Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1852-08-26


Democracy who fought the battles of Mexico,
"though their commander Wing !" and
ridiculed Cen SCOTS Recommendation in favor
Of foreigners who serve in the American army.
Here the crowd took breath and luncheon, ard
on meeting again, John Tun Buren, of N. Y. ad-
dressed them John, every body knows, was
terrible ffee-soiler in ls4e, and went for his "a.
ther Martin against Lewis Cass on free soil
grounds. Now he goes for Frank Pierce, the
nominee of the >avocrats, who kicked Cass
overheard because Of his favor to Lberty--in
Hungary. Of course John had TO define bis po-
siton anew; and he did so as follows
"John Van Buren,, of New York. was next in
! troduced, and referred in his opening remarks 10
| the platforms Of the two parties and gave slight
historical sketch connected with the compromise.
He believed it true that the Constitution secured
the right to recover runaway slaves. and we must
all live up 10 it, or the Constitution was at an end
If 1t was duty to live up to il, that duty should
be performed in a constitutional manner. If
Washington and Jay and such men made bar
gain, he should believe it fair one, though Abby
Folsom and her crew should denounce II as the
contrary.
ain speaking on another point he said that free
discussion, when anything valuable was to be
done. was a blessing, but when circumstances re-
qured that it should cease a while, and It did not,
II was an evil, and IN this respect the Democratic
party had ever done its duty"
So Johns creed now is that fugitive slaves
must be given up, and the right Of free discus
sion must be acknowledgements require
that IT should cease awhile, and under such cir
cumstances, free discussion is an evil What
these circumstances are we are not told proba-
bly,, however, it is b. cause Let0is Cass, and
not Johns dad, is now smothering under the
load of hay. AS for the rest, Johns speech was
directed against Gen. Scott, and his rocommen-
dstion as to foreigners serving in the army.
J. u. Weuer of California followed and went
his length in favor of the doctrine of .lrineration
The admission of Louisiana, Florida, I exas and
California had not dissolved the Union and he
argued that further extension would do no harm.
but" he added, every thing depended upon
the strict observance of the eleventh command
ment, is to say, the people and states must
all love each other SLAVERY or no slavery.
The last speech reported is that of Major Ste
pens Of the army, and inasmuch as it is the only
one that siores anything in fapor Of Gen. Pierce,
we give il entire:
"Msjor STEVENS, of the U. s Army, bore
testimony to the good conduct of Pierce, at Con-
ireras. Pierce led his brigade to a position it
was to occupy, under the fire OF twenty three
pieces OF Mexican artillery, fire described by
him as a most terrific and deadly one. Major s
was near Pierce during part of the time and saw
him calm and collected. That fire was passed
md Gen. Perce's division gained its position I'M
der his orders"
- The meeting at HillshOro' was designed to
be the great leading meeting Of the party, and
leading locofocos from various sections of the
country were invited They trtre not there! It
was far TO expect that at this meeting the servi-
ces, qualifications and claims of General Pierce
to the high Office of President would be exhibit
ed. The speakers care nothing Of The sort -
As to the principles Of Pierce and his party, we
find nothing but pro-Slareryism and .4aneration!
And II Is just because of the utter eanness of
the whole thing, that we have taken the pains to
run through the list of speakers and give the
gist of their speeches. The simple truth is, that
General Pierce has never risen above the dead
level Of ordinary locoioco politicians; in the
field he has never won single laurel, and in
Congress he has never distinguished himself by
single act or speech that should entitIe him to /
the favor of the people. He may be clever
fellow, respectable citizen. county court law
yer Of fair standing, and for aught we know, a
good looking general for militia muster or a
sham fight
Such is the man who is pitted against WIN /
FIELD Scorr-agains, hun who is recognized, by |
the conqueror of Napoleon, as the greatest
General of the age" of whom JoHN ". CLAY
TON says, that " he has never seen a man more
familiar with, or more deeply versed in, the prin-
ciples Of international laws" and of whom JOINS
QUIScT ADAMS declared, that. after an expe-
rence of more than fifty years IN the public SER
vice, he had never met man of more exalted
virtues, and that hs services. IN preserving the
peace Of the country, surpassed the brilliancy of
his military achevments.' The one has serred
has party as a mere politician and private in
the ranks-seryed without peril and without
wounds,-and he has received his reward in off.
ces which he has not adorned. The other has
served has country for nearly half a cen,ury-ren-
dering services, both civil md military, unpara-
eiled by those Of any living American; often
iacing death at the head of his brave troops, and
often facing appalling difficulties in public az
fairs, but always success l in every emergency,
and IN every trial adding, for his country and
himself, glory to glory" HIS reward is yet to
come; and it is for the American people to de-
termne whether that reward shall be the Presi-
dency, which GIN. Scorr has fairly earned and
would doubtless honor; or whether by elevat-
ing to that post one who has not merited and
cannot adorn IT, the pen of the historian shall be
forced to make the humiliating record. that the
Presidency of the United States, in 1852, was
deemed too poor an honor for the iHusirious hero.
who had glorously defended his country in war,
and the accomplished dipiomaiist, who, IN perils
dangerous and difficult, had successfully preserv-
ed il in peace.