Lynchburg Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1829-185?, 1852-05-31
Presidential Pledges.

The New York Herald publishes a circular
letter, addressed by Mr.. Robert G. Scott Of
Richmond, to the various aspirants for the Pre-
sidency on the Democratic side, and briefly
states the substance oftheir replies. Mr.. Scott
propounds to each, the questions. whether il
nominated and elected. he would. in his admin.
istra,ion Of the government sustain, and by eve
ry means in his power enforce and have exc
cuted.in all their parts. the various acts OF Con-
gross constituting what is known as the Com
promise, and especially the cnactmen,s of that
law relating to the recapture by their owners
Of fugitive slaves; aud whether he would dis
counrenance, by every proper means, all at
tempts 10 disturb or change the provisions Of
that Iaw; and finally " neither if any measure
modifying or changing the law referred to. SO
as to impair its present valuable enactments
should be adopted by Congress. he would. as
President, veto it?
The substance Of the replies is thus given
by the Herald's Washington correspondent:
.'To the above, Gen. Houston replied, ulder date Of
the 81, inst, that he voted for all the measures EN-
braccd in the Compromise Bill, severally, and he has
| NtiIt tNh W 0uorS w tfnHEV MS 't"S- 80 %'"'
that he would not hesitate to veto any bill impairipg the
law for the protection of the constitutional rights which
| guarantee to the people Of tue South the possession and
enjoyment Of their slave property.
Gen. Cass writes to-day, declaring his acquiescence
in all the Compromise measures. He expresses the
opinion that it would be the duty Of u President to ve.o
any bill that weakened or impaired the fulfIlment Of the
constitutional obligation 10 deliver up fugitive slaves. as
enfur. ed by the Fugitive Slave law. He declares the
sac, i6ce of individual opinion, in opposition to any Of
the Compromise measures to be u duty every good citi'
zen owes his country and the preservation of the Uniun.
Judge Douglas also writes to-day. He adveits to his
past public career, as showing his opinions as to the
Compromise measures, and says his views have under
gone no change. He does not hesitate to stnte expressly,
that it is tine duty Of every true American to oppose the
repeal or modification Of the Fugitive Slave law, that
would impair the fulflment Of the constitutional obiiga-
ton on that subject. Yet he would not yield the pat
ronage Of the government to influence the Legislatureo on
that or any other subject.
Col. W. X. King. Of Alabama, writes that he %acquies-
ces in the compromise. He regards the Fugitive Slave
law, not in the light of ordinary legislation but that it is
to carry out a constitutional guarantee, and the Presi-
dent ought to negative any act the effect of which would
be to impair or weaken its efficiency.
Daniel s. Dickinson, ofNew York, has replied that he
ncquiesces in all the Compromise measures; but that he
is not a candidate for the Presidency, having long since
expressed a preference for u distinguished statesman,
Gen. Cass) He considers it the duy of the President
to veto any measure, which in any way would impair the
efficiency of the Fugitive Slave law.
Gen Rusk has replied, by taking the same decided
stand with the foregoing, but disclaims any aspirations
for the Presidency. He avows his preference for Gen.
Houston over all others.
Several other replies have been written, which l have
not yet seem"
Since the memorable lesson given us by Mar
tin Van Buren,, We all know well enough the
value of pledges from ~locofoco asPirants for
the Presidency. This movement of Mr.. Scott
may have been prompted by motives entirely
patriotic, but to US it looks very much like a Jug
gle, the object of which is to save the conven-
ton and the party from the necessity Of making
a pledge with regard to the fugitive slave law.
1t would be a great achievement in the art OF
lodging if the party could be relieved from the
obligation to show their hands upon this ques-
ton. But the South we think will keep its
eyes open, and the thimble-rig politicians will
lose their game.