Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1852-08-05
l)olititol.
scott's Fitness for the Presiden-
cy.
SPEECH OF HON ]. c. SPENCER,
IL the AiJaay Ratification Meeting,
Oh Elidnn .Inln lh.

N BbA u VI bUN - ~ ~ AAfNbNs
A. the AlJany Ratification Meeting,
on Friday, Jaiy 10.
Retired as have been for several wears
irom ,hc active scenes of political strife,
should not have appeared at this meeting,
bad not sense of duty to the distinguish
ed man whose nomination for The Preslden-
az yuu have met to ratify. constrained me
10 sccep, the opportunity thus presented Of
DOM Justice TO bis character ln partIcu-
jar ihlt has not been SO well understood.
Oi ms unsurpassed military exploits,
have nothing to say The world is fun OF
DO. renown; his only competitor 10 the
feld. the Duke of Wellington, has bot an
fcipated the Judgment Of history do not
ndeuhe them, or their value to the coun-
tr bat others viii speak Of them. and
wish to devote my share of your time To an-
other subject | wish 90 meet the objection
tlt military meu are not fitted for the
/ highest cul employmeuts, aud lhat there Is
1 danger 90 our institutions IN elevaunU TO
| die Chef Magistracy man whose tle has
been employed in giving command, eniorc-
nr discipline and maintaining obedience.
| Although 1t mght be ana cstoppi, as II is
ermed. To those who make THIS objection.
| 90 remud them of their support uf General
/ Andrew Jackson, the success with which,
IS they maintain, be administered the gov
eminent for eight years; aud to remind
them of their late candidate, General Cass
and Of their present candidate, Gen Pierce
both Of whom we're distinctly presented as
having great military reputation yet as
closing the mouth Of an adversary IS not
necessarily conclusive to others or to our
selves, | propose TO examine this point
more At large.
The fitness OF military man for civil en-
ploymeut, depends upon two circumstances :
if,t, the natural constitution Of his mind
and feelings; and second, whether his mil
nary habits have been SO mingled and tenn
pered by social aud ciyIl duties, by extend
Cd add various Intercourse with hs fellow
citizens, aud by public employments re-
curing The talents, learning and adronness
d Of statesman, as to have obluerated all
4 the stern aud repuguant features OF the
Il soldier
i As 20 the first, is there a man who ha,
ever seen Gen. Scott, who has not marked
the leglble hand writing of hene6cen
Creator IA hs noble person aud counten-
.nce, 6eaming with philanthropy and ludi
ydual kludhess Who ever heard from
ham rude remark OF personal ohense, OF
even IA anger, an epithet uubecomlng
gentleman His way aud manners are 5,
klnd as 10 be almost iemenine, and | hay,
heard foreigners express their amazemen
that man So INJURED TO scenes of blood an,
carnage, should be as simple. as naiura
'ai as allectlonale as child Butcher an,
Hynau would probably dlsown hlm as
soldier Of their mould
Aad who does not know how this gentle
aess and sympathy with his race have beer
exhibited, constantly, daily, hourly, by Gen
Scott, When in the field, IN the camp on lh
march, or IN the barracks The sick. tn
disabled the wounded, the dying, anon
NE troops he has commanded were eve
The peculiar objects of his mos, asslduou
care There Is not hamlet IN our cour
NY but contains living witnesses Of this re
mMkable trait, or witnesses VINO have r.
ceWed aud repeat the testimony of thel
dead fathers aud brothers Pardon me to
abiding TO a personal instance, when, ,l'
ung brother IN 1914, who had been she
IN the battle of Niagara, aud who was dl
ing within the Blush lines. The recolle'
uon OF the sympathy aud assistance OF Gel
SCOT, on that, aud on another occaslo
sui more trying, swells my heart with em'
III Hons that would break 1t, It they could n'
X md uuerdnce, when speaking Of the COZ
"A smuuon of that mans nature. Who hi
not heard of his unlusllliable exposure
MS own life among the troops when Il
Cholera swept them oil there by hundre,
10 the Black Hawk War; Ask those vt
served under him in the presidential china
Z" Mexico, whether he has heart open
melting charity 10 the suferIngs of his Il
3 low men, aud a readiness aud ability
relieve them equaled only by the ahecti'
OF a brother
No, fellow citizens, the hardships al
habits of military life, instead of induratll
AIS heart, have but touched him with a le'
'us OF the niirmities of our race, and ha
- Hlghi him the great duty of man IA Imi'
= Nhs The example of his Saviour. Sucl
q man Will bring into the administration
"e uoveEnment, neither reserve, PRIDE,
Z" "sahce, nor slubbOTnness.
NJ The Circumstance which determines /
a flaiihcations of a military man ios ca
60 employment rs, whether he has already a
~ YiiTed the learning. experience and tact
ID statesman. The military life in this cou
Wy which has been blessed with peace
Z %' least sIxiy-iive of the nearly seventy yea
uu have passed since our Independent
LIE was achieved, is not like that of the Eui
peon officer who has spent his life in 10
i qua bloody wars, or secluded IN garrIso
anu iorls. General Scott, probably mc
,uan any other of cur great generals, h
"om The nature of his employment. ma
da 'Nned Tor the greater part of his life an
''' "uaed aud various intercourse with