The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1852-06-03
General scott's "Principles..

OF Messrs. Seward Johnston & Co., and their follow
es. assure of the fixed certainty OF Gen. SCOTS nom
nation makes il proper lose no time in ascerlaning if
possible, the principles upon which his administrative
policy will be based The present is fruitful only OF
silence from the General but the past with him has
had voice, and has spoken ga little" We therefore
place upon record for future analysis and reference four
of his chief political utterances in past mes--ihe main
contributions. believe, which he has yet made to the
political literature Of the country, il except his quite
celebrated correspondence with Mr. Secretary Marcy-a
chapter OF controversy. by the way which we never yet
knew whig anxious to call TO mind
We therefore transfer TO our columns. from the New
York Herald of Tuesday last, four letters of Gen Scott
Three OF them written some ten years snce but this
of no consequence because the General takes in them
to that "h principles are convictions intlma-
ting thereby that they know change From most men
this would seem, TO say the least OF it, super
uous but we must remember that the General in his
political associations is ichg and ne may, therefore,
desire to except his personal principles
from those Of his party by averring both their sincerity
and their durability
With this understanding of the matter, and with the
record before u.s. proceed for convenience Of ref
erence 10 make abre synopsis Of of the Generals
principles" far the public is favored with them
in these four letters:
The first OF these same "principes" which care
TO notice is the substantial abolition OF the veto porer Of
the President We presume the General will find this
principle highly convenen, if he should be elected. and
attempt should consequently, and at once be made TO
reopen the agitation by the disturbance Of the
Compromise and the repeal OF the fugitive law This
"princpe" explains several things texpains What the
M r. lou
days since in reply 10 searching and wel.put inter-
Iogatory by Hon. MIR. Polk, whether he author
lied 10 say that General Scott would ueto attempt
impair The efficiency of the fugitive law, he replied in
substance that not deemed sound chg policy to
make declarations that subject This principle" Of
General Scott also explains why Messrs. Seward and
Johnston. and the anti slavery agtatos generally. think
he would make such fine President just at this fine
This principle" of the General is doubtless now main
tanned by him, in view OF the fact that the deep and alb
soue quiet and tranquility of the country the sectional
issues for the last three four years. have been such
make this the very fttest moment in his judgment, TO
disorganize the frame OF the government, by s
king out OF efectual existence Of the main checks
which the trainers OF the constitution introduced into
legislative system in order 10 protect the constitutional
rights of NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. OF parties, Of sections
The next set of principles which among the
Generals convictions may be Jumped together. They
embrace many of those exploded political OF the
wing party which very many OF the more intelligent
among the wings themselves are now getting TO be
ashamed OF obsolete ideas" Among these princi.
pies OF the General figure conspicuously sort of ga
Bank OF the United States, general bankrupt law, and
the old bill for the distribution OF The proceeds of the pub
lie lands"
Such are The main lghts-ihe fixed stars OF political
phlosophy-in the form Of principles" which are con-
vcons set forth by the General in his letter number
one. II they do "ran" down on the Generals head
all nnuences of defeat and disaster before the peo-
pie OF this country, then all the teachings OF past
experience and all the successfully registered popular
verdicts OF late years no better than deuson.
The next principle" which we notice of the Generals
is decided inclination TO Canadd-a firm soon
vcion" that Great Britain will readily agree TO -and
decided Discrimination to have much TO do with Mexican
people or territory. II seems to be rather one sided
principle
The Generals next "pnncple" has been good deal
talked abou and not without reason, because, in view
OF it's character and history, il is about the funniest prn
cipe' we know Of II is an "ncnation" of the Generals
"mind' to take away from all foregu-b born citizens resi-
dent in the country The g 10 pos., by repeating the nau
alization laws II we understand the General he adopt
ed this "prncpIe" or conviction one day ,chen he got
into a rage-or he eoquently phrases it, when
be was fired Nth Indignation Certainly his prn
cipen was " confirmed" " that week"--indignat,on
week. may call ii--and he sat right down "in the
Astor House parlor" I" TO draw up address" which
should imbody the principle aforesaidwithout the
/" Indignation" we suppose-and should thus rally"
new party
But, alas for the mutabiliiy Of human principles"
when, in the Generals case, it is a conviction y
Some few years after the address in the Astor House,
the General grew cooler Apparently no longer fred
with Indignation" he backed out file wrote another
letter. included in the present list but which has been
extensively published. land which shall republsh
long, 10 complete record) in which letter the Gene
raj, with an awkward twinge or two about his Astor
House principle conviction" &C. pats. II were the
naiurazed citizens gently the head. and tells them
to be good boys, and they shall not lose all their right
VOTE after all
Now. in some men this might not be strange. BIT the
Generals principles" are his convictions" we are
told. But for the information, censorious persons might
infer from such change in the Generals principles"
that, instead Of styling them his Convictions he ought
to have called Them his convenience II not so the
letter we give il a strange one Most would think
twice before sitting down in parlor TO "rally party"