The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1852-04-21
The late Speech or the Hon mr.. Mangun,, Of North
Carolina.

sderaton, even III the whole speech were less noteWor
thy and important than, by reason Of its ability and the
high character and position Of its author, it certainly is
In the first place. Mr.. Mangum, in avowing his own
preference for General Scott the wing candidate, de-
cares that the judgment of the State which he represents
is strongly opposed TO his selection What true OF North
Carolina in this respect is at least equally true OF all
the other southern States. Mr.. Mangum, then, places
himself openly in opposition tins matter, TO what he
knows to be the deliberate judgment OF the people Of his
whole section Plainly this is courageous and manly
in the honorable SENATOR but that is wise prudent
is by plain, because, questions OF this
kind, very general and deliberately formed popular
judgment usually rests on strong grounds and is seldom
far wrong Especially is this true when as in this case,
such popular judgment turns away from the glare OF mil
tary fame 10 fix its preference upon more modest II not
more reliable guarantees OF trustworlhiness Such YER
dict OF the popular common ought, il would seem,
at eas "o give pause" to experienced statesman like
Mr. Mangum.
But it is still, more remarkable that Mr.. Mangum, in
stating the grounds upon which he thus up his
judgment agans, the manifest and deliberate judgment of
his people, states nothing-absoutey nothing-which
his people did not know full sl when they formed their
adverse judgment When they formed their opinion
against General Scott, the people OF the South had
his whole position fully before them just as Mr.
Mangum now describes it, The objection 10 Gen
Scott at the South is, that politician, he is as much
in The hands OF the enemies of the fugitive law as any
candidate be in any hands-that he is not committed
TO the maintenance OF that law as il stands-and dares
not now commit himself 10 it. To all this Mr. Man
gum answers not word, save TO refer to General
Scotts well-known support Of some portion OF the
com and off
pledged, he is "a national man" Might not all this
be said with plausbilty OF General Taylor
1t said and the South took him upon it, and soon
found, in the judgment OF MIR. Mangum himself that
they had bad bargain OF it, In this point OF view all
that Mr. Mangum says so eloquenly agains, renewal Of
the anti slavery agitation aud in favor OF the faithful
maintenance OF The Compromise al the North plainly
makes against his preferred candidate For the mante.
OF the Compromise the North means mainly the
maintenance OF the fugitive law, against which, this
time, the slavery agitation is chiefly directed Every
other wing who is named for the presidency General
Scott. is pledged against such agitation General Scott
alone is unpledged-s brought forward that condition
by the agitaiors. Mr.. Mangum takes him at their hands,
and in the breath tells that renewal OF the ag
ation must bring with whole nghtiul Hiad OF ma
tional woes Such determination is not easily n,e
gible. The terms Of slight and disfavor in which Mr.
Mangum refers 10 the attempt TO make the maintenance
Of the Compromise a part OF the wing platform, seem
equally difficult OF explanation upon the which he
takes of the necessity Of adopting those measures and
the great peril involved in any disturbance OF them.
But the next, and, as il would appear the conclusive
for Dir Mangum's preference for General Scott
is remarkable enough to be stated 10 his own very ex
plict words He says:
81 venture to express the opinion that there is no in,cl
gent person within the hearing OF my voice. who has
turned his attention these subjects who believe. that
sh Of the othr ohfg candidafo rssented get half
the Number Of electoral nsosary make eciior
There is infcigsn puson, think. who has turned
his auenton to the subject who docs NOT entertain nr
opiriou la common with me-"
OF course, Mr.. Msngum does not mean 10 say that no
other whig Gen. Scott, represents the whig policy
He does not mean that no other wing can get the wing
pary-yote. lie only means that the wing party and
policy not strong enough TO cast half many electoral
votes are required 10 make President and that
Gen. SCOTS military teia alone supply the deficit
Whiggery alone will not do; but wbiggery and gun
pos0dsT will do and General Scott must be the man.
pledges or pledges And this comes from senator
who, in the same breath, tells that the nomination Of
General Taylor-also without pledges-was /" national
misfortune -
How sad, on Mr.. Mangums showing, is the predica.
ment OF the wing party Hardly recovered from the
deadly and the dreadful pasms caused by their
last dose OF gunpowder availability, behold they must
forthwith try again die Such is the doctors pre-
scription Had democrat told US that wing measures
were so condemned. wing policy unwisc, and the
wing party, with all the Offices and all the principles"
weak not TO be able TO cast enough votes to elect
any good wbig he General to boot would not
Mr.. Mangum, at least every wing but him, have de-
nounced such saying most offensive SANDER
But is purpose of ours TO Intervene in all this com.
picated scheming by which the wings seeking TO
select nominee, who though as Mr. Mangum admits.
not possessing he highest ability and the most pracced
craftsmanship" HAS sc, military popularity enough to
get serenity four electoral votes Of two hundred and
ninety 6vo-that is "half the number necessary" TO-
make him President. Against any such wing the
democracy OF the country, making no bargains with
any faction, and tolerating equivocation in lite
candidate, will rally yictorously upon the platform
OF its time.honored principles, including faithful
maintenance Of all those measures Of adjustment
which have operated, and under democratic admins