The southern press. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1850-1852, 1852-06-30
ReplY of General Scott.

NeplY OF General ScOH
SIR | have had the honor to receive from
your hands the official notice of my +" unanimous
nomination as the Wing candidate for the office
of President of the United States" together
with ga copy of the resolutions passed by the
convention expressing their opinions upon some
| of the most prominent questions of national
policy"
This great distinction, conferred by numer.
Gus, intelligent and patriotic body, representing
millions of my countrymen, sinks deep into my
heart; and remembering the very eminent names
which were before the convention in amicable
competition with my own, | am made to feel
progressively, the weight of responsibility be-
longing to my new position.
Not having written a word to procure this
distinction, lost not moment, after it hac
been conferred, in addressing letter to one OF
your members to signify what would be, at the
proper time, the substance of my reply to the
convention and now have the honor to repeat
in more formal manner, as the occasion justly
demands, that accept the nomination, with the
resolutions annexed.
The political principles and measures laic
down in those resolutions are 80 broad that blu
little is left for me to add. therefore barely
sue gest, in this place. that should |, by the par
tiality of my countrymen, be elevated to the
chief magistracy of the Union, shall be ready
in my connexion with Congress, to recommend
or to approve of measures in regard to tho man
agement of the public domain SO as to secure
an early settlement of the same favorable to nc
Jual settlers but consistent nevertheless with &
due regard to the equal rights of the whole
American people in that vast nation i inherl
lance and also to recommend or approve Of q
single alteration in our naturalization laws, sug
gested by my military experience, viz: giving t.
all foreigners the right of citizenship who shall
faithfully serve in time of war one year on boarc
of our public ships, or in our land forces, regular
Tor volunteer, on their receiving an honorable
discharge from the service.
: 10 regard to the general policy of the admin
|,istration, if elected, | should Of course look
among those who may approve that policy fol
the agents to carry it in o execution; and
.hould seek to cultivate harmony and fraterna
Sentiments throughout the Wing party, withou
attempting to reduce its members by proscrip
ton to exact conformity to my own views
But should, at the same time, be rigorous in
regard to qualifications for office-retaining and
|Iappointng no one either deficient in capacity or
Integrity, or in devotion to Liberty, to the Con
stitution, and the Union.
Convinced that harmony or good will between
the different quarters of our broad country is
essential to the present and future interests Of
the republic, and with devotion to those in
terests that can know no South and no North,
should neither countenance nor tolerate any Sc.
dition, disorder, faction, or resistance to the
law, or the Union, on any pretext 10 any part of
the land and should carry into the civil ad
mnistration this one principle of military con
fduct-obedienc to the Legislative and Judicial
A. 70 IF Mt in, fr of
utional sphere-saving only, in respect to the
Legislature, the possible resort to the veto pow
to be most cautiously exercised, and
under the strictest restraints and necessities.
Finally, for my strict adherence to the princi
pies of the Wing party as ,presaed in the res
lolutions of the convention, and herein suggest
led with sincere and earnest purpose to ad
vance the greatness and happiness of the re
public, and thus to cherish and encourage the|
cause of constitutional liberty throughout the|
world, avoiding every act and thought that
might involve our country in an unjust or un
necessary war, or impair the faith of treaties,
land misunderstanding all political agitation in
furious to the interests Of society and danger
3ous to the Union, can offer no other pledge
Tor guarantee than the known incidents of long
! public life, now undergoing the severest exam
1ination
Feeling myself highly fortunate in my asso
1ciate on the ticket, and with lively sense Of
3my obligations to the convention, and to your
personal courtesles,
have the honor to remain sir, with great
esteem, your most obedient servant,
WINFIELD SCOTT.
ITO the Hon. J. G. CHAPMAN, President of the
Wing National Convention.
General Chairman 10 Mr. Graham