The daily union., 1852-07-03
Cen. scott,s Letter of Acceptance.

The Republic says that Gen Scott his letter OF accept
ance has failed please satisfy OF the aboli-
tioniss and fee-soers Il is quite true They regard
his letter as being rather too uch favor of maintaining
the Compromise TO suit their purpose. On the other
hand. the real friends. among the wings, OF the
maintenance OF those barrier against
tonal agitation are equally dissatisfied with the letter
They think it (what it is) half faced and equivoca
Many of them regard il as a cheat The New York
Mirror, for instance considers that the least General
Scott could do after his long and significant silence
to express his opprora, we'll his aeeep'aaes Of the
whig resolutions Again it is urged that he explicitly
refuses TO pledge himself 10 the whig platform; and
says plainly enough that adherence the doctrines OF
the resolutions will have no weight in determining
whom, if elected, he will appoint to office. SO that the
letter out 10 be alike unsatisfactory both TO the men
who, in regard to the Adjustment desire 10 the faith
Of the government kept and 10 the who willing
10 sec il broken
Now does not the Republic that all this dissatis
faction with Cen Scotfs letter is only another proof that
honesty is the best policy, and that drectness and plain
speaking constitute the honest-that is the best-pocy
OF a candidate in Cen Scotfs position The equiyoca
uon and ambiguity OF his letter have made him enemies
both among men who for the Compromise and among
men who are against it, But we have yet to learn that
the letter has made him single friend anywhere. Who
what one man-is better satisfied with Gen. Scott
the letter has been written than he was bsfore2 II has
caused only new dstrust OF him and his position
both sides The reason OF this is plain. The letter 10
not trustworthy.
tits lust so with the various declarations OF General
Scott as 10 our adopted citizens. Towards them he has
wavered in his proscpve spirit since 1910, just enough
TO weaken his hold upon the confidence OF their ferces
enemies without securing jo Of their confidence. The
letter OF $780, iavorng the total dsfranchsement OF our
foreign population, its face full Of nsgniiy and
rancor His recanng letter Of 1s4s only added TO his pre-
vious blunder the further sin of selfcontadction. No.
body thinks, or can think, the more iavoraby OF Gen
Scott for so doing In the way bis promise now given
10 mend an unconstitutional discrimination in the
naturalization laws in favor OF those foreigners who
shall serve year in the army, only sinks hun deeper in
difficulty As the Albany Evening Journal said in is4s
there is weakness 10 the whole proceeding Il is one
Of those unwise things" which fall so easily from his
pen and 'return" so surely "to plague" his friends
A candidate who makes bad or even proscriptive
pledge and then sks 10 IT, may least claim that his
pledge, whenever he gives it, is good for something But
wha, can be said in favor OF man coming forward 10
play the par, OF statesman who first, without hests-
,on gives unjust pledge Of prescription, and then
backs ou Of ii by promising unconstitutional favor
itismi Yet such is the very predicamen in which Gen
Scott now stands towards adopted citizens II is
simply The worst predicament imaginable. Nor is his
position much better in regard 10 the Compromise.