New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1852-07-19
sCOTT,s FITNESS FOR THE PREsI-
DENCY.

JulJ III.
Retired as have been for several years from
the active scenes Of political strife, should not
have appeared at this meeting, had not sense oil
duty TO ( qe distinguished man whose nomination
for The Presidency Won have met TO ratiy, con-
strained me to accept the opportunity thus pre-
sented of doing justice to his character III par-
| ticular that has not been so well UNDERSTOOD
OF his unsurpassed military exploits, have
nothing TO saw The world is full of his reno"n
| his only competitor in that field, the Duke OF
Il Wellington has but anticipated the Judgment oil
| history. / do not underraie them, or thelr value
| to the country; but others viii speak OF them,
| and wish to devote my share OF your time 70
| another subject | wish to meet the objection
| that military men are not fitted for the highest
civil emp oyments and that there Is danger 10 our
| institutions in eeyeting 70 the Chief Maglstracy
| a man whose life has been employed IN giving COM
| mand enforcing discipline and maintaining obedi-
ence. Although 1T might be an eStOpDet, az 1t IS
| termed. to those who make this objection, to re-
mind them of their support of Gen. Andrew Jack-
! sOD-the success with which, "a they maintain
| he administered the government for eight years
| and TO remind them OF their late cindldate, Gen.
| Cass and of their present candidate Gen. Pierce,
both Of whom were distinctly presented as having
| great military reputation yet as closing the
mouth of an adversary is not necessarily conclu-
sve to others or 20 ourselves, propose to exam
| inc this point more at large.
The fitness of a military man for civil employ
ment, depends upon two circumstances: hrst, the
natural constitution of bis mind and feelings and
second, whethsr his military habits have been so
mingled and tempered by social and civil duties
| hy extended and various intercourse with his fell
low citizens and by public emplOyments Tcqur'
ing the talents learning and adrotness OF states
| man as 10 have Obterated all the stern and re-
| pugnsnt features Of the soldier.
As to the first, is there a man who has ever seen
| Cen Scott, who has not marked the egioe hand
| writing of benefccnt Gre ator in MS noble per-
| son and countenance, beaming with philanthropy
| and individual kindness VINO ever heard fOm
| hma rude remark of pers onal Oiiense or even IN
| his anger an epithet unbecOming gentleman =
| His way and manners are so gentle and KIND as 10
be almost feminine, and have heard foreigners
| express their amazement that a man so Injured to
SCIENCES of blood and carnage, should be as simple,
| as natural and as oiectitnate as a child. Blucher
and HayDau would probably dsown him as SOL
| der OF their mold.
AND who does not know how this genteness
and sympathy with his race have been exhibited,
cOnstsntl, daily hourly, by Gen. Scott, when IN
the field, in the camp, on the march, or III par
racks The sick, the disabled, the woun0ed, the
| diving. among the troops he has commanded, were
| ever the peculiar objects of his most asslduOus
| care. There is not hamlet IN our country but
| contains living witnesses of this remarkable trait,
or witnesses who have received and repeat the tes
| timony OF their dead fathers and brothers. Far
| don me for abiding to a personal instance, when,
L u
| the battle of Niagara, and who was dying within
| the British lines The recollection Of the sympa-
thy and assistance of Gen. Scott, on that, and on
another accession still more trying, swells my heart
| with emotions that would break it, ii they could
not find utterance, when speaking OF the constltu-
| ton of that man s nature. VINO has not heard oil
| his unustI6abe exposure of his own life ameng
! the troops when the cholera swept them of there
| bv hundreds in the Black Hawk War! ASK those
| who served under him in the pestential climate
| of Mexico, whether he has II heart open as melt
ing charity to the suerings of is iellOw-men, ana
| a readiness and ability to relieve them, equaled
| only by the affection Of a brother.
| No iellow-citizens, the hardshps and habits OF
| military life instead of indurating his heart, have
| but touched him with feeling of the nhrmltes
| of our race and have taught HIM the great duty
| of man in initiating the example OF his SaVlour.-
| Such man will bring into the administration OF
| the Government neither reserve, pride, arrogance,
nor stubbornness.
| The second circumstance which determines the
| qualifications of Il military man for civil employ
| ment is, whether he has already acquired the
| learning experience and tact of a statesman.-
| The military life in this country, which has been
| blessed with peace for at least slXty-hye OF the
| nearly seventy years that have passed since our
| independence was achieved is not like that OF the
European officer who has spent his life IN long and
| bloody wars, or secluded in garrlsons and forts
| Gen. scott probably more than any other OF our
great generals has, from the nature OF has employ
| ment maintained for the greater part OF ms me an
| extended and various intercourse with ms fellow
| citizens in every part of our Republic; and with
men Of all trades, business and professions, ne mas
| been in constant communion. The frankIess ana
| republican simplicity Of his intercourse with men
| is the result OF this extended acquaintance with
| their habits, views and feelings. Strip him OF his
| uniform ami all other military trappmCs, and Il
| stranger would scarcely suspect him OF beng
soldier. lie Is not citizen OF the word, bat ne
! is emphaticaliy citizen OF the whole Ropubhc:-
| He has resided in every quarter of it-has cult
waited the intercourse of families and OF dome Sue
| life so that wherever he has lived he Is rs much,
| or more. loved as a neighbor than admired as
sOloier.
No military man in this country has been called
so often 10 the discharge of civil duties OF the
greatest difficulty aud delcacy ard OF the utmost
Importance and indeed few civilians have encoun-
tered 80 maay perplexing and sometimes repug-
naut occasions Of public service.
Justice to him. and duty to rejecting comml-
nitv anxious to cast their votes w0rthily demands
bret synopsis OF some OF these services
In the wear 1919 after the termination OF war
which placed him at the very pinnacle OF glory, ne
went to Europe and was employed there by fresi-
dent Madison, to ascertain the views oil GreaU
Britain respecting the Island OF CuOa, IN relatloh
IN which there weke some suspicious lndicAtlOn5i
and also to fathOm the designs OF the European
courts res oectine the revolutions IN South America
n subject of great interest to our Government
| and our citizens, who were appfehehsNe Ol inc
estab.ishn ent OF monarchles IN our neighoorhooI'
| The ability with which he performed these deli
cate duties was attested by particular letter OF
| thanks written to him by the then Secretary OF
| State, Nr. Monroe, by the special directions OF
| President MADISON. IN 1892, he was conhdentially
| employed by Gen. Jackson TO repair 10 oouth
Carolina, which openly threatened iJfciOie feSlsV-
erce and nuilifcaton Of the la~s, and there mann
tain the authority of the Government, and secure
order and peece, and the protection OF the pubic
| forts and property. Many Of us remember the
alarming indications OF that period. We were on
the verge of civil war. The great presence 81
.';n5 coolness forbearpess and tact of Gen. Scott
aycrted the dire calamity. Among an inldnated
neopIe he mingled, and by acts OF kindness ana
words OF peace and patriotism, he accomplished