Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1852-10-15
RICHMOND ENQUiREls.
NEDNESDAf. OCTOBER l3, 1852.
FRANK PIERCE AND WINFIELD SColi'
rs sOLDIER-STATEs

| United states, the incl1abeni must haee '"0
atiQnmsHtS-he must be a S!utcs"ial' ;, i,.op If
So spoke Henry Clay in reference - 'I ,,,.n.
-. ,y. D., ,,rot.sson elevated ~ 'nc P'e'''"
in, hi md me issue justified Inc "isIo" VI '''' ~
inc ~ the great leader oil me H"'s P'''' NO.
, ~ hesr with his dying ears, the SHOUTS o n'oo' '"'
c rho re.iteraon of that fatal mistake oy me cono'
, ac,ion of that party, 10 s own clstractioh' ashc'"
hrmen, and d,feai-ths time happily BEFORE mol e''e
i.I ar hanging on the brink Of civil "ic must be
Statesman was the deliberate dctun of the G'ea Com
moner and The Judgment Of every thinking nun IN me
country must confirm the correctness Of the opinion
Nav more he should be eound statesman too, Tor Dae
Webster is statesman but fatal indeed, would II DC ~ TIC
interests of the country put his construction OF III" on
stituon and his principles and policy INFO "
trolling operation in The conduct OF our na'sona aas
To, examine then briefly and by reference 10 'e re-
cord the relative merits Of Pierce ana oco'' rs ' W ~
,e f ,bi ia matter 10 be decided strictly and conclu'
sivev nv evidence alone not by argument or by
Facts-ihose stubborn uAns7-''"S' ' "
| respect 10 this Issue.
Room then 10 the record and present the contrast AS
nrempprv however one point may be made, ana tha' 49,
the fact staring The examiner in the lace as nc passes 'e
very threshold Of this inquiry into The potca record q VIC
two candidates for the highest civil station undet s gov
eminent II is the fact that wnilc Pierce does present
record of long civil service public and private IN the ha
onaI councils The narrower but equally Improving sphere
of State politics, Scott mas none, save such +" INNS V
bd and Matches" US may be peced together out OF curl
ousIy constructed scraps OF old letters anu lfuSeh!
sneeches for he public serrce except us SOL
dier. and has been an amateur politician ony-a daoo'e
moi an eyoer But accepting these scraps OF letters ana
snaerhes and verbal utteances that have been aenca
ted as political record, lei US contrast II WIN tile genu
formal bona fde political record OF FRANK ferce WIN ~
done the State service on othef heas h"h '"o''
battle and taken active part in the ciVl so'cfhn'"
The county, while Gen SCOTS only diversion rom INC me
and drum was the composition of his work on lacticsh'S
literary nagnum opus Possibly, that only elaborate COM
,on of The Generals pen ought TO be considered as
part of his record since il has been OF greater auhoHy
than any other and bids fair continue So But let us pass
rhat by and take up the political record The Tactics In
his sves probaby would be best Statesnan's Manual
iudpnp from his PROMISE carry into The civil Aumh's
traon al least zone principle Of Military cond"c'-O'ea'
I ence %
This difference between the two records must Dc oofnc III
mind because renders the task we have undertaken very
difficult II no easy thing TO compare substance WIN
shndow--a skeleton with BREATHING, living ana moving
BODY full OF health and vitality SUCH however us' DC
The contrast here and We will be compelled in combining our
selves strictly OF opinions as Expressed 10
touch only on recorded opinions Of General Fierce 10
which some agmentay half. ulteances OF General Scott
NAV be antaeonized The one from his early youlh mas
heen with and concerned in public affairs, as
connected with civil administration OF the country e
other has spent those years in the field The MS 'na
ry burea-in planning campaigns or carrying 'em hfous"
in CONFUSING manual on tactics and practically apply
inc It's peceps--and writing hasy" letters at intervals
lust az he took his "soupand with disastrous results 10
his own reputation The whole record OF Genera Fierce
in Congress and out Of it, proudly says in his letter
of accepance and reiteates in his later letter 10 Az NC
Leon is consistent throughout He entertains to-day The
a al, nd
.ures as he ever done There is no loose rive III MS
armo. and 10 him. the curse Of Reuben in the Scripture
cannot apply az it his competitors punishable as wa
Ter thou shalt not exce The series OF Scots letters Is
series Of contradictions, explanations ana eac'ohs' ana
the variation Of their views greater than the difference III
their dates except with reference 10 the worst ana almost
xoodJ features of Ola Federal Wing policy, such Ma
,iona Bank Tariff Bankrupt Law, Consolidation abroga
ton of Veto Power &c. which never have oeeh fchnqs
! ed by General Scott and never will be.
