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


! privicges OF his high command. We do not in-
tend to question the military service wlIicl he
! has rendered his country. lie has been sue.
! cessiuI soldier, aud, although he has not been
exempt from military criticism, and has not I'm.
| frequently been embiOiled with 6FOIhcr officers,
we take pleasure in COnCeding the gaantry and
| skill with which he has served his cOuDtEy as u
soldier and we nre happy that he has received
from his grateful COun'Fymen, the appropriate
I rewards of military service and spccess. We
would too have been the last 10 nuke objection
to him. If lie had been content with his rank in
4 the army or to Compi8in il lie had been pTUm0t-
ed 10 a military rank sun higher, eveuii created
/ for the purpose. But, alter more thsn twenty
\ wears OF anxious soIicitude, 10 become selected
candidate lor the presidency, his aspirations have
/ been al length gTaited, aud We deem il our right
/ as treemen, and our daiy rs the devoted friends
OF the civil institutions Of our country TO EXPRESS
frankly aud plainly, objections 10 his claims.
We object TO The election 10 The presidency uf
an officer of the army-of. one who las spent
nearly hall century in actual military service
a schoal lily ada itad 10 iHcuiSae the principles
OF equality amongst men, and kpOwledGe OF our
constitution and laws. THIS is Tic second in
stance in whc.I the same party has taken their
candidate from The army. FOnr years ago the
experiment suCccetcd-Gcn. Taylor was elected
bv the aid Of Democratic vo;es-5lIndcd by the
glare of brilliant military sucrCsS, and teiuded
bv the hope of an administration free frem the
influence of party. N"w time has afforded OPP
portuGi!y to distinguish between tie meteor fash
Of mere military glory, and the calm Light oi cl-
vii qualification.
General Scott declares, in his letter accepting
the nomination: &c In regard 10 the general poll
Cy of the administration, il elected, shnnid, of
course, lcUk among those who may approve that
policy for the agents to carry 1t ia'O execution
aud should seek TO cultivate hsrmonr ard ira
ternal sentiments throughout he HRig party
whom, attempting 10 reduce lis members by pro-
scripliun, to exact conformity TO my own views.
There IS no hope Of any political millennium,
if General Scott shall be eIcc'ed-and no Demo-
crat can contribute Ia his election, by any of the
dslusive hopes, which induced many TO give
their support To the other candidate from the
Army. Without any purpose or desire 10 dis
para ge the brave old man. who was thus elected,
we appeal To the whole country if the expert
ment of making President of the United States
out of successful soldier did not prove an utter
failure and whether his administration, for the
brief period in which he survived his InauguTa-
ton, is not beacon to warn the country against
its repetition, rather than successful example
recommending itself, by its results, as worthy OF
being followed.
We object TO General SCOTS election because
of his expressed and unretractcd political oPin-
ions. The vast powers Ct the Cihce OF President
invests the incumbent with an influence power
fml for good for evil over the Legislation OF the
Union, and on measures deeply affecting the
rights of the people and the, prosperity Of the
couuiry-aHd his opinions, therefore, ought to be
carefully examined, 10 enable you to determine
what system Of measures and what policy lie will
exert his official influence to promote. General
Scott has never served, or given vote, i'll either
house of Congress, or in Il State LegIslature.-
But within very few years past, " hen speak
ing OF the promugarion of his opinions on qnes.
tiuus Of State Rights and federal administration,
he declared that, he "Cow!d not plead iGno-
rance of the uartaiity Of a few friends in several
parts Of the Union, who may, by possibility, i'll Il
certain event, succeed in bringing me within the
field from " hich a Wing candidate is to be Sc
lected, prefer TO err on the side o; lTAnkncss
and candnr rather than by silence to allow any
stranger unvtIingIy TO commit himself TO my
support - and his prolific pen gave 10 the pub
lie, through several years, carefully prepared
letters, in which he avowed his opinions on the
most interesting questions, which involving the
true construction Of The constitution, had divided
political parties and cXeTted Il mighty influence
on the business aud prosperity OF tho country.
We content ourselves with stating some of
these opinions:
I. He has avow I'd himself, as late as 1913, af-
ter all excitement had passed away, in favor of
the gradual emancipation OF slaves; (and declared
that If he had had The honor Of seat in tho
Virginia Legislature, in the winter of 1872,
when the bill was brought forward for that Pur-
Pose he wCuldhaVc given it his hearty snpport."O
lii. has declared, I" am persuaded, that it is
hiUh moral obligation of masters, aud SLGre-hOld-
ing Sba!eS to employ all the means, not incom-
ptube with the ,'ety of both COlur5, to meliO-
ralc slavery even To eXtermiDation." lie COZ
District OF Columbia, and maintains the Consti-
tutiOnal right OF Congress to receive, refer and
1epOrt upon petitions on the subject, while he
dc clares that under the Constitution, there is
color of authority in Congress, for touching the
rel ali, n Of master and slave vi hiE State For
what end then, does the right of petition exist q
l. it, that, while the relation of master and slave
cannot be touched, the right of property cannot
lie sstruyed, the value OF that right may he des-
trOved, by legislative acts, on which the EXeCu-
tive Veto would not he applied
2. lie has declared, in his letter Of acceptance,
that the d" veto power ought always to be most
cautiously exercised, and under the srictesI
strants and necessities and III 1871, he eX-
pressed, a nope, that Sc by early amendment of
the Constitution, to reduction Of the Presi-
dents vcIo:' aud his plan of amendment,
thus stalled by himself. There can be no good
reason, why The veto should not be overcome, by
a bare m 7jOriiv OF each House Of Congress, OfalI
the members elected to it-say fur the benefit of
reflection, the end OF ten days from the return
of The Bill" These extracts show the Generals
appreciation Of this great conservative principle
OF the Constitution-the principle OH which the
minority, and especially, the South, already in a
minority, on the absorbing questions, arising out
OF slavery, must, under the Constitution, rely for
protection against legislation, fatal to them, des
tructi, Ot their rights Of property, their peace,
and the lives OF their women and children, but
bv which, however unwise the sectional majority
which may pass the acts, will snffeT nothing.-
And Gen Scott aVUwed himself in favor Ol an
amendment to that sacred instrument the Cons.i-
tuition. by which the same sectional majority may
nullify the Executive Veto. There is tber
want of CONSIDERATION, a manifest want of retiec-
ton this deeply Interesting subject, unwOr-
thy of one who asf Tres TO the Presidency, and
who ought to be statesman, or there is an
utter disregurd of the rights o: the States, and
readiness to surrender all power TO a
tonal majority; and by consolidating ali pow
er in the Federal Government, to establish the
most oppressive Tyranny. without a hope of
escape by the oppressed, unless by dissolution
OF the Union.
From his published OF inions, we are satisfied
that he is in favor of a bank of the United
States, of the Bankrupt Law of al, establish
ing a voluntary system Of bankruptcy, without