Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1852-09-04
THE VICE OF THE AGE.

ny which is the vice Of the age, that we have not
been able to deny ourselves the satisfaction of af
fording to readers also opportunity of perus
mgit.
The only part of the remarks Of the honorable
Senator against which we protest is the draft which
he makes upon the facility Of belief of his Demo-
cratic hearers and readers when he predicts the cleo
ton of the Democratic candidate for the Presiden-
Icy. We have too much personal regard for him to
bring the sincerity Of that declaration in question
claiming for ourselves the same indulgence when
we declare our conviction that the Democratic can
ddate will be dstanced in the trial of speed which
10 TO come off the National Course in November
next. BY
EXTRACT OF A SPEECH OF. GEN. cAss,
DeliUcrcd Ia tie Senate Of the United States tie
oath Of this month @ s u
'sBut sir must say though say IL with both NOR
tifcaton and regret that there is wonderful proneness
abuse and sander in country during all poti-
cal contests No be nominated for high Office,
and especially for the highest Office but the walls Of cal
umny must be poured upon him. without the slightest
reference to his life his previous services true cha
His history scrutinzed from his brhnot to
discover his good qualities and his claims to public con-
resentation He is without the slightest scrupe, and
without the remotest Justification charged with crimes
that in England would send him to Botany Bay and in
France the galleys and which, in every country in the
world, should consign him to perpetual nfamy. And
that we are improving evident from what passing
around u.s. We are at the commencement Of Presiden-
tal campaign, and begin with charging Gen. Pierce
the candidate of the Democratic party with being cow
ard and know not what else and Gen. Scott the
didate of the Wing party, with being an imbecie and
dishonorable And, sir these charges repeated
gravely and believed firmly large extent of
country.
1T is lamentable and spectator in Europe inte
rested in the example of institutions it must be de-
plorable In the Old World it must though no
man properly qualified to be candidate for the
Chief Magistracy of this mighty country unless ne is
about the greatest rascal in it. Now, sir will take
part lot in such warfare have appetite for such
vicious food For myself l repudiate and reject it.
believe that Gen. Scott is honorable and patriotic cit
zen and that he has written his and his deeds
of the brightest pages of his countys history and
not one breath of calumny from shall wither
single leaf of the laurel that encirces his brow His
wreath was fairly won and win not be to prevent
it from being fairly have enjoyed his personal
friendship for long series Of years, and do not mean
at this day by any caumny to prove myself unworthy OF
it. am not in favor of his election the Presidency
every body knows that Gen. Pierce is my choice. He
lis hxh and honorable man, and If elected, he is
4 have the sghtsst ouhs but he viii
duct the affairs Of the nation with honor to himself
with advantage to the country As between Gen Perc
and Gen Scott there great questions Of political fa
involved know that Gen. Pierce would administer tn
Government on principles which approve, while Gen
Scott would administer it principles which do no
Iacn nd is for
one and rejecting the other If did not consider
do Gen. Perces qualifications superior to those
his competitor. | to go through the campaign
without saying single word against the character Of tn,
candidate Of the Wing party. If the Psalmists term
human lfe three years and en brings many ills
with it it brings at least advantage and that is the
power and the duty Of exhibiting Independent opinion
without regard to its consequences
81 speak, perhaps with the more warmth this sub
lject because have had experience and believe
that in the whole catalogue of human enormes you
scarcely find single crime that not charged to
in l84S, except perhaps, the murder Of my wife and
children and if Providence in its wrath, had taken
them from me, verify believe that should have been
charged with their murder; and have just as little
doubt that large portion of the whg party would have
believed the story Sir bore it we think quite phi
losophcally but no man can bear such charges with
Il
Stocs were here it would try his patience be subject
to such aspersions think if had gone through some
portions Of this country in that year. many good Whg
would have peeped from safe covert seeking to
discover my horns and hoo firm in the conviction that
il were not the archfend himself stood pretty high in
his conclave and of his fttes associates Let
me refer for a moment what said this floor BY
the lamented statesman Of Kentucky (Mr Clay,) not
the statesman of Kentucky merely but Of country
he whose mortal remains recently followed to their last
sad resting place and here will say and say il with
PRIDE that during the whole Of that mournu procession
which began Washington and ended at the tomb in
Lexington there something redeemng and consoling
in the feelings every where manifested that sad
son0 Wherever the house with It's lamented ten
passed the voice Of party was hushed and the only
strife seemed be who should render the most honor to
the memory Of patriot and statesman who had gone to
his last home full of days and Of honors.
"well, sir, in this very hail. that revered Senator
claimed one occasion to have been the bestabused
man in the whole country but think the Senate viii
recoect that after had urged my pretensions to that
distinction he withdrew his words, acknowledging my
precedence contenting himself with the second place
and think this acquescence is honor enough for mo
dest man. 1t is sad-I suppose by way Of administering
a modicum Of comfort the dstressed-that calumny
does no injury because says the old moral saw, 'Trutl
lis mighty and will prevail Ii may be So if truth i
industrious and perseverng enough to work for
But it is slow traveller II has not improved its gai
since the earliest period whilst fasehood its great
nv travels with the speed Of the electric telegraph Lon