Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1852-08-18
POLITICAL. P


bv Mr.. Haven, Representative in Con
oress from the Buffalo District of N. York
and formerly the partner Of President Fill
more in the practice of law, to the Com
mit!ee on the Lundy's Lane Celebration
WASHINGTON, July 20, 1852.
GENTLEMEN l am in recsip! of you
letter of the 9th instant, inviting me to b
present on the 9th at the celebration Of til
battle of Niagara.
cannot avail myself Of your kind ant
partial invitation. 1t is late in the session
and feel it duty to remain at my post
The engagement of Lunds Lane was on
of the most desperately fought battles o
of this century, and it covered with glory
and renown, not only the officers in com
mand, but every soldier on duty in III
ranks. American soldiers, volunteers ant
militia, as well as regulars, there met, il
deadly conflict, hand to hand, in open field
in daylight and in darkness, the tried, old
and hitherto invincible British regulars, ,wh'
had never known defeat and had always
achieved certain victory under Wellington
in the war of the Peninsula. History tells
the result.
should deem it privilege to join on
this occasion in dropping tears upon the
graves of those who so bravely fell, and re-
calling and cherishing the names OF those
who happily still survive.
There was gallant young officer who
held some command there, who knew the
mettle of his men, for he had taught them
all they knew OF "war's grim visaged front
by his incessant drills the previous months
in Buffalo. Thirty-eight years have gone by
and in Indian wars and Mexican campaign:
that officer has borne himself with equal
prudence, pride and glory.
But in my estimate of his fitness Tor the
great office of President | do not consider
his military life and renown do not re-
gard them as qualifications for civil ofhce:
[ look to his character, requirements, and
experience in public affairs, acquaintance
with public men and measures, and to his
unspotted life.
His early official life threw him amongst
the great and patriotic men then remaining
of the revolution, and his subsequent busl-
ness and official relations have been with
the statesmen and eminent men the nation
has since produced.
He has all his days been man of tenn
perance, of toleration, and of incorruptible
virtue, always seeking information of pub
lie affairs, and his memory unerringly re-
tainIng it when acquiredsa a man who has
carefully watched the course Of public e.
vents, and has himself, so to speak, lived
the entire history Of the country, and knows
1t practically since the days of Jno. Adams;
a man of great frmness, self-reliance, and
independence of character, familiar with
history and accurate in his estimate of men
and motives. Above all, he has, believe,
always been lover Of peace, and a nation-
al and conservative man in his politics, yield
ing to no sectional influence, but insisting
upon the constitutional rights of all Sec
tions, and IN that respect he most fittlngly
and appropriately occupies the broad plat.
form of the Convention which nominated
him.
/ have reason to know that, during the
sectional struggles of 1850, he occupied the
same ground with Mr.. Webster and Mr..
Clay, and used his influence in favor OF all
the measures of compromise and concllIa'
ton which passed and received the ap-
proval of the present Administration.
It is gratifying to see that the popular as
semblies and ratification meetings in the
city of New York-in my own district, at
Albany-and in fact throughout the entire
North, so far as have notice, have grace
fully accepted and and ratified both the
platform and the candidate, and, regarding
them as inseparable, have promised and are
giving cheerful and hearty support to
both. This is we'll. 1t overlooks sectional
preiudices, and proclaims the true Wing
maxim of "the inviolability Of the Constr
tuition" and the supremacy of the Laws
congratulate the country, and particularly
the Wings of New York and the North, that
they are enabled again to unite heartily,
and, shoulder to shoulder, march into the
coming conflict with common purpose
In such 'union there is strength"
The immediate good Of the country and
its ultimate preservation, in my Judgment
require that the General Government De
administered upon the principles OF the
Whig party, and by honest capable, and
nntrammeiled Whig statesmen. 1t IS the
only security we have that public offices
shall be filled with honest, faithful and ca
pable men. 1t is our security tor Amerl'
can legislation, in favor of American inter,
ests and American labor, for general and
udicious system of harbor and river I'm,
provement, and thereby the extension and
''regulati0n of commerce among iAs sereral
Siales.n 1t is our only affirmative securi-
ty against the impolitic and dangerous ex-
ercisc of the doctrine of foreign interven-
lion; against "entangling alliances )" un-
lawful and inordinate desire for the acquI-
sition of foreign territory; against tll,6us-
tering against destructive and subterranean
politics, and against general downward
tendency of public affairs and of the Re-
public itself.
In nv humble opinion General Scott is
competent and qualified to administer
the Government on the principles OF the
Whig party, and | believe in case OF Ills e, !,
lection he will do it for the common good
of the whole country. ,.,.
" I f'v cannot ioin the host Of good Wings on
tbe battle ground on the 9th and 2Sth, but
rejoice to know can march in their
midst in the effort to maintain national ana
conservative Wing principles and Wing SUI
premacy during the canvass OF the ap-
preaching fall ,
/ have the honor be, very truly
yours, &c., .,,n,-
S. G. HAVEN.
70 Hon. E. G. spaulding, B. Thompson,
and Wells Brooks, Committee.
MA democratic meeting at Morgan