Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1852-07-14

From the National hltelligencer.

Not having hesitated moment to comply with
the request of gentlemen of the character of those
whose names sanction the following publication
we must yet be allowed to express our sincere re-
greet at their finding themselves obliged to with
hold their support from the nomination of candi-
date for the Presidency made by the Wing party
in National Convention assembled We regret it
for several reasons, which, for the present at least
and on this day especially, we do not enter into.
WASHINGTON, July 3, 1852.
To prevent all mistake and misapprehension,
we, the undersigned, Members of Congress, adopt
this method of making joint statement to our con-
stituents, respectively land to all who may take an
interest in the subject, that we cannot and will not
support Gen. Scott for the Presidency, as he now
stands before the American People, for the follow
ing amongst other reasons ::
He obstinately refused, up to the time of his
nomination, to give any public opinion in favor of
that series of measures of the last Congress known
as the compromise; the permanent maintenance
of which with us is question of paramount i'm
portance. Nor has he since his nomination made
any declaration of his approval of those measures
as final adjustment of the issues in controversy
1t is true the resolutions of the Convention that
nominated him are as clear and as explicit upon
this question as need be; but Gen Scott, in his let
ter of acceptance, which contains all that we have
from him on that matter, does not give them the
approval of his judgment. This he seems studi-
ously to have avoided. He accepts the nomination
"with the resolutions annexed" That is, he takes
the nomination cum 0nere, as an individual takes
an estate, with whatever membranes it may be
loaded with. And the only pledge and guaranty
he offers for his adherence to the principles of the
resolutions" are ''the known incidents of long
public life," &c.
Amongst these e'kno,cn incidents" of his life
there is not one, so far as we are aware Of in ia
vor of the principles of the compromise. In one,
at least of his public letters he has expressed SEN
tments nimical to the institutions of fifteen States
of the Union. Since the passage of the compro-
mise he has suffered his name to be held up before
the people of several of the States as candidate
for the Presidency by the open and avowed enc
mics of those measures. And in the Cow ention
that conferred this nomination upon him he per-
mitted himself to be used by the Free-soiters in
that body to defeat Mr. Fillmore and Mr. Web
ste, because of their advocacy of these measures
and their firm adherence to the policy that sustain
ed them.
To join such men, and aid them in completing
their triumph over, and sacrifice of, the true and
tried friends of the constitution, and the faithful
discharge of all its obligations, is what we can
never do The dictates of duty and patriotism
sternly forbid it.
We consider Gen. Scott as the .tarorite candid
ate of the Free-soa wing of the Wing party
That his policy, if he should be elected, would be
warped and shaped to conform to their views, and
to elevate them to power in the administration of
the Government, can but be considered as legit-
innate and probable result. And, believing as we
do, that the views of that faction of mischievous
men are dangerous not only to the just and consti
tutional rights of the Southern States, (Which we
represent in part,) but to the peace and quiet of
the whole country, and to the permanent union of
the States, we regard it as the highest duty Of the
well-wishers of the country every where, whatev-
er else they may do to at least withhold from him
their support. This we intend to.do.
ALEX. H. STEPHENS, Of Ga.
CHAS. JAS. FAULKNER, of Va.
W. BROOKE, of Miss
ALEX. WHITE, of Ala.
JAS. ABERCROMBIE, of Ala.
R. TO0MBS, of Ga.
JAMES JOHNSON, of Ga.
For reasons to some extent indicated in speech
es and addresses heretofore made by the under
signed, they deem it to be their duty to withhold
their support from Gen Scott as candidate for
the Presidency. If should seem to be necessa
ry, we will hereafter, in some form, exhibit more
which have brought US to this determination.
M. P. GENTRY, Tenn.
C. H. WILLIAMS, Tenn.