The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1852-07-31
No. A..


Mr.. Pierce voted agalnst 1t IN Congress- refer
TO the journals.
ACTUAL sETTLERs UPON PUBLIC LAEbs.
General Scott, in his letter of acceptance OF he
nomination. uses the following language:
81 therefore barely suggcst in this place. that
should ], by the partially of my countrymen, be
elevated TO the Chief Magistrncy of the Union, !
shall be ready, in my >nnexion with Congress, to
recommend or TO approve of measures in regard 10
the mana cement OF the public domain. so TO
cure an early settlement of the same favorable TO
actual settlers, but consistent nevertheless with
due regard to the equal rights of the whole Amcri
can people in that vast national inheritance"
By reference to the Senate Journal of January
H. 1899 you will find the following proposition
pending in that body:
lind be it further enacted. That when any Of
the public latds Of the United States have remained
unsod for the spacc OF fifteen years niter the ter
mnation of the public sales The satne may be en-
tered and purchased by actual ssftlsrs on the fol-
lowing terms, to wit: II settler is dcsiroGc 20 pur
chase a residence for eighty, or less than eighty
acres, he may enter and purchase the same at fifty
cents per acre"
Upon this proposition the vote stood--ayes 81
noes %. Among the noes were franklin Pierce
from Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Kentucky, Louisiana,
Arkansas, Mississippi, Michigan, and Tennessee,
without regard TO party, were given for thia pro-
vision, which was defeated by the votes of Pierce
and King; and yet the poor man Of the West is
asked to vote for these men.
General Scott disclaims the exercise of the
man power to thwart the Legislation OF the peoples
REPRESENTATIVES.
General Pierce. when interrogated upon that
question, either refuses to answer or keeps his
answer pocketed, but permits his friends in one
part of the country to cay he is in favor Of, and
in another part against, the exercise OF stch mo
narchcal power.
QUALITIES OF THE HEART.
General SCOTS whole life has been spent in
that kind Of service that has made him familiar
with the sufferings ct ell Glasses in all conditions
of life, of which he has been among the sufferers.
But, sir, the wounded, sick, hungry soldier; the
afflicted and disconsolate widow, the victim Of the
cholera, the captured prisoner, or the wayfarihg
man in distress, always found a sympathetic
friend in Winfield Scott. No man was ever turned
away from his door or his tent in distress without
relief.
As to General Pierce, will not say that he does
not posses these qualities in high degree, for
have no personal acquaintance with him J but if
he does, he has at least on one occasion had bad
way of showingi it. Mr. Chairman, after the death
Of General Harrison, when his widow was mc':En-
ing the loss Of her late bosom companion and
earthly protector; when she was poor, and her
husband had spent all his means in moving TO
your capital, there was a bill brought forward in
Congress to allow the widow Harrison one foil
years salary for her deceased husband. franklin
Pierce not only voted against this BILL but used hio
influence to prevent it's passage But, thanks to the
benevolence of the members OF that Congress, there
passed. and the lonely widows heart was cheeted
with some relief.
CIVIL QUALIFICATIONS.
General Scott is far superior to Mr.. Pierce in
this resnect; yet the Democratic party-no, sir,
will say the Loc6oet !esders Of that party-are
trying to dcpreciate the mef!ss Of the old patriot
for civil qualifications, and trumpet forth Frank
lin Pierce as the greatest civilian OF the age Bnt
they teil us Of nothing that Mr.. Pierce has ever
done in out of the Legislature or Congress to
warrant such an assumption or claim; Ihey nave
polite reasons for such course. They know he
never did single act in his life to merit the con
| ffdence Of the people in him as a statesman. !
challenge successful contradiction OF this state
ment. He WAS educated lawyer, and that has
been his practice except when in the Legislature
or Congress; and in the latter capacity all his in
luence and votes were cast in Opposition to rnea
sures calculated to advance the prosperity Of the
country, as have before proved.
Now, Mr. Chairman, let public history-the
records of your country, and The life Of General
Scott-speak for him in this respect. Commence
with his interference and saving the lives OF the
Irish prisoners while he was a prisoner on board
of British vessel; and after which, and in 1919,
he recommended and procured the passag &c OF an
act of Congress which efiectuai!y placed soldiers
in our army of foreign birth that might be cap.
| tured by the enemy upon the same terms OF pro-
lection Americans
Examine his proceedings in 1882 in settling the
Black Hawk war, treating with the Indians, re-
storing peace and protection to the Northwestern
Territories.
His perilous services and settlement of the Flo
rda war; his delicate yet successful mission under
President Jackson TO South Carolina to maintain
the supremacy and integrity OF the Union, and at
the same time not infringe upon the rights of any
particular State. He was successful, and order
and confidence again restored throughout the
country.
Again, you find Scott cntr usted with almost I'M
limited power to settle the difficulties and main
| tain the peace upon our Canada frontier and Maine
boundary. He was successful here. By his per
sonal popularity and ripe qualifications as a diplo
matist he accomplished what no other man could
have done under similar circumstances.
Come down to a more recent period in his his
tory. Ties, his civil qualifications after he became
the conqucror of Mexico.
la a very few days after his triumphant entrance
into The city OF Mexico he established and promui
gated code Of lave and system for raising rev
cnue That, considering its adaptation TO the
times and circumstances as well "a its practical
effects has challenged the admiration Of the great
est statesman. II may be said also that he was
the master spirit in bringing about treaty there.
Mr.. Chairman, General Scott. like General
Washington in his time, has the peculiar comLina-
ton OF military and civil qualifications united,
eminenty fitting him for the office OF President
MILITARY QUALIFICATIONS.
| will not compare these, sir. The most the
friends of General Pierce claim for him in this re-
spect is, that during the Mexican war he was
taken from his law office, and commissioned as a
general; went to Mexico such officer; served a
short time, and resigned before the termination Of
that war.
The history Of your country, and the success of
her armies under Scott for the last forty years,
will best ilustrate his services, bravery, skill and
patriotism, and claims upon his country.
Mr.. Chairman, hear what some OF the most emf
nent men OF your country have said Of General
Scott.
In n speech in the United States Senate, March
% 1913 Daniel Webster spoke follows relative
to the character and services of General Scott:
81 understand, sir, that there is a report from
General Scott; from General Scott, n man who
has performed the most brilliant campaign on
cent military record a man who has warred
against the enemy, warred against the climate,
warred against thousand unproptious circum-
stances and has carried the flag OF his country TO
the capital Of the enemy, honorably, proudly, hu
mandy, TO his own permanent honor. and the
great military credit Of his country"
Henry Clay, in the Senate of the United STATES
in $50, spoke thus OF General Sco;t and the hiexi
81 must take this opportunity to say that for
skill, tor science, Tor strategy. for bold and daring
fighting, for Chivalry of Individuals and masses,
that portion Of the Mexican war which was con
Quoted by the gallant Scott, a. chief commander,
stands unrivaiied, either by the deeds ot Cortcz
himself, by those of any ether comma nder in