The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1852-07-25
Gen. scott,s Natiyeism and his Recantation

Gen. scott's Nativeism and his Reclamation.
Extraordinary developments this subject follow
each other in rapid succession Just the press Of the
country is getting its establishment at the discovery
that any party has ventured TO bring into the field its
candidate committed, recently as 1874, to the
poscriptve doctrines set forth in the paper signed
"dmsricus" the New York Courier and Enquirer, Scott
paper comes out with long article containing some
more precious confessions We copy at length the
Couriers statement
By looking it over, our readers will find
1st That by the admission of Col Webb, Gen. Scotrs
native Amercansm, developed in his Reed letter and in
"Americus created the general impression that he tooud
not do for candidate lS4s-though his recanting let
ter to Robinson written before the wing convention
II will be that Col Webb disputes this; but there
is in dispulDg it. The Robinson letter bears date
OF May 80, 1913. If that date be not genuine then there
particle of proof that any word of the recana
ton contained IN the letter is genuine There is pre-
tence that the letter msdated II bears this date in the
picture-book campaign life of Scott got up by his
mitiee, and circulated by hundreds of thousands If that
letter of recanaton is not all spurious then it
tanly in existence when the Wing Convention met in
June ls4s Yet, in spite of the recantaton, COL Webb
tells that Scott could not then be because Of the
odium attaching to his native Americanism.
3D. But the next confession OF the Courier and En-
quirer is richer still The Courier with candor that is
infinitely amusing confesses, terms, that General Scott
wrote his recaniing letter Robinson, simply in order
that ihe stumbling block" of natysm should be in his
way any longer The Courier makes conceameat about
the business Ii does pretend that Gen SCOTS views
had changed. have changed 10 this day But
alton wanted for" Buncombe y and Buncombe got it,
all with the idea OF removing the stumbling block" We
do dot hesitate to say that taking this Scott witness 10
speak the truth. the recantation with this history at,
tached TO il, is the most discrtdabs part of the whole
business What a mans words good for if they
are TO be said and unsad after this fashion, Better be
bigo than trickster
Sd. The third point in the Courer's revelation is
well worth noting The Courier likes General Scott
better Nth his nativism than wihouf it This is very
significant The time has been when the Courier and
Enquirer the leading Scott journal in the country It's
declaration in favor of native American prncpes-after
admitting that they had disqualified its chosen can
didaieproves clearly he strong hold which nalvsm had
taken upon General SCOTS earliest and siauncbest
friends In fact it would appear that the Courier rspud
aied General Scott just about the time when 10 borrow
the Couriers phrase, General Scott in order 10 ge,
stumbling block" on, OF his way for 1852, deliberately
repudis,ed bis own convictions !"
We subjon the material parts Of the Courer's article
without further comment. We put il TO every candid
whether the whole narrative OF this phig totness
does no, exhibit General Scott in the attitude and light
Of 'eminent disqualification" for the presidency
From the NY. Courier and Enquirer
The Wing National Convention was called TO assem-
BILE at Philadelphia on Monday, June =, ls4s, and
on the ground early Saturday the 3D. On Monday
we were shown the latter half Of letter signed Win
6eld Scott, and inquiry was made OF us whether the
handwriting was his We answered that it was and
inquired for the first part of the letter and its date In re-
ply informed that the first part lost but that
the letter written from Mexico and bore date No
vember IL 1916. This proved TO be false; and subse-
quent Developments demonstrated that the letter
written from Washington and bore date November 10,
1884, and that the first half OF suppressed in order
that the fasehood in regard 10 its date might the better
be concealed We obtained copy Of the portion OF the
letter shown to US, which in general circulation
and transmitted IL TO this city for publication and which
being the only part OF the original letter ever saw we
now put 10 italics The whole letter read as follows,
and will be perceived differs both in date and phrase
ology from that which is now going the rounds OF the
newspapers:
"WAsmsGros, Nov. 10, 1874.
"DrAR SIR ! have the honor TO acknowledge your
letter of the 9th instant written you are pleased 10
add IN behalf OF several hundred native American repub
lcans OF Philadelphia.
mot conhdentiay, but not for publication, have
2,
eco, OF your city, on the subject will write 10
You in like manner and in haste. This is the month
when the pressure OF official business is the heaviest with
me- leaving scarcely time for necessary sleep and exer
cise must NOT however wholly neglect your com
municaon
Should any considerable number OF my copntrymen
assign me or desire TO give prominent position be-
fore the public, shall take time to mebodze my views
on the great question you have proposed Those views
bad their origin in the stormy election in the spring OF
1885, and were confirmed in the week that Harrison
electors were chosen in New York On both occasions
was in that city, and heard in the streets the cry,
Down with the nstivesl II heard in almost every
group Of foreigners, the signal for raying and out
rage. Fired with Indignation Two friends down with
me in my parlor at the Astor House, (Nov, ls40) to
draw up an address, designed to rally American
party The day after the election for the South
and have never precisely known why appeal was
not published Probably the election Of General Harri-
son rendered s publication at that time unnecessary in
the opinion Of my two friends"
THE remainder Of the letter the portion printed by
the Courier in tales
now hesitate between extending The period of resi-
dence before naturalization, and total repeal OF all acts
Of Congress on the subject: my mind nclines TO the
latter.
Concurring fully in the principles OF the party in
Philadelphia, &c, &c, should prefer assuming The des-
ignaton OF American republicans, as in New York. or
democratic Americans as | would respectfully suggest