Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1852-09-07

n ba n,efpyrad over the man OF letters, the Mer-
chant, the Agriculturalist, AMI the NIeG.n"S
who would daily observe the practical "clHlnSo'
our complex, bur beautiful system oil government
'The avOwal OF such an opinion wouiu seem 70
indicate an undue preference OF INC miIla!y over
the civil. or that in politics as wei as IN "dF'
there is such a hing as strategy:
Tho circumstances nndcr which Gen. ScGttis
.oa;0a,ion yas made, are worthy 0 fyour serious
oSanio.Iion. Eminent public men OF the Wing
- Isye denounced it as sectional, and effect
III manly By the non s'aveholding voc. l1e"ho
= Tow the Chief Executive Of l;Ie United States,
Derfnrming his duties underIhis election as Vice
president, who has been called by his party the
Model President and he who has been called the
great exponent of the Constitution, after a long
and Distinguished public service in The Senate
and the Cabinet, we're set aside, under an inuu'
ence which we do not characterize, but which
leading Wings have denounced as originating
with, ard yielded 10 a considerable extent by,
those whose cOnSciences will not permit Them 10
support, approve or execute the act OF Congress
which carries out the plain injuncttons OF the
Constitution, by returning fugitive slaves 10 theIr
lawful owners.
1t is usual for the friends and supporters Of
Gen. Scott to refer to his efforts in South Caro-
lima, when notification and a collision between
the State and Federal Governments were aPPre-
hended, in proof OF his abil ~ SIS a civilian. 10
show the nature OF the duty with which he was
entrusted at that time by the General Govern
ment, and the character OF the services expected
and required of him, under instructions, we insert
the following extract from a letter to him taken
from the Messag e Of The President of the United
States, of the II h February, 1888, transmitting
in compliance with a resolution OF the Senate,
the orders given to the land and naval forces at
Charleston
." Your duty will be one OF great importance
'a1d OF great deIicaCy. YOW lciU consult freely
'and fully 1oih The Collector Of The port Of Charles
'ton, and NTH The District Attorney of South Caro-.
'Lin1, and YOU WILL TAKE 30 STEP, except what
'relates to the immsdiuie defence and security Of
'ihe post, nCiLhOut their order or concurrence. The
execution OF the laws will be enforced through
'the civil authority, and by the mode pointed Out
'by the acts of Congress. Should, unfortunately
"a crisis arise, when the ordinary power in the
hands of the civil officers shall not be sufficient
'lor this purpose, The President will determine TN
course TO be taken and the measures 10 be adapted
'EIlI, therefore,, YOU ARE OTHERWISE INSTRUCTED
you hCiH act in OBEDIENCE, 10 the krgaI requisition
'G6 The PROPER CIVIL OFFICERS ofUe United St0tes.
From this extract it will be seen that Genera
SCOTS duty was wholly military; that beyOnC
MS, he was to do nothing without the "OTder ant
concurrence of the civil authorities, and tina
even III the event o! a crisis, the "PresidenL" wa
to determine the course 10 be taken and the mea
sures to be adopted.
Viewing, then, the history Of Cen. SCOTS life
devoid Of experience in any civil ca opacity, train
cd III a military school where rigid discipline AM
strict subordinaIion 10 the will Of the militar,
chief, constitute the great fundamental principle
scanning his political creed, at war as it is viii
all the doctrines entertained aud revered by tn
Democratic party, and, as we believe, with til,
best interests Of the country,-seriously depre
eating the malign influences which have brongh
about his nomination and believing that, TO
groat extent, these influences must predominant
in his administration if he should he successful
we call upon you soiemnly TO exert the great pow
er you possess TO avert the calamity. Virgins
has the honor of having made the nomination O
Franklin Pierce. Let her give him a majOrit
that shall approve him good and true. Othc
States will follow her lead, and a glorious tri
umph will be ensured.
The voice of North Carolina has been heard
and cheering intelligence comes up from ever,
quarter, that The Southern States, probably unani
mousiy, will r~ePudIate the Wing nomination
and we have every reason TO believe that the DC
mocratic Northern States Will, by their triumph
ant and faithful support OF PIerce and King, sig
nalIy rebuke the spirit of sectionalism which as
sails him, and restore the feeling Of brotherhood
without which the Union is broken down and it,
cement destroyed.
JOHN RUTHERFORD,
JOHN Y. MASON,
RICHARD O.. HNSKINS,
WM T. RiTCIIE