The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1852-05-05
Senator Mangum on the Presidency.
We copy from the N. Y. Tribune an alb
stract of Senator MASGuM's speech on the
Presidency, in the Senate, April 10th

No copy from the ~. i. tribune an alb
stract of Senator MASGuM's speech on the
Presidency, in the Senate, April i5h.
MIR. MAsGUN said: .t
In regard TO The next Presidential cleo,
ton, he should very probably stand prepar-
ed to support The nominee of the Wing
Convention. lie proessed 10 he party
man, and should act upon these principles
which he professcd. lie would do rs he
was required to do four years ago, against
his judgment and inclination. But while
be should do this, he bad his preferences, as
he had four years ago. That preference
implied no tlerellclion of principle on his
part, nor ANY departure from or modifca>
ton of the principles that he had steadily
maintained for nearly thirty years If he
went in a particular direction, he knew tha.
there were conservatives Of hat was es-
teemed the peculiar institutions of the South,
who imagined that man was unfiihful to
them. If he did not happen to tread in the
path indicated by them. lie was old e.
nough, II not wise enough, 10 act upon the
suggestions Of his own understanding. But
wise or urwisc, he should probably do so
without fear, favor or affection, reward or
hope Of reward, unintimida'ed by the fear of
power, unseduced by the Establishments of
llattery. lie knew that he differed from the
constituency he represented, but notwiih-
standing, he should follow that course which
in his judgment was the proper one, uncon-
cerned ty what the results might be 10 him
personally. Ills purpose was to retire from
public life. lie was not now nor would he
be at any time a candidate for Officer lie
asked for nothing now. nor had he ever
asked for anything for himself or his friends.
lie understood from unmistakable evidence
tina, the people Of his State beyond ali ques.
ton or doubt preferred Il present Presi-
dent for the succession: That was not his
position AS he had Tour yelrs ago, So he
now preferred another individual. He knew
that this statement would break harslly up
on the ears of many friends of the admins-
traton, both here aud in North Carolina
but he felt it due 10 himself 20 say so now.
The people of North Carolina we're so aveise
TO agitation here upon all those exciting sub
jecis which had endangered the Union, that
they would scarcely bestow their support
upon any man who directly or indirectly
would encourage that agitation. In this re.
spect they and he did rot difor. No eh-
lish'ened patriot could desire to see the
country pass again through the exciting
scenes of lsi9 and so. lie prayed TO God
that such might never happen 10 the country
again. lie thought that in the burning fo>
Gus Of intrigue here in Washington, as much
had been done TO promote agitation as had
| ever been done by the Abolitoniss of the
North or the Disunionsts of the South. lie
had no sympathy in any such agitation
But he thought there was one man who
could present as clean bill Of health in this
respect as any other. That man was Win
fell Scott. He was his first choice, and il
ne is the nominee he had no fear o: the re-
suit. lie knew how difficult it would be for
him, (Gen. Scott powerless, without, pat
ronage, without official influence. 10 get the
/ nomination against the power Of AN admins>
traitor which welded in its support / OO. 900
| Office -holders and their friends and depend
ents, amounting 10 perhaps half million Of
persons. He knew if the Administration
should unscrupulousy use their power it
would be almost impossible for Gen. Scot
10 obtain the nomination. He thought the
Administration had right 20 expect from
him the declaration thai he never could sup
pose the President would use this power
unscrupulously, but he could not say so much
for the disposition of some of its fiiends
On the question Of re-opening agitation, he
desired to express his convic,lon-he might
almost say his kpowedge-t that Gen. Scott
could present TO the country as clean a bill
of health as could either the President, Mr..
Webster, or even Mr. Clay.
| lie could say that during the tendency of
the Compromise bills, and soon after their
passage, when men stood in fear and iremb-
ling how 10 proceed, General Scott stood
forth unnnchirgl,, ard urged their passage
& support. lie was not prepared to say that
the General approved of everything in
these acts very far from it. There was
not, he believed, a member of the National
! Legislature who approved Of them in all
! their details. He, mir. Mangum,) did not
approve of everything contained in them.
In this General Scott accords more with his
opinion on those bills than any other man.
lie was National in al! his feelings, ard de
sired TO see no triumphs by the North or the
South over the oher.-Bui, il was said
there must be new platform, and that this
Compromise should be made part of il;
this he opposed. Those acts were passed by
n snail majority of Southern Wings and
Democ. ats, and minority 81 both parties
al the North. lie saw no reason for this
course. There was no territory TO be ac-
quired upon which agitation could be re-
/ nawed. The highest ability was not re.
ouireu % make the best civil governor. Il
,vonId he fortunate for the world if j,
was: par.icuary for America. Right in.
ten,ions, sound heart firmness OF purpose,
and good share OF common sense, were
all that was required in tie Executive ia
make this people happy, prosperous AMI
free. - There was another circumstance
which induced him to prefer the individual
he had named to all Others Who had been
spoken of as the Wing candidate, which
was availability. Gen Scott was, in his o.
pinion, which had been unwaveringly fixed
for more than year and a half, the only
Wing in the country who could be elected
President Of the United States by The sui,
frages of the people. He admitted that
General SCOTS prospects had beer some
what crippled and damaged by the declara-
tons to support tho President, and tie,
had endea,ored to ally him with Free Soil,
ers and Abolilonists. There was no Free
Soilcr in the country who could calculate
upon Scott as an instrument 10 be used in
his hands. lie could never he made the in,
sirument OF faction, North or South. ii,
(Mr. Mangum) believed that General Scot
was the only Wing who had any chance o
being elected. He sympalhised with Gen.
eral Cass in such a contest.
After giving Mr.. Cass credit for his conrs,
on the Committee of Thirteen, he said tina
in a contest between Gen. Scott and him
Gen. Cass) the former would come off al
victorious as he had done over lie enemies
of his country al Cherubusco, ChepuiIepec
| md NIL lie of her hntlls fields of his cnunIr,