Daily American telegraph. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1851-1852, 1852-06-25
AMERICAN TELEGRAPH.
From the Baltimore American. |
The Whtg Nominations.


nation OF General Scott for the Presidencv il
hailed by the Wings throughout the country has
an appropriate counterpart in the dissatisfaction
which that event has caused among our political
opponents. No doubt the partisans of General
Pierce would have found fault with any candidate
that the Wing Convention might have selected ;
but at present their hostility is mingled with in
dcatons Of particular alarm.
The great popularity of General Scott may well
produce CONSERVATION in the ranks Of his oppo-
nents. They are very well aware of its over
whelming strength, and they cannot but feel 3
presentiment that every day from now to the day
Of election must add to its force and extent. The
swelling tide of the popular enthusiasm in behalf
OF this illustrious warrior is destined to sweeI
over the country, bearing down before it the bul
warks and embellishments of merely political and
partisan opposition.
As compared with his competitor for the Presi.
dency, in respect to public and military services
and achievements, no one, we presume is inclined
to place the two together, except in the way of a
contrast Not in courage and generalship on
the field only-not merely in the consummate
foresight and skill with which he organized and
conducted cappaigns-is Gen. Scott to be re-
garded as illustrious He has shown himself
great also as pacifcator. Wise firm, concil-
iatory, and self possessed, he held the Canadian
frontier under the influence of his iudicious
were called, menaced the peace of the country.
In like manner his wisdom and calm faculty of
administrative ability shone with equal success
on the occasion of the boundary dispute between
Maine and New Brunswick-an occasion when
most dangerous excitement prevailed along the
border, and when he found in Sir John Harvey
whom he had previously met in battle as n gallant
foe, friendly co-operator with himself in pacific
views.
The conduct Of Gaparo1 ~ hue
the horrors of useless war between the United
States and Great Britain was the subject Of high
commendation at the time, and was thus spoken
of by the eminent DR.. Charming:
g Much, also, is due to the be-
nefcent influence of General Scott To this dis
tinguished man belongs the rare honor of uniting
with military energy and daring the spirit of a
philanthropist His exploits in the field, which
place him in the first rank of soldiers have been
obscured by the purer and more lasting glory of
a pacifcator and friend of mankind. In the
whole history of the intercourse of civilized COM
munities, we doubt whether brighter page can
be found than that which records his agency in
the removal of the Cherokees AS far as the
wrongs done to this race can be atoned for, Gen
eral Scott has made the eXpiation. In his recent
mission to the disturbed borders of our country
he has succeeded, not so much by policy as by
the nobleness and generosity of his character by
moral influence, by the earnest conviction with
which he has enforced all with whom he had
to do the obligations of patriotism Justice hu-
manity, and religion. 1t would not be easy to
find among us man who has won a purer fame
and would do something, no matter how little
to hasten the time when the spirit of Christian
humanity shall be accounted an essential attri-
butte and the brightest ornament of a public man :"
But it was not our purpose to place Gen. Pierce
in the unfavorable aspect which his military or
other services must exhibit when brought into
comparison with those of his illustrious competi-
tor. The former nominated by combina-
tion Of political forces which it was calculated
could be made more efficient by the selection of
comparatively obscure man than by placing at
the head of the array a leader too well known
Thus the party that nominated Gen. Pierce did
not look to the positive strength of their candi-
date any more than they did when Mr.. Polk was
nominated in 1874. 1t was not contended then
that Mr.. Polk was so able q man so great IA
statesman as Mr.. Clay, nor is it likely to be con-
tended now that the nominee from New Hamp-
shire is to be compared to the heroic conqueror
of Mexico.
In one important particular the action Of zach
Of the lcte national nominating bodies affords a
matter Of congratulation. We refer to the es-
tablishment by both Of national basis in respect
to the Compromise. 1t would have been indeed
lamentable thing it, by the omission Of an ele-
ment so essential TO the future welfare and unity
of the country, door had been left open for in
cendia.y agitators to foment sectional anmosi-
ties in connexion with political contests for the
Presidency Happily, such disturbers are shut
out from the bosom and the confidence of both Of
the great political organizations Of the country
In the general scope of the Wing platform we
find the clear enunciaton of those administrative
principles of public policy which have been
always deemed by our wisest statesmen as indis-
pensably connected with the prosperity of the
country. Thus while it is declared that economy
should be strictly observed in the public expendi-
lures, it is further declared thnt the revenue
necessary for the uses Of the government should
be mainly derived from duties on imports, and
that, "in levying such duties, sound policy re-
quires Just discrimination, and protection from
fraud by specific duties when practicable, whereby
suitable encouragement may be assured to Amer
ican industry, equally to all classes and to all
portions Of the country"
So also, we find the assertion Of the power
vested by the constitution in Congress to open
and repair harbors and remove obstructions from
navigable rivers-such power to be exercised
whenever such improvements are necessary for
the common defence or for the protection and
facility Of commerce with foreign nations or
among the States.
Upon these points, and upon others, involving
the wholesome of powers which every civil
lied government must possess in some form or
another, the platform of the other party confines
itself to vague generalites or to direct denials of
such powers. We can take pride in placing the
two side by side, and in calling the attention Of
voters everywhere to the superior merits Of the
Wing epitome Of principles
A Democratic paper in Ohio complains that it
has mislaid sketch Of Gen. Pierccs life. 1t
adds: "We may say, however, that he Is not
so obscure person as the Wings would have the
people believe His father was an officer Of the
Revolution, and he himself II re ar not mistaken,
took command Of General Pike's ormy Gttrr that