The miners' express. (Dubuque, Iowa) 1849-1854, 1852-07-28
Principles OF Gen. Winfield scott.


Principles OF Gen Winfield scott.
Extract from his native American letter to
Gr' rye Washington Reed Esq and other Native
Americans of PhiIadel phia-da:ed Washington
Nov. 10 h le4l.
Wv HESITATE BETWEEN INTENDING THE
PA I1D OF RESIDENCE BEFORE NArURALizA-
TIoN, AND TOTAL REPEAL or ALL ACTS OF
C"nGREss oS THE sUBJECr-MY MIND INcLIsEs
To TuE LATTER.
CONCURRING FULLY IN THE 'PRlN-
CIPLES u THE PHILADELPHIA MOVE
MENr, SHOULD PREFER ASSUMING
THE NAME OF AMERICAN REPUBLl-
ICA>S, as IN NEW YORK, OR DEMO
CRATIC AMERICANS. as | WOULD
/ RESPECTFULLY SUGGEST. Broug ght up
III the principles of the revoluti"n--of Jefferson,
! Madison, &c.,-under whom in youth, com
mrr ced life, have always been called, have
ever professed myself republican, or Whig,
which with me was rhe slinc thing. Democrat
ic .imericans would include all good nattJe cit
] tzrnS, devoted 10 our country and institutions
would not drive from us naturalized ciiizens,
| who by long residence, have become identified
with in feeling and interest.
! Wishing success to the GREAT WORK which
! You and other PATRIOTS have SET roor, |
remain, W ttil u ieSpeCl, your lciioW CItHtn
WINFIELD SCOTT.
! To GF"RGE WASHINGTON REED, Esq. and
others, Phiadelph a.
! The gist OF this letter, seems to have been, to
! favor total abolition of all laws of naturallzi
ton, depriviny foreign burn citizens from any
participation in the government of the country
unless they would in every instance adhere tc
t e whg party What an "American Repub
| can for I.4i.
| Behold the Contrast.
From his letter Of acceptance dated Washing
ton Juae Oath le52 he says
'Also to recommend or approve of single
alienation in our navigation (nauraiizatlon)
| laws suggested by my military experience, Civ
ing To all fore gners the right Of citizenship who
shall faithfully serve in time Of war one year on
board Of our public ships, or in our land forces,
regular or volunteer, nr on their receiving an
honorable disc barge from the service
This cornpells all foreigners to become sol.
dicrs and serrc in time of ,ear, to be entitled to
citizenship. Farmers, Mechanics, and modest
and retiring men, who abhor the din OF war,
possess in the estimation of the patriotic and
philanthrupic Gen. Scott, no claims to citizen
ship. tr 1
On DuELLIsG.-D December 3rd 1917 Gen
! Andrew jackson, challenged Gen. Winfield
Scott, for an unjust attack upon his military
character.
On the 2nd OF January 1917 Gen Scott replies
81 regret that cannot accept the challenge
you offer me. Perhaps may be restrained from
wishing to l-vel pistol at the breast of fellow
being, in private combat, by sense of religion
but lest this motive should excite the ridicule u
gentlrm of liberal habits of thinking and act
ing, beg leave TO add, Tint decline the honor
I of your invitation from patriotic scruples.
Religion and patriotic scrupics are the rea
sons here assigned, for declining to render tc
| Gen. jackson satisfaction. This was all very
well, until April 1919, when Gen. Scott chal
lengcd De Witt Clinton, whom he knew to be
member Of church and acting as Governor o
New York, under solemn Oath, TO ahstalr
while Governor, from all participation in duel
ling.
OK FREE SoIL1sM AND AsSE1AT,oS-T,
) establish Gen. Scott's affinity with Free Soiism
we make the following extract from his lette
dated West Point June Goth IS4o.
s.My dear sir:-The news from the Paria-
ment of Great Britain this morning, must,
. think, increase the discomfort of our neighbor
on the other side Of the ST.. Lawrence aud ih
lakes not little and ,ha. those disconten s.wiIl
in few years, lead 10 separation of the Cam
das, New Brunswick, &c &c, from the mo'he
country, seems equally probable.
: Will those provinces f,rm themselves int o n
!, ,
cur Union think the probability is greatly il
favor of the latter. In my Judgment, the inter
S esis ot bo' h sides would be much promoted b.
the anneyation-the several provinces comn
into the Union on equal terms with our presen
, thirty states. The free navigation of the S,
t Lawrence is already of immense importance I
o perhaps Z third Of our present population, an
wcnd be of gre al value 10 the remainder Afle
ann xa.i.n, two revenue cutters below Quebe
would give US better security against Snug
Cling than thirty thousand custom house cmpiOl
sS strung along the line that separates us fror
# the BRUSH possessions on the continent. | ar
well acquainted with that line, and know grea
deal of The interests and character ofthe provir
c ais, Though opposed to incorporating miM n
aay districts drnsciy p'opird mth the Ncrica
e race, shoaid be moSt hnppy to fratcrni-e acit
our northern md northeastern neighbors.
What may re rh,. views of the executive go,
1t ernmcnt on he subject, | know absolutely no'l
ri ing but think cannot err in saying that tw
thirds of people would rejnice at the inco
u roration, and the other third soon perceive
s. benefits ... ..
rs This letter exhibits Gen Scott in his tr
a light, as a friend of the Free Soil party. He
A. II favor of annex,ng Canada, but no densel
L p. rulated part Of Mexico, il other words,
+ is in favor Of Northern Ration, but n
Sou hern annexation; Of adding to the repr
, sentative power of The North, by diminishir
the rrprescn at.va power from the South.
This shews way he has been the special
vorite Of Seward and Hale, and how it occurr'
C that he could write n, letters for pnbcatio
hut could deposit goody number in II
pockets Of his pecu'iar friends, who were mel
bers Of the National Convention, to be us,
ys prtratcfy for his special benefit Shame
nr the man, or the set of men, who, in this hi4
truS., Of preserving man to the nation for
I'd snfragcs, woull lend themselves to the mem
re office, Of ptay;as Of " deception, upon the
st brethren Of the South, in order to sccur,'
at power, which they had every evidence to |
no lIevc, was to be used for st;7nulating orga,
n :oti"n, opposed to the settled convictions of
% large majority of the citizens of the count
lv and whose leading object has always been a
:. always will be, TO distract and divide this glo
ous Union of States.
Gould principle, patriotism and love ofcou
Try, have entered into their deliberations, VIII
~, they were lending thrmse!.e to snch a plot