Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1852-07-07
POLITICAL.
Acceptance Of Gen Scott Of The
Whig Nomination.
LETTER TO GEN. SCOTT.
BALTIMORE, June %, 1852.

LETTER To GEN. SCOTT.
BALTIMORE, June %, 1852.
s1n II am Instructed BY the Whig Ma
tional Convention to inform you of your u
nanimous nomination as the Whig candi
didate for the office of President OF the Unit
ed States.
| enclose copy of the Resolutions passed
by the Convention, expressing their opin'
ions upon some of the most prominent ques-
tons of national policy; and, with sincere
wishes that yoii may be elected, and for the
permanent settlement of the principles OF
the Wing party,
have the honor to be, very respectfully,
your obedient servant, ,.
J. G. CHAPMAN, of Maryland,
President Of the Whig National Conven-
ton.
To Major Gen. WINFIELD ScoTT.
Letter. of Gen. Scott I'm Reply.
WAsHrKeToN, June "a, 1852.
To the Honorable J. G. CHAPMAN.
President ofthe Wig National Convention.
SrR:-I have had the honor to receive
from your hands the official notice of my
"unanimous nomination as the Whig cam
didate for the office of President of the u
nited States" together with "a copy OF the
Resolutions passed by the Convention cx.
pressing their opinions upon some the OF
most prominet questions ofNational policy"
This great distinction, conferred by nu-
merous, intelligent, and patriotic body, rep
resenting millions of my countrymen, sinks
deep into my heart, and, remembering the
very eminent names which were before the
Convention in amicablc competition with
my own, am made to feel oppressively the
weight ofresponsibility belonging to my new
position.
Not having written word to procure
this distinction, lost not moment, after
it had been conferred, in addressing let
ter to one of your members to signify what
would be, at the proper time, the substance
of my reply to the Convention, and now
have the honor to repeat, in more formal
manner,as the occasion justly demands, that
accept the nomination with the resolutions
annexed.
The political principles and measures laid
|
but little is left for me to add. therefore
barely suggest, in this place, that should l,
by the partiality of my countrymen, be ele-
vated to the Chief Ma gistracy ofthe Union,
I shall be ready, in my connexion with Con-
gress, to recommend or to approve OF meas
ures in regard TO the management OF the
public domain so as to secure an early settle
ment ofthe same favorable to actual settlers,
but consistent, nevertheless, with due re-
gard to the equal rights of the whole Amer
lean people in that vast national Inheritance;
and also to recommend or approve ofa sim.
gle alteration in our naturalization laws. s.sug-
gested by my military experience, viz: CIV
Ing to all foreigners the right Of citizenship
who shall faithfully serve, in the time of war,
one year on board of our public ships, or in
our land forces regular or voluntecr,on their
receiving an honorable discharge from the
service.
In regard to the general policy of the Ad.
ministratlon, ifelected, | should, of course,
look among those who may approve that
policy for the agents to carry it into exc.
cuton, and should seek to cultivate har-
mony and fraternal sentiments throughout
the Wing party, without attempting to re.
duce its members, by prescription, to exact
conformity to my own views But should,
at the same time, be rigorous in regard to
qualifications for office-retaining and ap-
pointing no one, either deficient in capacity
or integrity, or in devotion to liberty, to the
Constitution and the Union.
Convinced that harmony and goodwill
between the different quarters OF our broad
country is essential TO the present and fu-
ture interests Of the Republic, and with a
devotion to those interests that can know
no South and no North, should neither
countenance nor tolerate any sedition, dis
order, faction, or resistance to the Law or
the Union, on any pretext in any part OF
the land and should carry into the civil
administration this one principle ofmilitary
conduct-obedienc to .he Legislative and
Judicial departments of Government, each
in its constitutional sphere, saving only, in
respect to the Legislature, The possible re-
sort to the veto power, always TO be most
cautiously exercised and under the strlctest
restraint and necessities.
Finally, for my strict adherence to the
principles OF the Whig party, as expressed
in the resolutions of the Convention and
herein suggested, with sincere and earn,
est purpose 10 advance the greatness and
happiness of the Republic, and thus to cher
ish and encourage the cause of constitution
al liberty through the woodworking
every act and thought that might involve
our country in an unjust and unnecessary
war, or impair the faith Of treaties and dis
countenancing all political agitation lnJurl'
Gus to the interests of society s. dangerous
to the Union-I can offer no other pledge or
guaranty than the known incidents of long
public life, now undergoing the severest
examination.
Feeling myself highly fortunate in my
associate on the ticket and with lively
sense of my obligations to the Convention,
and to your personal courtesies. have the
honor 10 remain, sir, with great esteem,
your most obedient servant,
'' WINFIELD SCOTT.
To the Hon. J. G. CHAPMAN,
President Of fAe Whig National Contention.
MIR. Graham's Acceptance.
WAsHINToN, June "a, 1852. I
SIR: am gratifed to acknowledge the
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