The mountain sentinel. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1844-1853, 1852-09-16
EBENSDURG, THURSDiY, SEPTEMBER Is, 1852.

our IN the declafatlon-that he cannot be sc. en-
trusted. l have served in the armies myself,
and well do 1 know the despotism whichis essen
tial to discipline for it is not an army unless
subordination and blind obedience be strictly
and uncompromisingly enforced. And it is ma
tural that it should be so. On the one hand we
have arbitrary command on the other implicit
obedience. You cannot make a Democratic
President of man who has no otherrecommen-
dation then military glory. Washington and
Jackson were eminent both as civilians and war
riors. They were soldiers in time of danger !;
and it is poor argument indeed, that would in
sst upon the elevation of military chieftain to
the Presidential chair-the highest civil office
| in the land-simply on the ground of his having
rendered the state good service in the field
Some other qualifications are needed, in addi-
tion to the merits of military renown.
We all remember the glorious career of Gen
| eral Taylor, that honest and simple-minded old
soldier, with all the qualities that brighten and
adorn the military character. He had all the
virtues of a warrior, without any of his vanity.
Well, General Taylor was nominated as the Wing
candidate for the Presidency and what was the
result 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 spirit is
engaged in better cause than the one he support
ed in Mexico or Washington. L saw the gallant
supplemented old man in Mexico; his very
name was terror to the enemy; and he possess
sed the esteem and confidence of every one to
whom he was known. L saw him again, in Wash
ington, surrounded by the heEwings, Claytons and
Crawfords of his administration. He was not
the same man. He was in the hands of the Phi
hstines-a mere plaything, which might be used
for the amusement Of the grown-up children
about the capitol He was an instrument in
the hands of selfish politicians and designing
men, who used him for the advancement of their
own sordd ends. Totally unacquainted with
either the men who surrounded him or the mea-
sures which he was expected to countenance, he
was bewildered at his situation. 1t was not his
trade, and he doubtless deeply felt the grave
mistake that had been made in placing him in
the position he occupied. IF it had been beseig-
ing cities, storming batteries, marching
falteringly 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 things ? You all know and feel the truth
of what have said And now, judging from
the past, l ask you the question-wiIl it be
different should General Scott be elevated to the
Presidency ? think good reason can be adj
vaneed, showing that a different result would
follow such course My opinion of Gen. Scott
has always been freely expressed. He is brave
man and know that appreciate his excellence
more and am better friend of his, than many
who are loud in their professions of attachment
and support-those ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS who feed
on the garbage of the land, they live in.
I have before spoken Of the Inconsistency
charged upon the Democratic party by our oppo-
nents, in declaiming against the military spirit
characterizing the Whig party. For some reason
or other; the name of Andrew Jackson is invari-
edly used in this connection. Instead of stating
(as really the case; that he hadleft his pur-
suits as civilian TO go to New Orleans AM, fioa
the British they would have everybody think
that he was nothing but soldier-that he had
no reputation a legislator : or indeed in any
of the pursuits of a civilian. Gen Houston has
this evening shown to you the utter shallowness
of this fallacy, and nothing remains for me but
to endorse what he has said.
What change has come over them now =
Thoy viii have nothing but downright general.
A man like Andrew Jackson would not suit them
in these days of availability reputation in any
thing but military affairs goes fornaught Those
who have gained name on the battlefield are
the only ones who considered fitted for the
chair Of state. They have an inherent esteem
and attachment towards cheftains-they love
them for their own sakes. And this, by the
way, is rather paradoxical. We all know how
the Wings abused the authors of the Mexican
war. But mark their inconsistency. They then
abused the war-they now take to their bosoms
the warriors but you may rest assured there
is an object in it, and that object is the war-cry
of the Wing party availability.
You have, most of you at least, seen the re-
cent life of General Scott, got up for general
circulation'-so says the title-page. L mean
the one which bears SO striking resemblance to
a book of nursery rhymes. As man who pro-
fesses to know something of the history of Gen
eral Scott, pronounce this pictorial life a gross
caricature. You may read it over and over
again, and know no more of his biography than
when you first sat down to its perusal. 1t is,
however, written in the full belief that it will
suit the intelligence of some portion OF the