The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1852-08-20

convention rom the etate OF NlssissIppt, who had
called to pay their respects; that in the conven-
zion the delegation from Mississippi had, os he
perhaps aware, voted for fifty three ballots for
Willard Fillmore man to whom they felt that
they owed debt OF gratitude for the firm and con-
sistent manner in which he had administered the
Government, and maintained in trying times the
right, interest. and honor of the South-but that
whilst felt iInpeled for these Tor
Willard Fillmore in the convention, yet could
and did assure him that we had no unkind feelings
towards him, and could not doubt that our inter.
ess would be safe in hs hands, and that at the
polls we would give him our hearty and cheerful
support"
To this General Scott replied in the following
language:
81 feel gratifed, gcntiem n. at this unex pected
call, and ain glad to see before me the accredited
men Of Mississippi The nomination which has
been conferred upon by the convention of
which you were members is an honor greater than
deserve; and, whether defeated or elected shall
always regard it as the highest compliment which
paying me Tor the little service have rendered
my country. ! am well pleased, too, gentlemen II,
with the platform you have adopted lit meets my
hearty and cordia! approval; a"d let me assure
you, gentlemen, that TIL, is no new born faith
with me- Years ago enter, aimed the sentiments
expressed in that platform the subject Of south
ern rights. can assure you that ,nds Of the
first to gire in my hearfy and cordial approval aud
Enforcement # those measures, tchen they before
Congress. There ,ofre but too Others ahead Of me
IN point Of time tn their advocacy and approUui Of
those MEASURES. mean Mr. Clay, and Senator
brought bjore Congress. openly apolpsd myself hs
Trend 81 those meastTes, and then, and since. as
many 4 think as an Average Of foe times a day,
haze openly and publicly declared my sentiments
10 man, tcoman, and child, ,cho has approached
me on the subject. / have not sought, nor have
! desired any conceament Of my views and opin.
ions in reference to them; and 1t ia a matter OF
profound astonishmcnt and regret to me that my
sentiments have been go grossly misrepresented,
and that have been made the subject OF such I'M
just and malicious sandcr My name has been
coupled with that Of Mr.. WIN. II. Seward, and
have been charged with entertaining sentiments
in common with him in reference to southern in.
situtions. Nothing can be more unjust and false.
1t Ia true, am personally acquainted with Mr..
Seward, and that nc is personally my friend; but
am not responsible for his peculiar sentiments,
nor those Of any other man who may see proper
to support me; and no man living knows better
than he what my opinions ere and always have
been. made his acquaintance some time in the
year '36 or Y. had not met with him, or core
spunded with or nterc hange d communications with
him, however, during the interval from the year
az to so. In the latter year, during the pending
OF the Compromise measures before Congress, l
met with him in travelling through New Jersey.
He approached Inc upon the subject Of those inca.
sures, and asked my opinion in relation therct'.
replied to him in THESE World: Sir, am dead for
the Constitution -dead for the Union-dead for the
posed to them or either Of thin The language
used by myself on that occasion ~as 30 positive
and emphatic that, in alluding TO it since-for he
well remembers the conversaton-he has even
charged me with rudeness."
General Scott proceeded:
81 have seen some service in tho cause OF our
common country, and am now advanced in lille.
] have endeavored to gain at least aname for up
rightness and candur; and challenge Tie iooyld 10
produce single sctnGss, h0 ,could be believed in
court Of justice, leho ,pL say that haze tuer, by
tiought, acord, or deed, sad or done any thing to
justify the anirp'ssentaions that haze been made as
Ia fbnffk hue
Otherrise than expressed 10 you here THIS day. II
any such lnan can be found, let him be brought
forward. and am willing that my past lite and
services shall be forgotten, and that the word in
famous shall be written before and alter my
name"
Immediately after General Scott had concluded
these remarks, all old war.worn veteran from Flr
ginia, who had served with Scott in the OF
stepped forward and said:
slf any thing else were necessary than your
word, General S. OFT, can state that, immediate
ly after the adoption OF thcsc measures, saw you
and Mr.. Clay meet and embrace in the Senate
Chamber, cvincIug your mutual JOY upon thai re-
suit"
These words, fellow citzcns, were spoken
by Genera! Winfield EC6tt-not in cold and
measured phrase, but with warmth. zeal, md
energy, and lighting up of the old Eagles eyes
that showed the depth of his emotion and the sin
certify Of his sentiments. There was nothing OF
the mere politician about it; he had no time for
preparation or study; our visit was, us he truly
remarked, t,nex pectcd. We had given notice
to him OF our intention. 1t was spoken in the
language of plain, blunt, gallant old soldier MS
he H. Had he been mere politician, and had
Mr.. Seward been that wonderful man in bis es
TEEN, and possessed Of that magic influence over
General Scott which is attributed 10 him by our
Democratic opponents and Wbig traitors, he would
scarcely have used Mr.. Stewards name without a
revercGia bow. No; the fact is fellow cizcns Mr..
Seward s to be made the head and-tloody bones
of this canvass in the South, and any man with half
e
iowestsort. MIR. Stewards name may be used by mo
Tiers 70 their children 10 irighen them 10 sleep; but
no grown.up man who ia worthy Of the name OF
Wing can be driven from the support OF Gen. Scott
by such petty and contemplate trick as this. The
iden is preposterous that such man as Winfield
Scou-he who has on many bloody field led
thUusands of brave heart and true incu On to vic
tory and deathless fame, should becomc the mere
mouthpiece OF William ii Seward, nnd to be
warped and twisted by him into deadly enemy OF
the South, and that too in the face Of General |
Scotts written Declarations hia acceptance Of the
Wing nomination, with the decided and emphatic
resolutions and guarantees il contains to the South,
and, more than all, in the lace Of the open and
manly occ!aratious he has made, as have stated
to You, to your own delegation. Can and will any
sensible man, Wing or Democrat, believe such
thing? feel aure, feiow C,zcLs, they cannot and
will not; but II they do oil have TO say is, that
they more deeply eteepcd in ignorance and
prejudice than had thought it possible for men
to be-
An0 now Jet US AJAX now IL IL WIN NHC IeIluCId'
tic party: Have they not John Van Buren,,
Martin Van Buren, Another one OF those northern
men with southern principles--who we arc now
called on to supportf Anc have they not a Ran
tout Giddings, and host of others, all OF whom
are zcalously and warmly supporting this Pierce
and King ticket? Why is there no contamina-
ton theres What assurances have SO equal TO
those have given you this night Of General Scott,
from Mr. Picrce-ths newly iouad great man,
who has been exhumed from the granite hills Of
New Hampshire Why. if we were disposed TO
deal in slang and detraction, might we not insist
that IL Pierce were elected, Rantoul, the Van Bu
rens, and other bitter bolitonis:s Of that sect, will
take charge Of and control the administration !
They have openly avowed that their object ia the
spoils of office; they expect, then, to "have a
hand" in tho administration il successiui. We
have no such danger TO fear from our southern
Whig bugbsdr. Sew ard for under his own sigma
ture be has assured tue that he will accept
no Office whatever under the administration OF |
General Scott.
Mr.. Adams continued. On my return from the
convention passed through PORTION OF the great
States OF Now York, Pennsy lyania, and Ohio; and
there again ! met Whigs-sound, conservative,
Union Whigs-men true To the Constitution. the