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

questions could be misund ersood, and that any
man would have the boldnees TO attempt to mis-
reprcsent them. OF the late lamented President
have always said that a better and purer man
never lived one truer in heart TO the interests
OF the South. He wns friend to whom wac sim
cerely attached, and he possessed my entire conf.
dence; and notwiths nding the infue uceo around
him, remained TO the hour Of his death true to the
Union, the Constitution, and the South But, cir,
we now know that sren he was greatly misunder-
stood and misrepresented, and the country sorely
felt the effect of the baneul influences around him.
IL - this same influence which fear, and
therefore the Southern States, with accord de-
mand public, unequivocal declaration from all
Presidential candidates-stronger, if possible in
the case OF General Scott than from Others because
he has presented himself to the country Sin such
qtsslsorabls shape"
And now. sir, should give my countenance
and support to one who is a northern man
who, although native Of Virginia, boasts that he
"osns no sIaUes" and declares that he is :" in favor
0! the gradual emancipation OF the saves Of
others, and that :" it is moral obligation" of those
who do own them to "eIttrminate' slaUery--who is
the candidate Of the Freesoil element of the Wing
party-whose election is specially urged by the
| enemies OF the Fugitive Slave law and other agi-
| tators and abolitioniss- whose nomination is
| barely tolerated by few southern men, who pre-
fer policy to principle, because he get more
dnft sIcdpsry COss than any one clse-if, sir, say
| were to give my support to such a man, TIE
| terms proposed, and in view of all tho circum.
stances, past and present, feel that would merit
| j
mark applied to myself alone. am not now ques-
| tionng the motives Of others They reconcile
| their actions to their own conscences-
| Now, Mr. Chairman, think have shown why
the Southern Wings, at least, should demand OF
their candidates public com'nittal to u policy
which, to them and 10 tho whole country, is uildl
Besides, sir, circumstances to which shall allude,
make it doubtful if correctly understood General
Scotts position when / snid that, per SC, he was
''entitled to the support of Compromise men. +"
There is, presume, no doubt of the fact that he
did, as said on former occasion, express him.
SELF decidedly in favor of s'e Compromise bills. -
understood from this that he In favor of The
Fugitive Slacs i0iD, well the other measures
But see that some Of his Freesoil friends take the
ground that this important law IS not of "the
Compromise bs.'' 1t was not, they say, in "the
! Omnibus" and therefore not part of the Compro-
mise, and that General Scott may have "exerted
his influence to secure the passage of the Compro-
Slave law In the Senate of the United States, on
! the 18th Of April, Senator from California, Mr.
GwiN, faid to MIR. MANGUh, who had made a
speech Mandatory of General Scott:
| CHOW, wish to know whether the honorable
| Senator speaks by authority, when he says that
General Scott occupies the same position with re.
gard to the Fugitive Slave bill as the President!
81 wish to know whether the honorable Senator
speaks by authority in making this announcement
whether he wants the country to come to tho con-
closon that General Scott is in favor OF the Fugi-
tive Slave law as it is, and as it passed through
| Congress; and, if elected President OF the United
States, will execute the law it is and oppose
! any modification amendment whatsoever"
| Mr.. MANGuM epaded the question, and said:
| Gas to the provisions of the Fugitive Slave bill
can the Senator from California name to me u sin
| gle person who voted for what is now usually
| termed 'the Compromise measuree,' who is salts
fed with all the details Of all the bills embraced in
| those measures!''
! And further he says he General Scott)
would "have every law executed as long as 1t is a
| latp''
| Now, sir, MIR. GwIN's question was directed spe-
cially to the point of General Scotts opinion on
the Fugitive Stare iaw-it was admitted that he
was In favor OF all the Other 'Compromse mea-
sures." Why did Mr.. MANGuM avoid a direct an
to the question; and why the declaration that
"he would execute the law LoNa Il A
| LAW" Why, sir, this evasion, except to encour
| age the idea advanced in Northern Freeso pa
pers, that General Scott will not discountenancs
modification or repeal Of the Fugitive Sacs la,r.
