Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1852-07-22
l)olihtnl.
SCOTT HERO 4 STATESMAN.
Speech OF John NJ. clayton.

speech OF John VI. Clayton.
At Ratification Meeting held at Delaware,
on Wednesday, June %, Hon John NJ Clayton
delivered an able and eloquent Speech, from
which we make the following extract;
1 proceed to the question, Shall we ratify
tie decision Oft Baltimore Convention in
favor Of WINFIELD Scorr, or NOT | intend
90 submit few reasons why we should rat
il that decision. In the first place. I'M
derlake TO say If my humble testimony can
be admitted or received at all upon such
question as this--l have for many wears
known Winfield Scott, of New Jersey. and
! know han to be not only a great soldier
DIE greatest captain of the age-bat know
hm 10 be a scholqr and a statesman. -
There Is 40 greater error than to suppose.
because a man is a great soldier, he cannot
0. great CIVILIAN General Scott has de-
voted bis life tothe study of the profession
@, lis early youth. He was, before be went
u,o The army a lawyer, and although
have met many men well acquainted with
Die doctrines of international law. | have
never seen one more familiar with. and
more deeply yersed 10, the true principles
% international law, than Winfield Scott.
NO greater error Can be committed bv
You, my couutrymeu, than to suppose, be-
cause he is a great soldier, victorious
general, he Is nothing more lie is schol.
r, an elegant and profound scholar lie
man, if he had never achieved a victory
Do battle, emiuenuy qualified to iill the Of
bee OF Presldept, because of his civil quail
tstonsi and it is because of them that
alud here, aud mean 10 stand everywhere,
ready to support him. Moreover, my fell
JOS citizens, Winfield Scott Is a man whose
experience ia public affairs independent
o. his mere learning from books--is equal
90 ihot Of any member of the House OF Rep
resentatiYes or the Senate of the United
Sales. He has taken a deep interest ia
te political affairs of his country since ear
youth Originally, before the war of
lsl2, Democrat Of the Madsonlan aud
le,iersonlan school, impulsNe, warm heart
I'd, ardent and patuolIc, when the outrages
iaai were committed upon this country by
England occurred, he resolved TO leave the
Profession IN winch he had every prospect
OF brilliant success for the purpose of eght-
ing the battles of has country, and, II ne
cessafy, shedding has blood IN her defense.
lly fellow citizens, | stand here and sup
port Winfield Scott, not only Tor these rea-
sons, not only because he IS a civilian aud
statesman, but because | know him, Of
NY oWn knowledge, TO be a man as pure ia
leari as high minded and honorable IN all
BIS intercourse with his fellow men, as any
nan ever knew. Enthusiastic applause
a. Ia . d.
Me oilce, | 90 on TO consider has other
meuls and those which ontItle him to the
s'autnde Of his country. He is a vicior-
ols General and great soldier, and pro-
uolnced by the greatest captain on the 9th
q side OF the water to be one of the great
est men of the age. His victories at CHIP
pe"a and Lundys Lane were accounted at
We time when they occurred among the
most remarkable events of the war OF 1872
MN an inferior force at Chippewa, he de-
lealed General Riley, although his troops
we're composed of the best veterans of the
British army. And Scott achieved this tri-
luph not merely by the vdor of has sol
u'efs, but by his own inimitable skill IN
mat splendid battle. 1t has been, among
military men, ever since the theme of un-
qualified admiration. The manner in which
me battle was fought you have no time to
near, nor | to describe but ! have heard
Ue best military men declare that there was
10 battle which exhibited more consum-
mate skill and address than was shown by
0JoU when he conquered Riley. (Ap-
rause.) The next great battle IN which
'1ls distinguished warrior showed his skill
was was the battle Of Niagara Falls, July %,
lol5' In that night OF horrors, when more
men iell on the battle field than perhaps
nave ever fallen in any struggle of equal
numbers of British and American troops,
"ihheid Scott suffered the loss of Two
lutses from under him, was first wounded
gu us side, aud still kept the field until
'" moments before the action closed,
onen' lighting before Jessrp's regiment,
I S"u eohlendlng, between muskets fourteen
acc. apart, he was struck through the body
sDu lett for dead upon the field, having been
legged behind a tree, aud laid there until
we battle was over The Suffering which
nc underwent may be seen, by men who
suo" hlm, depicted in his face until this
lay The terrible hemorrhage has left the
'ueamenls Of his counlenauce of pallid
'N NC now eAhlOlts anu Always Will,
Me consequence of the wounds he received
~ mat dreadful battle. Perhaps year e.
'1Psed before he recovered so that his health
loud enable him to perform any duty
te VISITED Europe, in order, if possible, TO
s1qlFe more health. To this day, howev-
~ Inc bride arm cannot be lifted, except
"on The elbow. pass over many Skin
I'shes IN which he was engaged-and /
lave no doubt he has passed Through hun
eus OF engagements commonly called bat
es-ior desire TO call your attention to
'De Considerations | have mentioned, and
:, some others which occurred during the
"eA'ean war. From Vera Cruz to the