The Lancaster ledger. [volume] (Lancaster, S.C.) 1852-1905, 1852-07-14
A Gard.

WAsHNsrox, July a.--To prexent ALI mis-
take and misapprcheHsion, we, The uuder-
signed, members of Congress, adopt this me-
thod Of making a joint st.tement TO our con-
stituents, respectively, and to all who may
take an interest in the subject that we
cannot and will not support General
Scott for the Presidency, as he now stands
before the American people. for the follow
ing amongst other reasons: -n.' =
He obstinately refused, up to the time
Of his nomination, to give any public
opiuion in favor ofthat series of measures
Of the last Congress known as the compro-
mise; the permanent maintainance of
which with us is a question OF paramount
Importance. Nor has he, since his nomi-
nation, made any declaration ofhis appro-
Vdt ofthose measures as final adjustment
OF the issues in controversy.
1t is true the resolutions of the Conven-
ton that nominated him are as clear and
as explicit upon this question as need be;
but Gen Scott, in his letter Of acceptance,
which contains all we have from him, on
that matter, does not give them the APP
proval Of his judgment. This he seems
studiousl y to have avoided. He accepts
the nomination with the resolutions an
nexed." That is, he takes the nomination
cum Onere, as an individual takes an es-
tate, with whatever membranes it may
be loaded with. And the only pledge
and guarantee he offers for his "adherences
to the principles of the resolutions" are
"the known incidents ofa long public life" !"
&c. Among these "knoacn incidents" of
Of his life there is not one, so far as we are
aware Of, in favor Of the principles of the
compromise. In one, at least, of his pub
lie letters he has expressed sentiments inim-
ical to the institutions Of fifteen States of
the Union. Since the passage of the CON-
promise he has suffered his name to be
held up before the people Of several Of the
States as a candidate for the Presidency,
by the open and avowed enemies of those
measures, And in the Convention that
conferred this nomination upon him he
permitted himself to he used by the Free
Soiiers in that body to defeat Mr.. Fillmore
and Mr.. Webster, became of their advocacy
of these measures, and their firm adherence
to the policy that sustained them.
To aid such men and aid them in com.
pleting their triumph over, and sacrifice
of, the true and tried friends of the consti-
tuition and the faithful discharge of all its
obligations, is what We can never do
The dictates Of duty and patriotism stern
ly forbid it.
We consider Gen. Scott, as the tarorite
candidate of the Free Soil wing of the
Wing party. That his policy, iihe should
be elected, would be warped and shaped
to conform to thei. views, and to elevate
them to power in the administration of the
Government can but be considered ne leg.
itimate and probable result, and believing
As We do that the views Of that faction Of
mischievous men are dangerous not only
to the just and constitutional rights of the
Southern States which we represent in
part, but to the peace and quiet Of the
whole country, aud to the permanent union
VI tiIo 9 ates, we regard II as tnc highest
duty Of the well-wishers Of the countr,
every where, whatever else they may do
to at least withhold from ham their sup
port. This we intend to do.
ALEXANDER ii. STEPHENS, Of Ga.
CHARLES J. FAuLKNER, Of Va.
w. BRooKE, Of Miss.
ALEX. WHITE, Of Ala.
JAMES ABERcRoNBIE, of Ala.
X. TOXINS, Of Ga.
! JAMES Johnson, OLGA. .. ..
For reasons to some extent indicated
in speeches and addresses heretofore mad.
by the undersigned, they deem it to b.
their duty to withhold their support from
Gen. Scott as candidate for the Presi
dency. fit should seem to he necessary
We will hereafter, in some form, exhibi,
more fully to our constituents the fact
and reasons which have brought us to tl,i'
determination.
,s.. n. p. GESrRY, Tenn.
c. II. WILLIAMs. of Tenn.