The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1852-07-01
ACCEPTANCE OF THE NOMINATION BY GEN.
SCOTT


ACCEPTANCE OF THE NOMINATION BY GEN
SCOTT.
The National Mteihgencer contains the for
nal acceptance by General Scott of the nomi-
nation of the Wing Convention.
Mr. Chapman, President of the Convention,
in a note dated June 22d. notifies him of his
nomination, and encloses to him a copy of the
resolutions passed by that body. Gen. Scott
in his reply, dated Washington June "a. says ::
Not having written a word to procure this
distinction, lost not a moment after it had
been conferred, in addressing letter to one of
your members, to signify what would be, at the
proper time, the substance of my reply to the
Convention, and now have the honor to repeat,
in more formal manner, as the occasion just
ly demands, that accept the Nomination with
the Resolutions annexed.
The political principles and measures laid
down in those resolutions are so broad that but
little is left for me to add | therefore barely
suggest in this place. that should /, by the
partiality of my countrymen, be elevated to the
Chief Magistracy of the Union, shall be ready,
in my connection with Congress, to recommend
or to approve of measures in regaad to the
management of the public domain, so as to Sc
cure an early settlement Of the same favorable
to actual settlers, but consistent nevertheless
with due regard to the equal rights of the
whole American peopleeh that vast national
inheritance and also to recommend or approve
single alteration in Our naturalization laws
suggested by my military experience, viz: giving
to all foreigners the right of citizenship who
shall faithfully serve, in time of war one wear
on board of our public ships, or in our land
forces, regular or volunteer, on their receiving
an honorable discharge from the service.
In regard to the general policy of the AID.
mnIstratlon, if elected, should, Of course. look
among those who may approve that policy for
the agents to carry it into execution, and I
should seek to cultivate harmony and fratcrnal
sentiments throughout the Wing party, with
out attempting to reduce its members by pro-
scrptlon, to exact conformity to my own views.
But should, at the same time, be rigorous in
regard to qualifications for ofice-retaining
ana appointing no one either deficient in ca
paclty or integrity, or in devotion to liberty to
the Constitution and the Union
Convinced that harmony and goodwill be-
tween the different quarters Of our broad coun-
try is essential to the present and future inter-
| 'ntN vi htpuDllC, uUu WIFI IL ucNOtlDn 10
those interests that can know no South and no
| North should neither countenance nor toler-
ate any sedtion, disorder, faction or resistance
to the Law or the Union, on any pretext, in
any part Of the land and should carry into
the civil administration this one principle of
military conduct--obedience to the Legislative
and judicial departments of Government each
in its constitutional sphere, saving only, in re-
spect to the Legislature the possible resort to the
veto power always to be most cautiously exer-
cised and under the strctest restraints and ne.
cessities
Finally, for my adherence to the principles
of the Wing party, as expressed in the resolu-
tons Of the Convention and herein suggested
with sincere and earnest purpose to advance
the greatness and happiness of the Republic
AMI thus to cherish and encourage the cause
Unconstitutional liberty throughout the world
avoiding every act and thought that might in
yolve our country in an un ust or unnecessary
war; or impair the faith of treaties, and dis
countenancng all political agitation injurious
to the interests of society and dangerous to the
linion-I can offer no other pledge or guaran-
ty than the known incidents of long public
life, now undergoing the severest examination"
We learn from the foregoing that General
| oS'tt utCcbto viz tohpipuiiSC HicdSuICS,
ding the Fugitive Law, as "a final settlement
in principle and substance of the subjects to
which they relate that he will maintain
them and insist on their strict enforcement,
until time and experience shall demonstrate
the necessity of further legislation to guard
against the evasion of the laws ON the one
hand. and the abuse Of their powers on the
other, not imparing their present efficiency
to carry out the requirements of the Constitu-
ton: y that he deprecates and "will discounte.
nance all further agitation of the questions thus
settled, as dangerous to our peace that,
should he be elected, he will not be governed
in the appointments to Office, by a proscriptiye
policy but will bestow his favors upon those
who approve of the general policy of his Ad-
minstration, without requiring exact conform,
ity to his own views that he is favorable ia
the policy of the Homestead bill, and of making
our Naturalization Laws more favorable t.
foreigners, and that he entcrtains the views
prevalent among Wings concerning the use Of
the Veto power
III seems therefore, that IN the Judgment OF
General Scott, time and experience have not
yet demonstrated the necessity of any altera-
ton in the Fugitive Lava law without war
rant in the constitutional law which outrages
common sense and every principle of lava
law passed in opposition to the Public Senti
ment Of the section in which it was intended
specially to operate--a law which cannot be
enforced without violence, and must operate a.
an element of perpetual irritation and agita'
ton North and South 1t was an uncalled for
unauthorized law-it is brutal and bloody
law-it requires neither time nor experience
to demonstrate the necessity of its repeal anC