The mountain sentinel. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1844-1853, 1852-09-16
CEN. SHIELDS SPEECH.

| FELLow-CITIzENs-I truly sorry to say
that am in no fit condition to make you
speech. Weary and exhausted have arrived in
your city, and my being here tonight is the re-
suit of accident. l have accompanied my gal
| liant friend Gen. Houston, in the capacity of an
| assistant, or aid-de-camp, to military
phrase and L trust that after having listened
to his excellency address, you will not expect
one from
I You have heard tonight, one of the most dis
tinguished Democrats in the land. His life has
been romance-its wonders have never been
exceled even in fable. From the forest to the
ocean-from the valley to the mountain-in eve
ny position and every situation-hs life has been
one of action and usefulness. From early strug-
giles for office in his native State up to his noble
efforts for the disenthralment of nation, he has
been consistent patriot, and an honorable man.
| His name is identified with virtue, freedom and
! independence and the history Of his campaigns
| in Texas shows the actions of a brave and gall
liant man. You have heard him speak, and ]
have only to repeat after him the words of truth
which he has uttered. Where / disposed to
make you a speech, L could no better do it than
! by humbly and feebly repeating and endorsing
his sentiments.
! know both distinguished men, who stand be-
fore the people of this nation at the present time
as candidates for the Presidency l know Gen.
Scott well have fought under him. and viii
not use denunciation against him. lie is a brave
man, and his gallant deeds form portion of the
history of his country. know Gen. Pierce al
I so. l fought by his side and he is a gallant
as any other of the brave spirits who fought
| and won on the fields of Mexico Gen Scott as
my friend Houston remarked, has been all his
life soldier, living in camps, and accustomed
to the rude array of war. Gen. Pierce is emf
nent IS civilian, in addition to being brave
! soldier. And yet, when he returns to his native
| land, and when, in just appreciation of his
! worth and excellence, his fellow countrymen Sc
lect him as their candidate for an honorable of
! ice he is charged with being false to his duty,
and his name is coupled with with the foul epi-
| thet of coward. Formy own part, viewing this
matter in its proper light, and knowing do
how well he fought in Mexico, feel that this is
cruel and ungenerous injustice There is some
thing ungerous in such act, and no upright
| and honorable man should lend his countenance
| fight for their country, (more especially those
| who, like Franklin Pierce, have fought so well)
| should receive the respect and just judgment of
| their fellow-citizens they should be at least
| free from calumny. There is no man in this
| vast assembage before me (unless he be himself
| a coward). who has been in Mexico, but will say
with me that General Franklin Pierce is moth
| ing else than a brave and honorable man. Gen.
! Scott himself, although his interests are opposed
! to those of Pierce, wouldnot, and, l am assured
! does not, approve of such conduct and he
would not wish to owe his election to the false
charges which brought against one of his
! in Mexico with a fervor and earnestness which
did him honor. He rushed through the battle
field until his strength failed him. and exhausted
| nature unable further to sustain him in his tolls
and anxieties, caused him to fall-as many
brave men have done before him.
But enough of this unjust and cruel falsity-
1t is of that kind of ingenouos calumny which
viii! recon upon its authors, and viii react with
terrible force opon that party which endorses it.
feel deeply upon this subject; for, like Gen.
Pierce, am myself citizen soldier. I know
well the ul1ncultieS we nau 10 encounter IN MEX
CO the misunderstanding and conflicts with the
regular branch of the army, and many other
unpleasant circumstances. All our troubles,
notwithstanding, might be cheerfully disregard
ed and forgotten ; and we might-as citizens and
as soldiers, have felt that the just appreciation
of our services was a sufficient reward But,
what must be the feelings of men who have the
consciousness within them that they have at least
endeavored TO do their duty-when the voice of
calumny assais them on their return to their
native land Surely such con duct is in the
highest degree reprehensible. PSF
have nothing against Gen. Scott. If he has
failings, do not think it my province to expose
them ButI am Democrat and on the truth
of the principles I profess I oppose him as
Democrat There is one thing, however, which
may be urged against Gen. Scott which has
been noticed before, this evening" allude to
his peculiar and exclusive military character
Here is a man, nearly seventy years old, who
has been all his life soldier-and nothing else.
Now, fe1low-citizens, earnestly ask you wheth-
er, in view of this fact Gt is incontrovertlbly
one,) of this description with safety
be put at the head OF a Democratic government!