The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1852-08-04
Scott as a Hero and Statesman.
SPEECH or JOHN NJ YTOl

| proceed to the question, shall we
ratify the decision of the Baltimore
Convention in favor of Winfield Scott,
or no? l intend to submit a few rea-
sons why we should ratify that deci-
sion. In the first place, l undertake
to say-if my humble testimony can
be admitted at all upon such ques-
ton as this-I have for many years
known Winfield Scott, of ew-Jcrsey,
and know him to be not only a great
soldicr-the greatest captain of the
age-but | know him to be scholar
and statesman. There is no great
er error than to suppose, because
man is a great soldier, he cannot be
a great civilian. Gen. Scott has de-
voted his life to the study of the pro-
fcssion of his youth. lie was, before
he went into the army, lawyer, and
although l have met many men well
acquainted with the doctrines Of inter
national law, | have never seen one
more familiar with, and more deeply
versed in the true principles Of inter-
national law than Winfield Scott. No
greater error can be committed by
you, my countrymen, than to suppose,
because he is a great soldier, a yicto-
rlous general, he is nothing more. lie
is scholar, an elegant and profound
scholar. lie is a man, if he had new
er achieved victory in battle, emil
ncntly qualified to FIJI the Office of
President, because of his civil qualiii-
cations and it is because of them |
stand here, and mean to stand every.
where, ready to support him. More
over, my fellow-citizens, Winfield Scott
is n man whose experience in public
alairs-independent of his mere learn
ing from books-is equal to that Of
any member Of the House of Repre-
sentatives or Senate of the United
States. lie has taken deep interest
in the political affairs of his country
since early youth. Originally, before
the war of 1912, a Democrat of the
Madisonian and Jcffersonian school,
impulsive, warm-hearted, ardent and
patriotic, when the outrages that were
committed upon this country by Eng
land occurred, he resolved oleaye the
profession in which he had every pros
pect of brilliant success, for the pur
pose of fighting the battles of his coun
try, and, if necessary, shedding hi,
blood in her defence. My fellow citi-
zens, stand here and support Winfield
Scott, not only for these reasons, no
only because he is civilian and states
man, but because l know him, of my
own knowledge, 20 be a man as pure
in heart, as high-minded and honora
bic in all his intercourse with his fel
low men as any man | ever knew
Enthusiastic applause. Viewing
him, then, as a man qualified for the
Office, ! 20 on to consider his othe
merits, and those which entitle him t,
the gratitude of his country. He is
victorious General and great soldier
and pronounced by the greatest Cap
tain on the other side of the water t,
be one of the greatest men Of the age
His victories at Chippewa and Lundy'
Lane were accounted at the time whel
they occurred among the most remark
able events of the war of 1912. Wit
an inferior force at Chippewa he dc
feated Gen. Riley, although his troop
were composed of the best veterans G
the British army. And Scott achieve
this triumph not merely by the valo
of his soldiers, but by his own inimi
able skill in that splendid battle. ]
has been, among military men, eve
since, the theme ofunqualifed admira
ton. The manner in which the bat
tie was fought, you have no time t
hear, nor | to describe ; but l hay
heard the best military men declar
there was no battle which exhibite
more consummate skill and address tina
was shown by Scott when he conquer
!, ed Riley. Applause The mex
great battle in which this distinguishe
> warrior showed his skill, was the ba
tie of Niagara Falls, July 25, 18l;
In that night of horrors, when nor
t men fell on the battle field than pei
Q haps have ever fallen in any struggl
t of equal numbers of British and A
merican troops, Winfield Scott sufere
r the loss of two horses from under hin
= was first wounded in the side, and sti
!. kept the field, until a few moment
f before the action closed, when, fgh
e ing before Jessup's regiment, and col
Il tending, between muskets fourteen fe'
l. apart, he was struck through the bod
;, and left for dead upon the field, ha'
: ing been dragged behind tree, al
d laid there until the battle was owe
o The suffering which he underwent mi
t. be seen by men who know him depi
of ted in his face until this day. III
l. terrible h@morrhage has left the line
h ments OF his countenance of pail
le hue, and he now exhibits, and alwa
Ie will, the consequences of the woun
he received in that dreadful battl
* Perhaps a year elapsed before he 1
as covered so that his health would e
W. able him to perform any duty. !
he visited Europe, in order, if possib