The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1852-10-06
Gen. Shields Speech at Pittsburgh,

Shields, delivered at the Democratic Mass
Meeting, on Friday night, the 3rd ult.
Fellow. CIrNENs-L am truly sorry to
say that am in no fit condition to make
you speech. Weary and exhausted
have arrived in your city, and my being
here tonight is the result of accident. |
have accompanied my gallant friend Gen.
Houston, in the capacity Of an assistant,
or aid.dc.camp, to use military phrase;
and I trust that. after having listened to
this excellent address, you will not expect
one from me.
You have heard tonight, one Of the
most distinguished Democrats in the land.
His life has been a romance--its wonders
have never been excelled even in fable.
From the forest to the ocean-from the
valley 10 the mountain-in every position
and every situation-his life has been ono
OF activity and usefulness. From his ear.
ly struggles for office in his native State up
to his noble efforts for the disenthralment
of nation, he has been consistent pa.
triot and an honorable man. His name is
identified with virtue, freedom and inde-
pendence; and the history Of his cam.
paign in Texas shows the actions Of a
brave and gallant man. You have heard
him speak, and have only to repeat after
him the words of truth which he has Ut
tered. Were | disposed to make you a
speech, could no better do it than by
humbly and feebly repeating and endors-
ing his sentiments.
| know both Of the distinguished men,
who stand before the people Of this nation
at the present time, as candidates for the
Presidency. / know Gen. Scott well;
have fought under him, ard will not use
denunciaton against him. He is brave
man, and his gallant deeds form portion
Of the history Of his country. | know
Gen. Pierce also. fought by his side; and
he is as gallant as any other Of the brave
spirits who fought and won eli the fields oi
Mexico. Gen. Scott as my friend houston
remarked, has been all his life soldier,
living in camps; and accustomed to the
rude array of war. Gen. Pierce is emf.
nent as civilian, in addition to being a
brave soldier. And yet, when he returns
to his native land, and when, in a just ap.
probation Of his worth and excellence, his
fellow-counirymen select him as their can.
didate for an honorable office, he is charg.
ed with being false to his duty, and his
name is coupled with the foul epithet Of
coward. For my own part, viewing this
matter in its proper light, and knowing as
do how well he fought in Mexico, fee'
that this is cruel and ungenerous injustice
There is something ungenerous in such an
act, and no upright and honorable man
should lend his countenance to the sup.
port of so foul wrong. They who fight
for their country, (more especially those
who, like Franklin Pierce, have fought so
we!D should receive the respect and just
judgment Of their citizens; they
should be at least free from calumny
There is no man in this vast assemblage
before me (unless he be himself coward }
who has been in Mexico, but will say with
me that General Franklin Pierce is nothing
else than brave and honorable man.
General Scott himself, although his inter-
ests are opposed to those Of Pierce, would
not, and, am assured, does not, approve
Of such conduct; and he would not wish to
owe his election to the false charges which
are brought against one OF his own gen.
erals. General Pierce did all his work in
Mexico with fervor and earnestness which
did him honor He rushed through the
battle field until his strength failed him,
and exhausted nature, unable further TO
sustain him in his tolls and anxieties, caus-
ed him TO tall-as many brave men have
done before him.
But enough Of this unjust and cruel fal.
sity. tits Of this kind of ingenious calum-
ny which will recol upon its authors, and
will react with terrible force upon that
party which endorses it.
feel deeply upon this subject; for, like
Gen. Pierce, am myself citizen soldier.
know we'll the difficulties we had to en-.
counter in Mexico; the misunderstanding
and conflicts with the regular branch Of
the army, and many other unpleasant cir.
cumstances. All our troubles, notwith-
standing, might be cheeriully disregarded
and forgotten; and we might, as citizens
and as soldiers, have felt that the just ap-
probation Of our services was sufficient
reward. But, what must be the feelings
of men who have the consciousness within
them that they have at least endeavored to
do their duty--when the voice of calum.
ny assails them on their return to their
native land! Surely such conduct is in
the highest degree reprehensible.
have nothing against Gen. Scott. If
he has failings, do not think it my prov
ince to expose them. But am a Demo-
crat and on the truth Of the principles
profess. | oppose him as Democrat.
There is one thing. however, which may
be urged against Gen. Scott, which has
been noticed before, this EVENING" allude
to his peculiar and exclusive military char.
acter. Here is a man, nearly seventy
wears old, who has been all his life sol
dier--and nothing else. Now, fellow
citizens, Iearnestly ask you whether. in