The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1852-09-24
THE REPUBLIC.
From The Netp Orleans Bee.

value OF a Hero 0leasured.
We thought that about the meanest thing in par
tisan warfare we had ever witnessed was the pre-
sentation in the United States Senate of a resolu-
ton offered by MIR. Meriwether of Kentucky, the
Locofoco nominee of Governor Powell to the seat
OF Henry Clay, calling for details Of the amounts
of public money received respectively by WINFIELD
SCOTT and FRANKLIN Pierce. When, however,
that resolution adopted, we behold that beyond
the lowest depth of political ser'ility and degrade
ton yet lower deep had been discovered. II seems
nevertheless that the exploration OF Locofoco
ness reveals still proiounder abyss. The War
Department has answered the call, and paraded
before the country every dollar and cent received
by General Scott since the period when he joined
the army of the United States, and the Washing
ton Union, full of giee its disgusting VOCATION
fills column after column Of comment upon the
large amount, the extravaganza of General Scott,
and the alarming consequences to be anticipated
from the election of such spendthrift.
IL can hardly be expected of us TO go into
searching examination Of every item Of pay and
allowances for extra services received by General
Scott We must perforce leave such garbage to
the polite j scavengers of the Union. We cannot
attempt to estmate the heroic military achieve.
ments and disting uished civil services Of Winfield
Scott by dollars and cents. There is no system of
arithlnetica calculation that will enable US state
the that is to Offset the victory Chip
pewa; that will iiquidate the triumph ati.undy's
Lane; that will rcmunerae Scott for settling the
frontier strife in New York and Maine that will
balance and square up the capture of Vera Cruz,
the victories at Cerro Gordo, Churubusco, and Cha
puitepec, and the GROWING glory OF the possession
oi the capital OF the MontezuInas. We cannot I'm
dertake such problem The materials for its so
luton do not exist. II is impossible to estimate
General SCOTS exploits Ivy the value of mere coin
land than that which world gauge heroism,
stancy, vaor devotion, unequalled military skill
by pecunia,y standards alone If we are mista
ken-fpacty phrensy does not recoil from 30 thank
lcss and prottless labor--let it even be We
shall not attempt to vndCate General Scott, or to
take any part in controversy unworthy alike in
it's motives and character.
Our opinion, too, is that Locofocoism will gain
nothing by this patry device. There is in the
community an instructive sense of justice that
causes honest men OF all parties to revolt at the
employment Of low and disreputabc attempts to
iniurea great man. Such electioneering tricks
have never succeeded-lke the poisoned chalce Of
Macbeth, they return to plague their inventors
They the evidences of a desperate and unscru-
pulous game, and must convince their thinking
minds that they are only resorted to IN utter hope
lessneis Of success from more dignitied arguments
When adversaries cease to appeal TO the reason
Of the people, and eseay by columns OF figures to
show them that General Scott IN forty years has
received n very large amount from the public
treasury, and therefore that he ought not to be
elected, they make use of logic that, like an
overcharged gun, must kick them over. For the
people will ask, Why has General Scott been the
recipient Of the pay and emoluments accruing to
his rank? What has he done to deserve them? And
these questions which are SO easily, promptly
and fully answered, that none but dyed in the
wool party hack will venture to deny that were the
sum multiplied hundred fold it would fall far
short OF the guerdon which the hero has merited.
Gold and silver arc but inadequate rewards for the
highest and noblest of public services 1t is base
ambition that would covet pelf for blood shed on
the battle feld-for danger incurred-ior weary
days and watchful nights-for deep and grave re-
sponsibility-ior the carnage and the roar of
battle-ior the exultation OF victory-ior the hor
of defeat,
The personal honor and integrity of General
Scott can never be stained by the wretched MACH.
nations of his enemies. We are quite content to
leave them in the hands of his country. The peo
pie know that he has fought for them, bled for
them, conquered for them, and they will not be
deferred from his support by the contemplate eff
fort Of the Union to prove that in half a century
General Scott has received come thousands Of dol
lars for services not strictly connected with his
military duties.