Semi-weekly North-Carolina standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1852-1853, 1852-10-13
LETTER OF HON. 7. L. CLINGMAN.
RArK1eH, October g.. 1852.

ooin;one that wish to conceal, but because one
of nv immediate constituents you are entitled to
have them in form capable OF preservation Tor
future reference.
From the time of Gen. SCOTS nomination l have
universally stated in conversation with my colea-
CUES, other members of Congress, and in fact all
who felt an interest in knowing my views, that
did not intend to support Gen. Scott. In reply
also to such letters as l received, asking Tor my
opinion, repeatedly wrote to the same effect, to
gentlemen of both political parties who were resi-
dents of my District, and also to some from other
portions of the State Several OF these letters were
written soon after Gen. SCOTS nomination, to gen
tlamen Of both parties canvassng for seats in the
Tooslature mention this lest it should be char
red that 7 hestated to commit myself in writing,
since it was easy for any one of those gentlemen
there beiuo no Injunction of secresy on them-to
have furnished evidence of my position did not
think it expedient to make publication on the
subject partly because it was said by the papers
friendly to Gen. Scott, that members of Congress
ought not to attempt to dictate to the people, and
in part, also, because preferred giving my views
to my constituents face to face in full and free
manner on my return to my District.
In l84S, seeing that the contest was likely to be
between Gen. Taylor and Gen. Scott, and that the
former had refused to take any position with re-
ference to the great pending questions OF the day
and not being disposed to adopt him on trust, and
blindIy support him, !, after long waiting tor
DEVELOPMENT of Gen. Taylors views, determined
TO advocate the nomination of Gen. Scott, rather
than his. Since then have had no reason to
regret that course. As apprehended and predic-
ted, as soon as the policy of Gen. Taylors Admin
isration was developed, with reference to the great
Slavery questions then pending, l. in conjunction
with a majority of the Southern Wing members
of Congress, was thrown into opposition to 1t.
Though such was the condition of things for sever
loeor Co,, ToE-lor 10
public was not generally aware of it. His sudden
demise prevented an open and violent collision
About the first of July, 1850, it was determined
at a meeting of decided majority OF the Southern
Wing members of Congress- that it was our duty,
before an open declaration of hostties to advise
the then President of our purposes, DC Three
gentlemen were selected for that purpose, to wit,
the Hon. G. NJ. Conrad, the present Secretary OF
War, the Hon. Humphrey Marshall, of Kentucky, |
and the Hon. Robert Toombs, of Georgia. They, |
in accordance with the views of the meeting, sep
arately called on the President and gave him to |
understand that he must expect our determined |
opposition if he persisted in resisting such COM
promise rs advocated, and insisted on his policy
of admitting California and New Mexico rs States, |
and supporting the claim of the latter to the ter
ritory on this side of the Rio Grande. According |
to their several reports to us, Gen. Taylor was
Welding and frankly declared to them that as soon
rs the Constitution of New Mexico reached him, /
which he looked for in a few days, he should send
in q message to Congress recommending Its adj
mission at once as State, as he had done in the
case of California that he also declared that Texas
had no right to the territory claimed by her, and
that he was disposed to support the claim of New |
Mexico against her. To one of these gentlemen, he
said that he was placed in such position that he
would probably be forced to sacrifice one wing OF
his party; and that we ought not to expect him
to sacrifice eighty -four from the North rather
than twenty nine men from the South, these being
the number of members of the Northern and South
ern sections of the Wing party in Congress. The
great body of the Southern members OF Congress i
with Mr.. Clay at their head, would thus have been
thrown into opposition, and would have been COM
PEELED, with the aid of the conservative men of the
North, to fight the whole force of the adminstra-
ton. The death of Gen. Taylor alone prevented /
struggle which would have shaken the country to
its centre. The decree OF Providence thus averted
the contest, but the lesson is which ought not
to be lost on us. Without, however, going into
detail on these points, proceed at once to speak
of Gen. Scott.
In the summer of 1849 his Canada annexation
letter was published. Gen. Taylor having just
been inaugurated it seemed probable that he might
be re-nominated for election with the support, as
it then supposed, of the whole South. 1t
would be necessary to secure the Northern vote in
opposition, to supersede him. Gen. Scott, there
fore, while expressing his wish for the acquisition of
Canada, voluntarily and without being questioned
on the point, went on to declare his opposition to
the acquisition of Mexican territory. In substance
he said that while he for taking territory that
would strengthen the North, he was opposed to
such acquisition might, in like manner, keep the
South even with the North. I then looked upon
this as an open, undisguised declaration of his
wish to be regarded as the Northern Presidential
candidate 1t could be considered in no other
light than as n bid for Northern support at the
expense, too, of our essential interests. During
my journey through the Northern States in the
autumn of that year, l had other evidences to
the same effect. 1 felt that General Scott had
not in the position he had voluntarily taken, any
claims on me or any other Southern man. On l
the contrary, L saw that the rights of my sec
ton under the Constitution, as equals in the
Union, had been put up for sale in the political
market for anti-slavery votes. 1t was obvious that
Gen. Scott believed he could be elected by North
ern votes alone In fact have the best reason {
to believe that he, much more recently than
the time refer to, repeatedly expressed the opn-
lon that he could be eectedwithout a vote from a
slave State For the last three years he has been iden
tlfedwth the anti-sayery party of the North but
IL 49, Mr. Seward who is the leader Of that party
was opposed to him. During the session of the I
Wing Convention at Philadelphia, in that year. I r
1ad some conferences with Mr.. Thurlow Weed the b
Editor of the Albany Evening Journal and with f
Mr.. Horace Greedy, the Editor of the New York Q
Tribune, both of them being we'll known as init b
nate friends and month nooas of William RI Sou, d