The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1852-10-24
CITY OF WASHINGTON SUNDAY MORNING OCTOBER a. 1859

army was SO disoganIzed. the spirit OF The Mexieai
people Was 80 suodued by The unparalleled victory o
bnens VISA mat he way was thus opened for The marcel
from Vera Cruz 10 Mexico Yet God forbid that shouG
IN The slightest degree deract from the glory so jusll,
Que 10 ocots gallant army and It's disting uished CON
manaer ~ .he battles which preceded their triumphant
But repeat, my present purpose is TO deal with Gene.
fa Scott as ciyan-ss candidate for the presidency
and not as a military commander.
The sun presents dark spots upon lis disc and the
greatest men who have ever lived. with the exception o
our own Washington. have been without their fail.
lnss. surely reheai scott is not an exception 10 the
common lo OF humanity In his temper he is undoubt.
edy irritable and jealous OF rivals; whilst The presidency
ABOVE All oiher stations on earb requires OF firm
ana calm emper VINO 10 his public conduct will never
| De under the control Of his passions
General scott has qusrreed with General Wilkinson
he has quarreed with General Ganeshe has quarreled
with General Jacksonhe has quarrelled with De Win
Clinton--he has quarrelled with the administration of
John Quincy Adamsbe has quarrelled wuh the people
OF Florida To- such degree that General Jackson was
Obliged reluctantly 10 recall him from the command OF
Inc army IN the Seminole warhe has quarrelled with
Gen WORTH the Marshal Ney oil military servicebe
has quarfeed with General Pilow--he has quarelled
with the gallant and lamented Duncan--and nnoss re-
po speaks falsely he has quarrelled with General Tay-
| lor Whenever any military has approached the
rank of being his rival for fame, he has quarreed with
!hat man. Now, shall not pretend 10 decide whether
he has been IN the right in the wrong in all in any
OF these quarrels but this shall say-tha man pos
sesng such orelhoagh discretion and calm temper
the presidential Office requires. might and would have
avoided many or most OF these difficulties A plain and
sensible neghbor of mine asked me, in view OF these
facts, ii did not think, should General Scott be elected
President, he would play the devil and break things
Gen. Scott is. beyond all question, suspicious, when
the President OF the United Slates above all other men,
ought to look upon events with preiudced or aun3
diced eye No man exhibited this trait of character
in stronger light than he has done ards the amnis
tralon OF Mr.. Polk lie was selected by the President
10 lead our armies in Mexico, with my humble though
cordial assent. The political life death OF the admia
straion depended upon his success Oar fale both in
the estimation OF the present lines and throughout all
ia Io ,iaIa ya,ll
have been our ruin. And yet he most strangely con-
ceved the notion that for the purpose Of destroying him
we were willing TO destroy ourselves Hence his belief
Of hre in the more formidable than the fire in the front
Hence his beief that, jealous OF his glory, did not
exert ourselves to furnish him the troops and munitions
OF war necessary for the conquest OF Mexico. Did un
just and unonnded suspicious extend thus far in
The breast OF any other mortal man The admirable and
unanswerable letter OF Gov Marcy, Of April 81, 1915.
minstraon OF Mr. Polk against all these extraordinary
charges. Let any carefully and dispassona,ey read
that letter and say, 4 he can, that Gen. Scott. in self
CONTROL temper, and disposition, is hit 10 become the
cessor TO Gen. Washington in the presidential chair.
The world knows-everybody who has approached him
knows-lhat Gen. Scott Is vain. glorious 10 excessive
degree Indeed his vanity would be srkngy ridiculous
had he not performed many distinguished military SER
wees as almost TO justify boasling. This however is an
amabe weakness; AMI whilst il does not disquaIiiy him
from peomng the duties OF President this itself renders
morally impossible that he should reach that station
Modesty combined with eminent merit always secures
popular applause; but the man who becomes the
serls may be--can never become object OF popular
enthusiasm and affection. General SCOTS character in
this respect IS perfectly understood by the instructive
good sense o The American people "Fuss and Feathers"
volume could not accurately portray the vanity of
his character than this soubriquet by which he is uni
yersaly known His friends affect 10 glory in this title
bat with all their efforts they render il popular
Napoleon was endeared TO his army by his designation of
The Little Corporal = General Jackson by that of "Old
Hickory" and General Taylor Trough and Ready -
but what shall we say TO :" Fuss and Feathersr Was
such soubriquet ever bestowed upon general who en-
Joyed the warm affections of his army! II raises
shout II awakens no sympathy; il excles no enthus
asm il falls dead upon the heart OF an intelligent
people.
In order further 10 illustrate the want OF civil quaIi6cs
ons OF General Scott for the presidency, propose next
10 discuss his famous political letters In these be has
written his own political history, "Oh tha, mine enc
ny would write book y was an exclamation OF old
General SCOTS epstIes have accomplished this work
though deny that he has any enemies among the Amer
can people.
Ia ls4s. when speaking OF these letters. Thuow Weed
who at the present moment is OF General Scofs
able, distinguished, and efficient supporers employs the
following language In the character of General Scott
there Is much, very much, TO commend and admire But
The mischief IL, there ~ weakness in all he says does
about The presidency Immediately after the close OF the
campaign OF 1910 he wrote gratuitous letter. making
himself candidate. IN which all sorts Of unwse things
were said to return and plague his friends he should
be candidate And since that time, with fatuy that
sezes upon men who get bewildered in gazing AT the
White House, he has been suffering his pen 10 dim the
gloIles achieved by has sword"
The letter TO which special auson s made must be bis
famous letter oil October 25h, lsil. Though not an
old ogy retain vivid recollection of the circum
stances under which this letter written II made It's
appearance the month alter the termination OF the famous
extra session OF Congress- which had BEEN convened BY
the proclamation OF General Harrison. This session
commenced on the 3ist May, and terminated the 3h
September, lS4l.
And here permit 10 say that do not believe the
history OF legislative bodies, in this any other country
ever presented more argumentave eloquent and power
iu debating than was exhibited throughout this session.
Nearly all the important political questions which had
divided the two great parties OF The country from The be.
glpnng most ably discussed Never did any public
body OF the same umber a stronger OF
ured talent than the Senate Of that day There were
Clay, Beren Clayton, Mangum, Archer, Preston and
Souihafd, on the wing side and Benton, Calhoun,
Wright Woodbury., Walker, Pierce, and Linn, on the
side OF the democrats; an these then in the
meridian OF their glory. would advise every young
democrat within the sound OF my voice to procure and
| carefully study the debates OF this session
Mr.. Clay was he deserved TO be, the lord OF the
ascendant IN the whg ranks The whig majority OF both
houses controlled by his spirit lie was their ac
knowedged leader, AMI went work in dashing style
Within brief period be carried all the great whig meas.
ures irnmphanty through Congress. fhe independent
treasury was repealed the proceeds OF the public lands
were distributed among the States; the bankrupt law
was passed and an od.fashioned Bank of the United
States would have been established had il not been for
the veto oil John Tyler-a man who has been
highly estimated he deserves, either by the democratic
party or the country,
Mr. Clay left The Senate a, The close OF the session,
the acknowledged leader and the iavotte presidential
candidate Of the great whg party Under these circum
stances II became necessary for General Scott 10 do
something 10 head his great fva and prevent him from
remaining master OF the field. He must prove himself 10