Again, sir. as have already stated, the most de-
cided and violent advocates Of the repeal of this la,U
are the warmest supporters OF General Scott. We
| IND them sending as delegates TO represent them
| in the National Convention Mr.. Palmer Kellogg,
whose official deputies said to have avowed their
determination to resist the execution OF the Fugitive
Slave law, and Others whose consciencsS, like his
compelled them TO denounce and revile the law OF
| the land. Some of these men were Federal Office
| holders, removed by Mr.. Fillmore and are now
"Scou dsfgatts" to the National Convention, sen,
to insult the President, well to resist his
ination to the bitter end. To show their uncom-
promising, unfair, and rindictive opposition, the
|
man Kellogg was appointed chairman of a COM
mittee on contested elections at the convention OF
Now York delegates. OF course every friend OF
the President was ruled out. These the men
who to sit in judgment on Mr.. Fillmore's
claims. They are 10 dictate who shall be the can.
didate Of the Wing party. And here on this floor
we lind that gentlemen most conspicuous for oppo.
sltion TO the Compromise, especially the Fugitive
| Slave law-Rentlemen who left the first Wing eau
Gus becauseit endorsed the Compromise, and Others
who think with thcm-are the most earnest ndvo-
Gates of SCOTS nomination. Indeed, wherever you
see a Wing Freesoiler, who ever acted with
| the Wing party, and an ant-Fugitivo Slave law
man, uho does not bsIong 10 the Democratic party,
| you will surely find Scott man"
Verbal declarations, such induced me to say
that General Scott was in favor OF the passage OF
the "Compromise measures" liable to be mis-
| understood. will illustrate: i understood more
than one gentleman to say that they approved
and endorsed every word OF my speech" OF Febru-
| airy J. who now express themselves satisfied with
private declsrations from their candidate and, with
out more pu6tc co'nm,tfoI, arc ready to join Sew
| ard, Mangum, Kellogg, Greeley x Co, in their
efforts TO nominate Scott, and PROSTATE Fillmore
| and every northern man who has breasted the
storm OF abolition. l must have misunderstood
/ these gentlemen, or their opinions have greatly
| changed since; and may have misunderstood
General Scott, or be, too, may have changed his
| opinions.
! But, sir, even supposing that there is no doubt
as to the soundnees OF General Scot's private optn
IONS, we had right To demand a public Expression
OF them; and think, from all that can hear, that
the great mass of the southern Whigs will consider
that be has already put of their public nvowal TOO
long. He has allowed the anti slavery md anti
compromise parties TO rally under has name. Under
the cry Of seou aud Repeal the agitators and
revers Of the laws Of the country, and the patriots
who passed them, have been cent to the Wing Ma.
tionnl Convention, suorn frtsnds Of GsnTaI Scott.
He would not speak before these elections-nor till
/ he bad the convention filled with men committed to
| him, and to his mum policy. ] think the southern
people will now say IL Is too late. In my judgment
| II is doubtful II be could write letter which
would restore him to the confidence of majority
OF the people OF one single Southern State. I do
not think be could.
HE beet friend cannot say that he is not
controlled by SEWARD and his ooo,rs. For, lift be
true that he s in favor of the maintenance Of all
the Compromise measures, including the Fugitive
Slave law. no poss,bie reason 'notpe can be
sgn,d for the concealment Of his opinions, except
desire TO propitiate the Frecsoil and anti Fugitive
Slave law sentiment of the North. Their avowal
would greatly benefit him in all the Southern States,
and can only injure him among the enemies of the
Compromise and the advocates of the repeal of the
Fugitive Slave law. IL cannot therefore be denied
that his prssenf action il controlled by them, and
our people naturally think they have reason to
foa hat he tpln 10 a.