The weekly Lancaster gazette. (Lancaster, Ohio) 1852-1855, 1852-09-23
READ AND CIRCULATE,



read with deep interest. Many old Demo- /
erats in this State and even in this county, |
have fought side by side and shoulder TO |
shoulder under the banner Of Ex- Gov Lucas
and the reasons which he gives for support
ing Gen. Scott will have great influence
with them. Read and circulate:-
Iowa CITY, Sept. 9, lS52.-Ex.G G overn-
or ROBERT LUcAs-HOnore6 Sir: l have,
within the last tew weeks, seen It stated in |
a number OF the Wing papers of Iowa, and
elsewhere, that you have expressed yourself
in favor Of the election to the next Presi- |
dency of Gen. Winfield Scott, and that you
would support him with your vUte and infiu- !
ence. ,r ..s .-, h..
l assure you sir, that was much pleased
to learn that this was the position you oc-
cupied. But within the last few days this
report has been contradicted in some of the
Democratic papers ofthis State. ''
My object, therefore, in addressing you
at this time, is to learn from you, over your
own signature, what are your feelings and
views in relation to the fitness and qualifica-
tions Of the two prominent men now before
the American people as candidates for the
high and pre-eminently responsible position
of President of these United States; and
whether or not you design supporting Cen
eral Winfield Scott for that office.
An answer from you at your earliest con-
venience will very much oblige your friend
and obedient servant, S. M.BALLARD.
To Ex-Governor LUCAS, near Iowa City,
Iowa.
I.a ai Plum GROVE, Sept. 8, 1859.
/ DR. S. NJ. BALLARD: Dear Sir.-Y our let
ter of yesterday in relation to statements
Gin number of Wing papers Of Ohio and
elsewhere" concerning the position which
now occupy, and your inquiries as to my
t''feelugs and views" towards Generals
Winfield Scott and Franklin Pierce as can
didatcs for the next Presidency, is now be-
fore me.
And, in answer to it, permit me to say to
you, that il is with no ordinary interest
view the contest now going ON between the
friends of General Winfield Scott and Gen
eral Pierce-the two prominent men now
candidates for the Presidential chair of the
Union, the one nominated by a Wing Ma
tionHl Convention--the other by Conven-
ton of the Democratic party. have, sir,
as you know, always been a Democrat;
was born Democrat and | expect to live
the balance of my days as such, ard then die
a Democrat.
supported Thomas jefferson for the Pres
idency. supported Mr.. Madison two terms,
Mr.. Monroe twice, and was one of the elec-
tors in Ohio that voted for Monroe at the
time of his second election. In 1924 was
placed at the head of the Jackson electoral
ticket in Ohio; in 1928 was chosen an elector
in that State, and gave my vote as such, for
General Andrew Jackson. e.%
was President Of the Democratic Ma
tional Convention at Baltimore, in 1882,
which nominated General Jackson for re-
lelection, and that recommended Martin Van
Buren us u candidate for Vice President on
the same ticket; supported Mr.. Van Bur-
en- for the Presidency in 1886 and lS40.
voted for General Cass in lS4S, and should
freely vote for him again were he candi-
} date. These are so many proofs of my title
of Democrat. This title has been well earn
ed, and my right to it shall never be impair
ed. But | cannot support Franklin Pierce,
by word or deed, for the important office OF
President, consistent with principles which
have ever as Democrat entertained, nor
with the voluntary pledges that made to
the Democratic Convention of Ohio, which
nominated me in 1884, as candidate for re-
election to the Office OF Governor of that
ilourishing State; these pledges being as
follows: "My motto has ever been, priaci-
PTS, measures, anil man that toW curry priaci-
pies md measures into etrct--and yon may
rest assured, that whatever may be my sta
ton or situation in life, you may always find
me in the ranks OF Democracy, supporting
the principles and measures that were pro-
(essed and acted upon in the administration
of J.fersoA, a Madison, and JaclsoR, and
such men as will carry their principles and
measures into effect"
The position Mr.. Pierce has ever occupied,
in Congress or any other public station, in
reference to questions vital to Western pros
perity, has been antagonistical to those
which were advocated and dearly cherished
by those eminent statesmen whose election
to the Presidency | most heartily and cordi-
ally advocated. They taught, and have
always believed that the Constitution vested
in Congress the power to open and repair
harbors and remove distractions from nari-
gable rivers; and that it was expedient that
Congress should exercise such power when
ever such improvements are necessary for
the common defence--for the protection and
facility of commerce with foreign nations or
among the States--said improvements being
national aud general in their character.
understand Mr.. Pierce to superadd to the
above doctrine, proviso to the effect, that
the waters on which these Improvements
are proposed to be made shall be salt and
that they shall be moved by tides He has
lin effect, declared that the depths of the wa
ters to be improved, nor their capacity for
trade among the States, form no criterion for
just demand upon federal protection. His
political history as collected from his action
in Congress, no less than from his letter to
the committee of the Convention, accepting
his nomination to the Presidency in the terms
set forth in the Platform, furnish evidence
of his hostility to all the prominent meas
ures which tend to Western prosperity, Of
which Internal Improvements and Domestic
Industry are the most important.
AS Western man, therefore, aud as an
original Jackson Democrat, rs friend to
internal improvements, and to the Protec-
tion and encouragement of American Indus
try, cannot and / will not support such
man as Franklin Pierce for the Presidency.
And as there are now but two prominent can
didates before the American people namely:
Winfield Scott and Franklin Pierce, one of
whom will necessarily be elected the next
President, l shall most cheerfully and freely
give my vote and influence to Gen. Scott.
| believe him by far the best Democrat of
thetwo, and one whom every friend to the
West particularly, and to Internal Improve
ments, and to the promotion Of American In
dustry, ought to prefer and to cordially sup