Southern sentinel. [volume] (Plaquemine, Parish of Iberville [La.]) 1848-1858, 1852-10-09
which do you Choose 2
From the Hartford Comm Courant.


They are, very soon, to decide upon whom shall
fall the power of exercising the Government Of
this nation for the coming four years. They
| are soon to select the measures and dictate the
policy that the country must pursue, and by
which it will either rise or fall. The question
becomes, then one of immense importance
The present well-being of twenty-five millions
of human beings, and the future destiny of
other millions yet unborn, may hang upon it.
1t becomes every one to whom the question is
asked to give it a serious, calm, and thoughtful
| consideration.
The arrangement Of party nominations and
the existing customs of our country have mar
rowed down this choice to two men-Winfeld
Scott and Franklin Pierce One Of these two
men will be chosen President of the United
States. Whoever, therefore, casts a vote for
any third candidate, filings away that vote, and
shows an utter Indifference to the actual pros
perity and we'll being of his country. Were
there any hope, even the slightest, of electing
any other candidate, the duty would be differ
ent; but where it is matter of certainty that
the choice must be made between two-must
we say, so far as the real, practical results are
concerned-duty requires decision.
Here then we have two great candidates OF
the parties presented to us. Something beyond
the mere support of our party or the gratiti:
cation of our selfish or parts san feelings should
guide us in this decision In order then to
right, correct, dispassionate judgement ON this
subject, let US inquire
Which of the t,co candidates has displayed the
greatest abilities? In answering this question,
we ought to reflect upon the importance of the
trust to be committed to the two men. A man
of ordinary abilities, of inferior intellectual
powers, or of limited capabilities Of judging, is
not the man for such an exalted and response
BILE post. Let US look then at the two men in
contrast. In whatever situation Winfield Scott
has been placed, he has exhibited precisely the
abilities necessary for the exigencies Of that
situation. He has been in the most dangerous
and difficult positions and has always done pre-
precisely the thing necessary to produce sue
cess Whether it has been on the battlefield,
in the acquisitions of conquest, or in the defence
of our soil, in the management of intricate and
perplexing negotiations, in the preservation of
peace, General Scott has been uniformly sue
cessfuI. His talents and abilities have thus
been placed beyond dispute. Can the same
things be said Of franklin Pierce? If he has
ever accomplished any thing for the good of
the nation, or manifested his abilities by the
suits of his actions, his adherents will be able
to show it. Has HE MADE HIS MARX ANY
WHERE!
Which of The candidates has had the largest
erperiences Experience is one Of great impor-
tance in the management of men. 1t gives US
the knowledge of human nature, without which
the most transcendant genius but strikes in the
dark. Winfield Scott has the effect on his mind
which the experience Of forty years. service in
the various duties which his country has called
upon him to perform, has given him, to assist
him in the management of our national affairs.
Where is Franklin Pierce's experience of all
that the country requires and the condition of
the world demands 2 .ts ,..t
Which of the candidates has been placed in the
most trying situations? Here is another cues.
ton to assist in gaining the doubtful. Look at
the difficult situations in which Scott has been
placed, and view the prudence, moderation, and
discretion he has exhibited amid their difficult
ties, and the skill and energy with which he has
surmounted them. Witness him in restraining
the exasperations Of our citizens on the Cana
dian frontier, in cooling the passions of the
Maine Legislature, in preventing, by his mode
ration and forbearance, the outbreak of the
Charleston nullifiers. But decidedly the most
difficult situation in which Scott was ever pla-
ced was in entering the Mexican nation with
but small force, with enemies on every side
fighting for their homes, Dhile his o,on Gouern-
nser,t ,cishing to ruin the individual, neglected
or refused to supply him ,oith the necessary rein
forcements Here was q difficulty indeed; but
did Scott succumb to it, or "faint" under its
pressure? By no means. He persevered until
he conquered peace. Can the same abilities
that would perseverngly lead to such results
under difficulties be found in Franklin Pierce?
Which Of the candidates has exhibited resour.
ces equal to every emergency in aohich he has
been placed! On this topic there can be no COM
parison between the two men, Scott has grap-
pied with every occasion where difficulty pre-
scented itself, feeling that he had resources
within himself equal to the emergency. Pierce
has given up to difficulties, felt that there was
lion in the way, and yielded to inactivity.
When in the Senate Of the United States he
abruptly resigned his post, the difficulties in the
political horizon Ihickening around him. He
never had sufficient confidence in his own re-
sources to accept of the various appointments
| rendered to him, and he was wise in so doing,
| for he probably knew himself better than his
| friends did He refused to be district attorney
OF new hampshire, 10 accept place. III mF
Polk's cabinet, to be sent again to the United
States Senate. His good genius forsook him
when the appointment Of brigader general was
offered to him. He accepted it without any
reflection on his want of resources fer that ex.
gency. His friends are welcome to all the
glory they can create for him out Of his military
exploits in Mexico.
Which Of, the ttoo candidates enter,ains thu
most enlarged and liberal pieaos of national poll
cua Scott is in favor of river and hasbor i'm
proyement. Pierce is opposed to it. Scott il
willing that the United States should assist in
building roads to connect the extremities of oul
nation together. Pierce is opposed to it. Scot
is in favor of the encouragement of Amer;c Z