scrupulous opponents.
Well the advice given to the knight Of old that
if he had weak spot in his coat Of mail to look to
i, as in the approaching battle every part would
receive cothyard shaft, and worse for him If there
was in his armor vulnerable point. Happily for
our candidate he needed not the advice nor the pre-
caution Of late examination. He has gone into the
contest earlessly, and confident that not even the
poisoned arrows Of detractioD could wound and
though missiles have hurtled through the air and
struck against him from hundred quarters launch
cd with equal mahgnity but with varied strength,
they have proved innocuous and each successive one
falling spent from his breast, has only served to show
that he was armed in proof and that he was secure
y clad in the mailcoat Of honesty, integrity, and
devotion to bis whole country.
I Mr. Attorney General CRrTTENDEE returned To
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