The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1852-06-15

most probably rt,oard has friends and have shown
,oho hey and must be- long he relies on the
organization to which he now looks to elect him.
Uenera! Scotps election, under present circgm-
stances would, In my opinion, continue the Gov
ernment IN the hands of the Freeso party till
their fanaticism dissolved the Union.
Sir, men take different views OF duty and re-
peat do not question the purity of the motives of
! those southern men who differ from me. But
OF all the wonders ere have wondered Mt, il
does seem to me most wonderful" that any hon
est, true-hearted southern man, unless blinded
by party or personal feeling can give his support
to General Scott as he now stands before the coun
try Yet there are among his few southern sup
porteTs sincere, honest, and honorable men, one
OF whom (Mr. WARD, of Kentucky now have
In my eye. but who, am sure has suffered his
personal Partialities for the man to blind his judg
ment Knowing the influences around General
Scott--the set Of men who will be brought into
power with him-the complete triumph his sue
cess will be to the Frecsoil and Anti Slavery
party, and the baneful consequences Of an election
elected by such an organization, would feel
Justly chargeable with willingness to sacrifice
the, good of my country for party advantage,
and to barter my principles for votes, Il speak but
for myself) were TO give ''aid and comfort" to
the worst enemies OF the Constitution and the
rights OF the South by yielding to their imperious
demand to sacrifice such men Fillmore and
| Webster for one whom they think they can use
and whom they haze used, most effectively, up to
the present time. Sir, could not respect myself
II, In such contest as is now ging in the North
ern S!ates, could consent to abandon those who
hight Tor the constitutional rights of my section.
regard the election of Scott as the humiliation of
all our northern friends. If, from motives of mere
policy, and to secure anominal party triumph, the
South abandons those friends now, who will ever
again raise his voice in defence of her rights? If,
to please Abolitonists, and get their votes, (and
that Is the appeal made to u.s. desert these
men who. in standing by the Constitution have
stood by Us, We deserve to be spit upon and to be
made the bondmen Of those who would libcrate our
slaves
Sir, have an abiding faith that the sectional
gum, will not control the Wing National Conven-
ton. know the potency Of the means resorted to
to effect their object but think they will all fail
Tho Dragging and bullying to Brighten the timid-
the temptations and alluring promises presented to
leading politicians and members of the conven-
tlon-the means resorted to to have Scott men
elected to that convention-the effort made 10
weaken the influence of national Northern Whigs-
the gross Misrepresentation of the motives, pur-
poses. and action of the Southern Wings who re-
tired from the late Wing caucus-may have its ef-
feet, and cause some to swerve from the line Of
J duty; but there is enough Of patriotism and sense
Of justice among the people to prevent the success
OF all these schemes of the politicians.
| There is one trick in this Presidential game
which demands some notice In reply to the com
plant that General Scott refuses to WRITE it is in
tlmated that he "has not been applied to-" "No
one,' it is said, "has written to him to ask his
opinions." Sir, this is merely absurd, or fraudu
lent device, In keeping with the conduct of many
who urge his nomination, to impose upon the peo
ple 1t ia intended to enable southern men to say
that Scott tooud haze trritien satisfactory letter
il he had been applied to, and to let their Northern
Freesoil allies boast that he has refused to comply
with the wishes OF the Southern slave propagand.
lsts" Sir, do not know what letters have been
actually written to General Scott. But have the
best reason to believe and to knOlD, that he has pre-
uenfed letters being sent to him, by earnestly re.
questing hs personal friends not to write letter
asking him to give publicity to his opinions the
Compromise measures The history Of the proposal
on the part of members of the Virginia Legislature
to write such letter, is familiar to many within
the sound Of my voice. But, sir even if this were
should any one write to him to learn his opnioni
He has publicly said he will not answer them, and
that he will write more letters. ] will read that
extraordinary letter Of his, insulting to the
American people;
"WAsHINoToN, March 26, 1851.
"SIR: have received your letter, (marked 'con-
fdentinl,) in which, after committing the o.
supposing me to be fully before the country the
Wing candidate for the Presidency, you proceed
to interrogate me on many points of grave public
interest.
Permit me to say that, considering shall
probably only have Wing candidate for the Pres
dency through National Convention, and that
cannot be Its nominee except by the force of the
unsolicited Partially OF large masses of my coun
trymen;
Considering. also, that if my character or prn
ciples be not already known, it would now be idl,
to attempt to supply the deficient information by
mere paper professions Of wisdom and virtue mad,
for the occasion;
"And considering that, ifI answer your queries
must go on and answer others already before me
ms well ms the long series that would inevitably
follow, TO the disgust Of the public;
81 will beg permission to close this acknowledg
ment of your letter by subscribing myself with
WINFIELD SCOTT.
g. -, esq, Harrisburg, Pa.
| "P 81 must add that tcrite and sdu noiItins
on public subjects rhich untoiiling to pub
Iishsd. w. S."
What commentary on his present course!
The idea that General Scott ioants an opporfunit,
to write is preposterous. His opinions have beer
called for from one end OF the country to the
other. -Four months ago earnestly appealed tc
him from my place here to do himself justice, and
to give to the public the opinions he expressed
in private, and it was my wish and expectation
that he would answer that appeal. II was not foe
late then to have saved himself from the contain
ination OF his abolition associates, and TO have
preserved the nationality of the Wing party, and
saved it from ignominious defeat, should he be
its nominee. If his opinions really what bis
southern supporters represent, and if be bad been
true TO his former character, illustrated in that
honorable sentiment expressed in his letter to
Mr.. Atkinson, Of Virginia. that he would ''prefer
to on the eide OF frankness and capdor, rather
than by silence to allow n stranger unwittingly to
commit himself to his support" and said to the
public what he Is said to declare to all who APP
proach him in private on this subject, be might
have attained the goal of his ambition. With the
great mass OF the northern people oppostion to the
Compromise does not involve a principle; it lie a
measure If policy. The maintenance Of these mea
sures Gin principle and substance" is held by the
southern Wings to be v,fal, and involving prin-
cipie to which every question OF policy must yield
While We prefer, and think il due to ourselves to
re-elect Mr.. Fillmore, yet our chief desire 10 TO
continue The policy " has Adnin,str afion, and if
| General Scott had presented himself to the coun.
try, Ms il is said he does privately, the reprcsen
tstivc Of that policy, we in the South would have
given him our cordial support, and doubt not be
would have been triumphantIy elected am
| lspeak the sentiments of the President when say
that be would, in such case, have heartily rcjoiced
at the election Of General Scott, as he would now
at the election Of any one who has publicly avowed
and will run as the representative Of that principle
| OF which be 10 30 worthy an embodiment.
But, sir, General Scott has taken bis position; he
has chosen bis friends and thrown himself into the
arms OF a northern sectional faction, and he must
take the consequences OF his own voluntary act.
| With bis antecedents and attendants, and the nu-
merous indiscroet letters he has written, it 10 Alb
surd To suppose that he can be elected President
My information leads me to think him the weakest
man who can be nominated, and that il is ques
honable II he can carry any State but Vermont.
II lie morally iuposibs for him to carry Southern