Portage sentinel. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1845-1854, 1852-08-11


pend miilions upon millions OF dollars up
ON no better authority than this.
Extract from speech Of Hon. R. c.
Schenck, another whig p. S23, vol. %,
par. /, same Appendix to Congressional
Globe.
81 am inquired OF whether believe it 10
be proper Tint the Secretary Of War, while
holding office as the head Of one Of the de-
partmen.s of the government, should pros.
ecule, or be interested, as Mr.. Crawford
was, in the prosecution Of q claim against
the government. And being thus inquired
Of, say will not shrink from my duty Of
answering, am compelled 10 declare that
do not think that proper. Such is the an
s~er which Ishali propose by my amends
ment; il is the answer which shall be
constrained to give, in some shape, by my
vote. do not wish TO enlarge upon the
evils that might arise from the recognition,
as q practice, of the ACT or relation which
| thus condemn. All that wish to say on
the subject is lhis-ihat | 90 not think the
head OF one of the departments should have
claim depending, and be interested in its
prosecution, before any one Of the other de.
prrtments of the governments, of which he
is component part.'
Il is q most striking fact, that oil the
leading advocates and apologisls OF the
Galphin plander, during Gen. Taylor's ad-
minisiratioD, were the first and foremost
II ~
and William NJ. Meredith, were original
and earnest co>laborers for Gen. SCOTS
nomination: and now give ali the tone and
force to his cause that they can give 10 it
in their respective Suites. As these cabi>
net ministers controlled Gen. Taylor TO his
ruin, so would direct the administration Of
Gen. Scott should he be elected President
Of the United States. Do no. lie, US be mis-
led by the fac, that Gen. Scott is different
or stronger minded man than Taylor
'fhe reverse is the fact; for if Taylor had
no one qualification for his high office, be
bore himself modestly, and rarely pressed
his own views upon his friends. SCOTS
weakness consists in the fact that he will
Try to be foremost. and, in the effort, will
cover himself with the ridicule that has al
ways followed his essays upon politics.
The consequence will De, tha. he must res
pose entirely upon others, should he ever
be chosen Chief Magistrate. In that event
what would be the spectacle exhibited to the
country? An administration crowded with
men who had either shielded gross wrongs,
under former Executive, or had filled
their pockets by means Of enormous fees,
collected from an administration of which
they were members, or had coined vast
bounties by means of Mexican and other
Such men have been tried,
and are now the recognized leaders in the
movement making TO defeat the democratic
party and such men Gen. Scott would se>
lee, 10 sustain him, should he be successful,
on the principle of being true to his trues.
friends.
Is this thing impossible It is not in the
nature OF events to avoid or TO evada the
Of electing an incompetent
man to the Presidency. Gen. Scott is
doubtless an honest man; but so was Gen.
Taylor. Gen. Scott is brave man, but
SO was Gen. Faylor; and there are few
wings who do not believe. and many who
openly admit, that the rule Of the latter,
brief as il wns made calamitous 10 the na-
iion by The bold and bad men who surround
ed him The reason why SO many men,
heretofore and at present members of the
whig party. refuse TO support Gen. Scott,
is not alone because he is surrounded by the
foes of the constitutional rights Of fifteen
States of this Union. There is another
reason, equally potential, and that is the
danger 10 our institutions Of repeating the
experiment of placing mere soldier al the
head Of the government which demands the
highest ability ald the ripest experience TO
conduct j, successfully and safely. =