The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1852-10-06

ic government! | feel con6dent-and |
know you will bear me out in the declara- |
tion-ihat he cannot be so entrusted. II
have served in armies myself, and well do
| know the despotism which is essential
to discipline; for it is not an army unless
subordination and blind obedience be
strictly and uncompromisingly enforced.
And il is natural that it should be so. On
the one hand we have arbitrary command;
on the other implicit obedience. You
cannot make Democratic President Of a
man who has no other recommendation
than military glory. Washington and
Jackson were eminent both as civilians
and warriors. They were soldiers in time
Of danger, and when peace was in the
land they were found in the councils Of
the nation. 1t is nothing moro than the
duty Of good citizen to assist the arms
Of his country in the hour Of danger; and
| tits poor argument indeed, that would
insist upon the elevation Of military
chieftain to the Presidential chair--the
| highest civil office in the land-simply on
the grounds Of his having rendered the
state good service in the field. Some other
qualifications are needed, in addition TO
the merit e,f military renown.
We all remember the glorious career Of
General Taylor, that honest and simple
minded old soldier. He was true SOL
der, with all the qualities that brighten
and adorn the military character. He
| had all the virtues Of warrior without
any Of his vanity. Well, General Taylor
was nominated as the Wing candidate for
the Presidency, and what was the resultl
New York and Pennsylvania, the old
Keystone State, aided in electing him, and
he was by their assistance placed at the
helm of state He is now dead, and !
trust his spirits engaged in better cause
than the one he supported either in Mexico
or Washington. | saw the gallant, sim
le.hearted old man in Mexico; his very
name was terror TO the enemy; and he
possessed the esteem and confidence Of
every one to whom he was known. | saw
him again, in Washington, surrounded by
the Ewings, Claytons, and Crawfords OF
his administration. He was not the same
man. He was in the hands Of the Philis.
tines--a mere plaything, which might be
used for the amusement Of the grown-rp
children about the capital. He was an
instrument in the hands Of selfish Politi-
clans and designing men, who used him
for the advancement Of their own sordid
ends. Totally unacquainted with either
the men who surrounded him or the meas
ures which he was expected to counten'
ance, he was bewildered at his situation.
1t was not his trade and he doubtless deep.
ly felt the grave mistake that had been
made in placing him in the position he
occupied. If it had been besieging cities,
storming batteries, or marching unfater.
inely TO the cannon's mouth. how differ
emily would he have acted. Then he
would have been at home, and knowing
his duty, performed it with energy and
skill.
But why is it necessary for me to speak
Of these things9 You all know and feel
the truth of what have said. And now,
Judging from the past, | ask you the ques.
Ition-will it be different should General
Scott be elevated to the Presidency? |
think no good reason can be advanced,
showing that different result would fol.
low such course. My opinion Of Gen.
Scott has always been freely expressed.
He is brave man; and know that ap.
preciate his excellence more, and am n
better friend Of his, than many who are
loud in their professions of attachment,
and support--those Nebuchadnezzars who
feed on the herbage ofthe land they live in
| have before spoken Of the inconsis-
tency charged upon the Democratic party
by our opponents, in declaiming against
the military spirit charac.erizing the Wing
party. For seine reason or other, the
name of Andrew Jackson is invariably
used in this connection. Instead Of stat.
ing (as was really the case that he had
left his pursuits as civilian to 60 to New
Orleans and fog the British, they would
have everybody think tina: he was nothing
but soldier-that he had no reputation
as legislator, or indeed in any Of the
pursuits Of civilian. Gen. Houston has
this evening show to you the utter shal.
lowness Of this fallacy and nothing remains
for me but to endorse what he has said.
What a change has come over them
now! They will have nothing but down.
right general A man like Andrew Jack
son would not suit them in these days Of
availability; reputation in anything but mil.
itary affairs goes for naught. Those who
have gained name on the battlefield are
the only ones who are considered fitted
for the chair of state. They have an in
herent esteem and attachment towards
chieftains-they love them for their own
sakes. And this, by the way is rather
paradoxical. We all know howthe Wings
abusedAhe authors of the Mexican war.
But mark their inconsistency. Theythen
abused the war-they now take toItheir
bosoms the warriors; but you may yess as.
sured there is an object in il, ahdfhat OBJ
lject is the war-cry Of the Wing party