Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1852-10-02
LETTER FROM SENATOR BADGER.

DADuEhy DcHator u the ulteu ctdtoSI from worth
Carolina, is in reply to an imitation to address the
Wing Club of Raleigh. 1t merits the particular at
tention of Wings who may have preferred another
candidate for the Presidency to theone who received
the nomination of the National Convention
RALEIGH, SEPTEMBER 81 1852.
Editor Of he Register-Sir 1t was my purpose, when
returned from Washington, attend and address the
Club of city upon the pending Presidential election
Having been prevented, by beyond my control,
from doing what had thus purposed, deem it proper,
in order prevent correct mistake misstatement
respecting my position and views, to submit this COM
munication you, and to ask that it may be read to
the Club.
am decided and pery earnest supporter Of the Wing
national nominations for the Presidency and Vice Pres
dency. 1t known to you sir well as to many others
of my friends, that Gen. SCOTT not my first choice
for the Presidency; that preferred Mr.. FILLMORE, and
greatly desired his nomination by the Convention will
add in all rankness that probably man in the United
States disappointed not to say dissatisfied than
was when that gentleman was passed over.
But what have these preferences dsappontments, and
dissasfactons do with the important issue sub
mitted to the American people, and by them soon to be
decided The question is not between Willard Fillmore
and Winfield Scott but between Winfield Scott and Frank
lin Perce and, assuming the superiority, in point Of
qualifications of Mr.. Fillmore over Gen. Scott, it by
means follows that the latter is not UNNECESSARILY above
Gen. Pierce in his claims upon the nation and especially
the Wing party For Fillmore Wings to retire in gloomy
discomfort from the contest because the Wing of their
choice not selected by the Convention, is to give
preference to principles, to things
for such Wings join opponents and make upon
the nominee of the party is to desert Mr. Fillmore him
SELF to repudate the he recommends and pursues
and involve themselves in the pitiable absurdy of sup
porting Democratic and measures out Of extreme
and exclusive zeal for Wing and for decided
Wing supporter of Wing measures
not this so? Let us see: Winfield Scott was nomi-
mated by general Convention of Wings from all the
States That Convention previous his nomination. had
adopted set of resolutions embodying the principles of
the Wing party General Scott has accepted both the
nomination and the resolutions To these resolutions no
Whig at least Southern Whig far as know takes
any exception To abandon the nomination. then so far
this contest is concerned is clearly to abandon the
principles themselves 1t is to prefer Democratic
sures be carried out by Democratic President to
Wing measures to be carried out by Wing named Scott
when these measures admitted to be altogether
excellent and to be greatly desired if carried by
Wing bearing the of Fillmore. Now, if any man
prefers the principles of the Democratic party then it is
his duty support the nominees of that party but how
in the of and patriotism, Wing support
for President who WILL in the administration Of the
Government, oppose what the Wing believes right and
support what he believes wrong merely because differ
Wing has been chosen by the representatives of his
party from the one he preferred to support the right and
oppose the wrong
Again: The Southern Wings were represented in the
Convention platform of principles proposed and
adopted which their entire approval General Scott
nominated and that nomination then ratified and
confirmed by those Southern Wing representatives How
then in honor We Southern Wings refuse support
this nomination? 1t known all before the Con-
yenton that General SCOTS would be presented
that body No Wing State Convention entered any caDea
interposed any objection against his nomination
sructed ntimated their delegates that rejection
should be insisted All that Southern Wings deemed
Indispensable that their candidate should be
WhiS and pledged to support the Compromise These
conditions fulfilled they every where pledged the nominee
their support. These conditions found in the nomi-
nee; and how then with good faith refuse to
tain him. any more than his friends could have refused
support to Mr.. Fillmore had he been selected by the
Convention? Such refusal their part should
have regarded and denounced act Of eachery and
baseness and from this may learn estimate the
character Of such refusal on part
1t has been said that Gen. Scott has heartily adopt
ed does not approve the platform laid down by the Con-
yenton How is this ascertaned Not from any thing
he has written or spoken In his letter to the President
of the Convention he accepts the nomination and the de-
caration of principles annexed. What he says of the
nomination he says of the declaration, and IT,
Y
why does it not also Of the other
But, in fact, decided in favor of the
measures Of compromise, and ALL than Winfield Scott
and when he pledged himself that series of resolutions
of which asserts the final character of the compro
mise, the fugitive slave law included he only pledged
himself to what he had always approved and had exered
himself to have passed OF this the proof before the pub
lie is full and ampleso full and ample that ground is
left for denial or doubt
1t has been made objection to Gen. Scott that be
wrote nothing on the compromise before his nomination
equal force to Gen. PIERCE He was specially interro-
gated by Mr.. Scott Of Richmond and made reply or
if he replied that reply has been withheld from the pub
c But the question for is rhen Gen. Scott wrote
but what he wrote and the position he occupies and
which he has all along occupied is decided and hearty
support of the whole compromise in oil its parts final
settlement. What more can be required
1t has been objected Scott that Seward Greeley and
Weed support him. Wel do both the Van Burens
Preston King, Hallet b. f. Butler David Wilmot, the
father Of the odous provso and many others Of like abo
on opinions support Pierce If the support of the lat
ter candidate by Aboitonists is entirely consistent with
his soundness the slavery question: how in fairness
1t be alleged that the support given to the former, by
persons OF like opinions argues any unsoundness in him
upon that question Is it supposed that Seward viii in
fuence Scotl And shall Pierce be influenced by such
men as the Van Burens and King and Haet and Butler
and Wilmot?
But, sir, could have nominated any candidate TO
whom our opponents would not have alleged like objec
ton! Had Fillmore or Webster been nominaed--for the
done to whom the Locooco press have expressed
such indignant complants-would he not have been
charged by that press in the South with aboonsm, or
at any rate with being unreliable for the South while at
the North he would have been every where arrayed
man. unfit to be trusted by Northern reemen