Southern standard. [volume] (Columbus, Miss.) 1851-1856, 1852-10-16
From the Crescent Of November 1911, 1851.
General Scott.


General Scott.
The Delta desires to know why in enumeratirg
those who stood forward as prominent candidates
for the Wing nomination to the Presidency, we
omitted the name of General Scott. We an
swer, for the plainest of all reasons. General
Scott has refused peremptorily to take position as
a COMPROMISE MAN, and no man acho
fails to take position as Such stands the least earth
iy chance for the Presidency, or even for the nom
nation Six months since Gen. Scott a very
formidable contestant for the Presidency, and even
the auguries or his success in the Presidential
race were good. His brilliant military services
in the war of 1879 and the Mexican war, his
splendid accomplishments, his reputation for open
and fearless frankness, commended him to public
favor, and would have commended him to popu-
lar, outside of partisan, support. Lundy's Lane
and the seige of Vera Cruz would have been pow
erful advocates in his behalf
Gen. SCOTS "considering'' letter dssipated all
that and the charm and lhe halo passed from
around him. too polpabe on attempt to
eoade political responsibility, to snfocote the er-
preston Of honest opinion, to tamper aOih the free
soil hum6ag. The day of equivocotion had passed
r by, and its cunning had become folly. The Uun-
der ecas political suicids-a Wander aOorse than
crime. He staked himself upon conanaital-
ISM and bulded up his own auto de fe. We look
, upOn him as politically dead; and any vote he
may receive in the National Convention will be a
mere compliment from personal or committed
friends. HIS election, # nominated, as plainly
an impossiblity, that we cannot bring ourselves
5 to believe the Wings will be insane enough to
I nominate him. If any one doubts our estimate OF
the position of Scott let him look at the very facts
e cited to show his strength.
A The Wing State Convention of Ohio nominated
5 him, and the Wing ticket overwhelmed in Ohio
I The Wing State Convention in Pennsylvania nom
y mated him. and the Wing State ticket over
= . whelmed in Pennsylvania. His considering
n letter appeared subsequently to the nomination,
n given him by these Conventions but previous tc
J., the elections. In Pennsylvania, Gov. Johnston
# was VIGOROUSLY his special champion, and Gov
!. Johnston has remarkably emphatic "leave to re
tire" 1t is plain that the name of Scott lent nc
IS strength to the Wing cause whatever i'll Penn>yl
vania or Ohio. Why, let others decide the fac
% is, all of any importance in this Convention. Hi
political fortunes were buried beneath the ruins o
to the Pennsylvania struggle. Ii he stalks acros
IS the political stage it is not Hamlets self, but tn
/, Ghost of Hamlet that appears.
ne There is another fact of political significance
Is which points the entire destruction of his for
j. tone, and the mockery of his presentation as
candidate. In New York city. some nine tel
,e thousand persons have signed pledge to vot
I'd for none other than Compromise
powerful vote would be seven thousand chief
Wings, IN closely contested State like New YOrG
B Georgia, Louisiana, and Tennessee, have give
abundant evidence that they will vote for non
other than a Compromise The canddac
,. of Scott is to plainly hopeless to be seriousI
thought of by the Wing party at large. We ar
glad that it is The day OF time serving polit;
clans should have passed. Men will cling to tn
fortunes of brave, bold man. like Henry Clay
a who fears nothing but self-reproach, VIII
al would ''rather be right than President" who wi
+, speak what he believes TO be the truth, and til
no whole truth, as becomes true and honest man.
Defeat with such leader is as honorable as tn
OF contest is inspiring and earnest But to enter up
On on political contest with a leader who ethe
knows not his mind, fears to speak it
On whose chart is blank, who is all things to a
as men. because he is nothing special to any one,
mere political negative, drift in political currents
IT, neutral in the most important political struggle:
es can inspire enthusiasm and prompt but littl
y, effort We have stomach for such candida all
- The party which should present such one woul
deserve to be defeated His support would b
y, mere service his triumph would be ser
IL Gus misfortune to his supporters. If Scott wi
not take the Compromise pledge. the Compromis
men will not take him-and that is an end of h
candidacy.