The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1852-10-01

AT GALLAGHER, mttee
JOHN b. KELLY,
j. BRECKENRIDGE.
f. To Gen. Wm. Harvey, U. s. Army, Aston House
AsToR HousE. New York. Sept 80, 1852.
GErTLEMFS-I acknowledge the receipt CT yours, in
vitng meet and address the democratic republican
electors Of the city Of New York aJ Tammany Hall.
This mark Of Your remembrance fully aud deeply ap-
precia,e II il distinction unexpected as undeseryed
must howerer decline the honor intended and, in
doing feel myself compelled from the high respect
hold Tor and the democratic masses you represent to
give IN all faAkness, the which governs
While holding commission Ia the army OF the United
States, have always from OF proprety withheld
any active participation in political contests yield
right which appertaiDs to citizen when say
that will While holding military position enter
Of the constitutional authortyto assist in repeng for
egn Dyason-to maintain the honor and dignity of the
country here or in foreign andto do all things which
Congress and the have right to i'm
pose upon me-. The people of this country are in
stinctvely jealous Of any combination OF military in
fuences to control political affairs The powers
of the constitution made the military subor-
dinate to the civil power. They have not, to
be sure restricted any military man from the exer-
else Of rights belonging TO any other citizen but deem
any active interference on my part while holding my
commission as military imprcprey such interference
being repugnant to the general sentiment and in conflict
wit that stern republican prejudice which people
have mbibed from their fathers and which, trust viii
never be eradicate ed
have hesitation in saying however that did not
feel as do upon ahis matter of military interference in
political sars, it would have afforded the highest
satisfaction to have met my felowctzens at Tammsuy
Hall building ccnsecratsd to liberty and renowned for
patriotic principles which
walls. In the party which has made that its temple
has uttered naledictons against the countrys enemies
and aimed te nationa honor and dignity In peace
that policy based freedom of trade the disconnec
ton Of government from nooT porated paper money
nopoes the integrity Of the States to the Union and the
Union to the States, has been the policy OF Tammany
Hall In a word its sentiment, which has been the
democratic progressive sentiment, has been sen
ment and could my conscience permit me to lay aside
the scrUpie which erdcts FRI active particpn
ton in the coming Presidential est there no build
ing in the Union where would rather promulge the
Il
party and bear testimony to the staesmanlike ability
the political orthodoxy and the noble generous, brave
and gallant character of Franklin Pierce of New Hamp
shire who has been selected its standard bearer.
have the honor to be, your fellow citizen
Col, "a Dragon. and pr-vt W RT,s s. d mah y
To Ulysses ID. krench, Esq, Sc. SC, Corresponding
Committee Tammany Hail
The principle en- which the gallant soldier de.
cnes to take that active part in the Presidential
struggle, which his friends wished to impose on
him, is one equally honorable to himself and to the
service of which he is a distinguished ornament.
General Harvey has we'll characterised the genius
of this country in saying that the American people
are jealous Of any military interference in their po
litica concerns The constitution Of society nong
US is such, that the only quarter from which our
liberty be assailed is the army. Therefore it is
that the spirit Of internal policy inclines us to
restrict military to the exercise of their talents
in their peculiar vocation; therefore do we look
with disfavor q soldier who strives to raise him
self, by political ladder, to an eminence where
his military power may possibly become dangerous
to the State. IF mere politician consprcs against
our liberties, he is quickly hurled back to the OBJ
security which gave him birth but it is by no
means such an easy matter to get rid Of an ambi
tous ard successful general.
No one who reads General Harney's letter. can
fail to draw q comparison between the writer and
the Commander in chief Of whom he speaks
in terms of such honorable respect While the
stern republican virtue of the former forbids
him even to. address o meeting at Tammany
Hall, so as not to give the countenance Of his
example to practice which may hereafter mi
Iitate against the liberties of his country.
the latter is emuatng Louis Napoleon, in an cleo
pioneering tour through the States and lowering the
high Office Of Commander-in. chief in the American
army, to the level with petty post in the Gus
tom house. Blind to the degrading effect of such
hunt for popularity, our greatest living soldier is
employing the same means Of advancing his cause
as the miserable politicians who gain living by
slandering one candidate and fawning on the other
Neither sense of his own dignity, respect for
the rank he holds, any consideration of regard
IVA eno IopuuuSdu WHICH are 30 well
laid down in General Harney's letter, can prevent
General Scott from personally engaging in the by no
means honorable tolls Of political canvass Every
morning brings us fresh accounts Of his progress
through the country here he abuses his adversares
there he modesty eulogizes himself; everywhere he
is ready to make a sacrifice Of his personal dignity
for the guerdon Of vote We had occasion, the other
day, to notice his speech q. Columbus when, forget
ting that for the he had dotted the soldiers
uniform to appear in the part of an humble postu-
liant and courter, he so b.andly gave "the lie d-
rect to some half dozen political opponents. Yes
terday he was in company with variety Of charla-
tans Of different calings at Kentucky fair, where,
in the presence Of some thirty forty thousand per-
sons, he assured his hearers that sit was tho most
agreeable incident Of his life that no Glanced to be
there at that time" and was proluse as usual in
professions OF high esteem for his motley audience.
To- morrow, he will "chance to be" some where slse
where crowd is assembled, and the Commander.in-
chief will again fiaternise with Tom, Dick aud
Harry He will again assure the farmers, and butch
srs, ard bakers, and blacksmiths, and tavern
keepers, tptti quaint, "that II is vain for any SOL
iier to lay claim to unusual distinction amsng
men" such those he addresses-will again "bo re-
minded that no is before citizens who excel all !
others, in their power Of oratory and their able
qualities"- and, hurried away by the
Of his feelings, viii in all probability
'gain forget that horses have votes, and give
way TO the impusive burst Of enthusiasm AZ inc
growth Of cattle in the vicinity The batcaers'
bakers, &c Aforesaid, having tbereupop maze sne
In ring with shouts Of applause Mt these conipu-
nents, the sincerity of which no one can DOUBT
on an instant, the caravan Of the commander of
he United States army will move on to some Other
own o. village, where Gen Scott will once more
fed it proud thing for him, as well as for his a.
oeiates in arms to stand before an assembly, bat
title differing from the last. And so on to the end
4 The chaptor-or, ia other words, tl the inonth of
November.
We have already alluded to one illustrous prece-