New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1852-09-08
4 GREAT DIFFERENCE.


tify the position of Mr.. Webster toward
the Wing party and its candidate for the
Presidency by the course of Mr.. Clay to-
ward Gen. Taylor. To this end it publish
os a letter which, on Sept. 20, lol5, Mr..
Clay addressed to the Wing Executive
Committee in this City, stating his reasons
for not supporting Gen. Taylor. They
were, that the General had been nomi-
mated by the Convention without satisfac
tory assurance that he was Wing; that
he had accepted other than Wing nOmina-
tions, and had even announced that he
should run as an Independent candidate
against the Wings if they nominated
another; that he had made no satislacto
~ declaration as to the characteristic mea-
sares Of the Wing party; and that he was
a mere soldier, and inexperienced in civil
affairs.
Now, whatever Mr. Webster or his ex
elusive advocates may YET do in Justification
or correction Of their conduct, since the
Baltimore Convention, we cannot see that
the argument of The Courier affects the
case "a hair. Mr.. Clay refused to support
Gen. Taylor for reasons which were not
only powerful in themselves, but which
long withheld from him the support Of
many other sincere and patriotic Wings.
But there is not one Of these reasons which
applies TO Gen. Scott. He never presented
himself to the Convention as an independ-
ent candidate, whom they might take or
not. and who was determined to run at any
rate. Ee said from the first that if any
other man was selected he should have his
hearty support and good wishes. As to his
political convictions, there is no vaguencss
or cbscurity. He is a thorough and con-
sistent Wing, and has always been known
as such. Nor is he mere military man.
His civil services TO the country in the re &.
moyal Of the Cherokees, the North East
Boundary troubles, the Modification excite
ment, and on the northern Frontier in
1873, eyinced in him a wisdom, modera-
ton, end ability in the settlement of diff
cult and delicate questions which would
she'd honor on the most eminent statesman.
If there be man in the nation whose his
tory gives the assurance that he will adj
minister the Government with incOrupt.
IDLE honesty, devoted and manly patriotism,
a lofty sense of what is due 10 the honor Of
the country, and with wisdom and genius,
it j. WINFIELD ScoTT. Not one Of the
objections brought by Mr.. Clay against
Gen. Taylor can be brought against our
| present candidate. Where, then, is the
parallel which Tie Courie7 attempts to es-
tablish!
1t is minated that Mr.. Webster may,
ere long. declare himself upon the Presi-
dental question. We shall learn, with
pleasure, that he has done so, but that pleas
ure will be altogether on his own account
We shall be glad 10 see a man 30 distin-
guished putting himself right before the
country, and coming into consistency with
the pledge implied when he went before
the Convention as a candidate for the nom
ination. 1t seems altogether proper that
he should remove from his fame the sus-
picion that personal motives could be of
more weight with him than long -cherished
and often ayowed principles. That sus-
piciOn he can quiet by coming out in favor
Of Gen. Scott-or, should his political
principles have changed, as we are sure
they have not, of Gen. Pierce. When he
sees fit, he will doubtless take such a
course. But it is a thing which concerns
himself and his own dignity and reputa-
zion alone. 1t is not thing for the Wing
party to ask Of him as a favor, or to re-
ceiye as such when it is bestowed.