But i, may be said that his endorsement OF the platform
laid down by the Convention, indicates his views al he
present time No, speak OF the vague and cvaslvc char"
octe of The resolutions constituting that PLATFORM and The
absence of any political creed therein, il s only necessary
TO saw that Gen Scott high "hi! authority, accepted IL
only as AN impatient heir takes estate cum S'ameRodn
nero rather than forfeit his title 10 1t altogether ana WI"
the fixed purpose of frustrating its provisions, posSioe-
IN ,ho, very Wing Convention sixty Of the very faction
| 70 which he was solely indebted for his nomination Vhe
Northern soil Whgs) "sp upon and spurntd Inc pat
FORM las Greeley did on. Of doors by recording he votes
against il And since the canvass has commenced, who
dare DENY the of its total reputation by the che con-
yers of the campaign Greeley and the motley in New
York Pennsylvania, New !mpshre and Ohio, on WHOM
rest the hopes of military chisnin On ooth thesc
points we have highest Wing testimony in the indis
uant u,erances the former leaders OF that party wen
was PARTY Faction deserted and denounced oy
lis most able eloquent and distinguished members IRON inc
border States down the Gulf-when Gentry Ioomss,
LYONS Faulkner Williams Clngnan, CabeI, aoecron'oc
S,enhens White Brooke and OF Others now hostile
with the Northern wings and State ELECTORS a.
the South were ashamed bear the banner or support
, candidate over both OF which the slime OF the serpent
ra of Abolition was every where plainly pcrceplloe In
,har solemn protest made by the most eminent oouhrh
Wings in Congress- against the action oil mat convention
and its nominee the declaration sopeny and hroaay mace
that they speaking for themselves, and by the authority OIL
their position character and influence Tor The ouR OIL Inc
Southern Wings lost 10 sense OF duty ana OF sha'he
and will not support Gen Scott for the Presidency
"a he now before the American people, Tor Inc oo"
ing among other reasonsthat che obstnaey refused up
10 the time Of his nomination. give any public opinion in
favor of that series Of known as the Compromises;
snor has ne since his nomination. made any declaration OF
his approrul OF those measures final adjustment OF Inc
issues in controversy" that the takes the nomination cum
onere-and c only pledge and guarantee lie oilers Tor ms
adherence 10 the principles Of the resolutions are me
k,.o,en incidents Of long and public hte &c. Comment
ing on this these eminent Wings cooly and cruelty say
"Amongst those known incidents of his life there is not
one so fur Of in favor of the principles OF
the compromise. In one at least OF his public letters ne
has expressed sentiments inmicd TO the Institutions q es
States of the Union"
1.-THE Atkinson letter, The determination oil slavery &c'
was recaned among his recanatlons But
bey 90 vet farther put his policy beyond question: so lar
as ,c, belief concerned predcated upon The known incl
dents of his public le" which he had referred them
For they add hc Southern Wing leaders consider
Gen. Scott the arorite candidate OF the free So wing OIL
the Wing party That his policy, If he should be elected
would be warped aud shaped conform 10 their views and
n elevate them 10 power in the administration Of the Gov
ernmen can be considered Legitimate and prooaoio
esu-and therefore they solemnly declare their purpose
TO yhhold from him their support-which pledge they
have kept though by doing they knew they were eScuo
ing themselves from the remotes chance OF place or power
ondD nllnu down the party