Eastern times. [volume] (Bath, Me.) 1846-1857, 1852-10-07
VOL. VII.

freedom as an example to seven hundred an
fifty millions who suffer from tyranny in les
favored lands
Thus, after rapid and most striking sur
vey of our political history for half century
holding his audience wrapt up in his eloquen
discourse. he went on to speak of parties ant
of candidates in the Presidential contest nov
impending. He believed the wings, as gen
eral thing, TO be patriotic and well meaning
but he could not believe in their loose ard un
certain doctrines of public policy. They ar,
clearly deluded and deceived Many of then
aim TO Improve their individual position al
men of property, in good faith, having less re
gard for the interests Of others. They are
! generally (the leaders) men of quiet wealth
and are timid and apPrehensve of their pos
sessions at every movemeAt nf progress in the
country. They are full Of foreboding when nc
danger is at hand, and manifest too much in.
difference when it really exists. This is moi
so much from an actual want ofpatrotism, but
rather an excess of egotism. They want
high protective tariff; give delightful names
to their measures; calling their tariff project
an American system, when In fact it is anti
American In every sense, and benefits one
class, while it Expresses other classes. Be-
lieving that the privilege of ruling the masses
belongs to the few, they themselves would
constitute that few, and claim exclusive rule
We are now told by their sagaclOus leaders
that party differences are abandoned, since
their Baltimore platform assimilates with ours.
If this be so, they have clearly surrendered
principles for which they have lenacously
struggled for the last fifty years. They thus
virtually abandon their policy concerning
banks, tariffs, internal Improvements, distribu-
ton OF the public lands, &c, and ask those
who never were mistaken on these same ques-
tlons-who pointed out their errors, to give
way to them and allow them TO resume DOW
ers they have so grossly abused. | suppose
they are in earnest; cannot question their
sincerity but would it not be well, while es-
chewing their old errors, to wait awhile and
study democratic doctrines. If democra s
have thus far been their masters, let them sub
init TO democratic tutelage and if these pro-
fessioas are sham attempts to deceive, then
they belle their own confessions, and ] warn
you against the consequences of their resum-
ing power at this time to engage in new ex-
periments on such limited capital.
Against Gen. Scott, their candidate for the
Presidency, have nothing to say. No demo-
crat living would tear from our historic record
the pages that belong to the hero of Chippewa
and Lundy's Lane. | had the pleasure as an
American Senator, TO give him the tribute of
my vote to constitute him Lieut.. General
Let honor be showered on his head, and a
country's gratitude reward his galantry-but,
while you thus honor his great military ex-
ploits, let that honor and that gratitude have
a right direction. EIecting him TO the Pres
idency is hardly ihe fittest mode Of perpetu-
atlng his fame or preserving your own.
do not believe in the policy which prevailed
IN less enlightened age of the world, in i'll
vesiiDg military heroes with great and i'm
portani civil trusts which .heir whole man
ner OF life units them to discharge 10 an ac-
ceplable manner. An instance of the in
aptitude and incongruity of such distinctions
was witnessed in 1913, in the elevation of
Gen. TAYLOR TO the Presidency. knew him
well and intimately up 10 the close of his
earthly career, as frank, nobe-hearIed man,
susceptible Of The finest feelings of magnan-
unity, undisguised in his actions, and inca
pable of fostering sentiments adverse 10 his
country's welfare but | also know that
when he was dragged into the Presidency,
he was out OF his proper sphere Of action
aud that his glory as soldier on the tented
field was obiterated by blunders 10 the cab
met council. So il would be with Gen.
Scott should he be placed in like position.
1t was no friend TO his military tame that
whispered inio his ear the idea of the Pres
ldency. The success of such a movement
would not add an iOta TO his fame, but on the
contrary, would eclipse his present high po-
sition as one OF the greatest Captains of the
age. Happy is he that he stands not the
least chance of being elected. 1t will not
lie IN such a mode that the nations graft
tude will reward his services. Interested
men would avail themselves of his military
fame to make him their TOOL, and have thus
manifested little respect for his fame as a
soldier. They would make him a feathered
nendicam OF popularity, running from State
10 State, sacrificing The dignity of his posi-
lion.
How different tho position of Franklin
Pierce-the man of our cIloce-one of your
own New England pillars in the temple of
Democracy. have seen the man, and have
read him. OF reserved. and yet dignified
manners-qualified both by nature aud edu-
cation 10 be ruler, he is no seeker after
public applause. Distant from cIiques and
iaclons-free from sectional obligations
he stands before you in neighhoriug STATE
free, unlrammeled and independent-un.
influenced by any man or set of men. Lives
there man who can claim any special in
fuence over him? 7? doubt it, Not that he
will not listen--take counsel, and be happy
TO extend the hand Of fellowship to all; bul
as candidate for the Presidency, through
the instinct of the people, which seldom errs
he would scOrn the man who would seek io
exert an influence over him in his present
position before the country. He will go into
power, if | mistake not the signs of the
times, and he lives, and no man can claim q
title 10 his predictions or choice, except il
be grounded on personal merit alone.
Gentlemen, it so happened that attended
the Baltimore Convention in June, thai
placed Gen. Pierce before the country as
worthy of the Presidential office. Aspert,
between the Southern and Northern portions
of the coniederacy had existed; heart burn
ings, jealousies, and sectional strife had beer
eugendered and il was with doubt and mis-
givings as to the result of our deliberations
that some six hundred delegates assembled
But happily, good spirit prevailed, and har
mony and Cancellation ruled our counsels.-
Everything like prejudice, affection and pre-.
! objection, was yielded for the common good
Some wanted platform before we nominat
ed our candidates; but having confidence il
the high-soule honor of Northern men,
and others said no; we will trust TO the hon
or of the Northern Democracy and we die
80. The result OF our nominations ,ot
Know. We made Them with unanmir
never before known in National Conyen
l'on. A platform was reported and agreed
upon ny committee from each Stale in th,
Union. lh'nk you it pleased all men il
that Conven'lonf Far from it vet it wa
adopted as Il was conceived, in a spirit o