Washington telegraph., 1852-08-18
The Presidency and the South.

The Democratic presses say that Gen.
Scott should not receive any Southern votes
And why, we would ask. should he not?-
He is native Of southern State, and has
been intimately acquainted with its peculiar
institutions and its internal policy, from his
earliest years. His opinions have been long
known and neither these nor his acts have
ever evinced any thing but attachment to the
south, and entire soundness in regard to her
interests. What claims over his has Gen.
Franklin Pierce to the vote Of the south!-
Does his residence in an extreme eastern
State, somewhere about sunrise, and several
hundred miles from any portion of the south.
entitle him to the preference? DO his ex-
pressed opinions in relation to slavery, when
compared with those of Gen Scott bind the
south to him by any superior obligations?
The following extract from speech Of his,
made in 1850, at Union meeting in the
town of Manchester, New Hampshire, will
SHOW NOW ldT JI1S is tiiC case.
r. Who did nat dep}ore Skarery? But
what sound thinking mind regarded that as
the only EVIL which could rest upon the land?
The men who would dissolve the Union did
not hate or deplore slavery more than he
did; but even with it, we had lived in peace,
prosperity, and security from the foundation
Of our institutions to the present time. IF
the constitution provided for the return of
fugitive slaves, it should be done. That was
what he wanted to do; that was what our
fathers agreed we should do; and that was
what the friends Of the Union established by
them wanted TO do
And at a meeting in the town of New
Boston, in January 1852, he expressed the
same sentiments in still stronger terms, as
the following from the ''Independent Dem
ocrat," newspaper published at Concord,
Mr.. Pierce's place OF residence, will show
cat the meeting appointed at New Bos
ton Centre On Friday afternoon of January
I'd, by General Franklin Pierce, to address
the citizens of that town in regard to the dif
fculties between himself and portion Of the
Democrats of that section, he occupied the
hour Of his in defending his military charac-
ter. He explained the circumstances of his
fainting; and declared that, 'wth the excep-
ton Of a single occasion, he had led his COM
mand in the blaze of every battle
After this he commenced speaking upon
the Fugitive Slave law. He said that it
differed in no important particular from the
law Of 1871. a clergyman who was present
said. that as the invitation had been given,
he would like to make an inquiry: 'Do you
regard the features of the Fugitive Slave law
as consistent with common law?''
General Pierce Immediately replied: off
I must answer the question, say no. do
not I have been asked if liked this Fu-
gitive Slave law [ answered no, loathed
it. have a most revolving feeling at the
giving up Of slave; the law is opposed to
humanity"
Is it not strange that Gen. Pierce, who is
now considered by the Democracy, the very
man for the times, should never have been
thought Of until the disseutions in the Balti-
mere Convention rendered the nomination of
any Of the prominent men of the party i'm
possible? He is, in fact, Hobson' choice
nominee-a bitter pill which the violence OF
the dangerous malady made it necessary to
be Immediately swallowed. Gen. SCOTS
claims were long, closely scrutinized, and his
name presented to the people for months be-
fore the Convention. Has Gen. Pierce any
advantage Of Gen. Scott in this respect
VIII the South give him the preference
merely on account Of his greater obscurity?
In diplomacy and in the arrangement of
difficulties between governments Gen. Scott
has shown his firmness of character, and the
strength Of his intellect win the South
prefer Mr.. Pierce ior any extraordinary and
surprising qualities in this line?
General Scott has ever been a bold SOL
der and a scientific general-always readily
answered his country summons to the field,
and when there never backed out nor faint
ed
Does Gen. Pierce look for the vote of the
South on account Of any superior merit in
these particulars?
We ask the people of the South to think
of these things and when they are called
upon to repudiate Gen. Scott, to bear in
mind for what sort OF a man they are called
upon to vote.
E We give place to-day, to the speech
delivered before the Internal Improvement
Convention at Little Rock, by ALBERT PIKE,
Esq, to which we invite the attention of our