Richmond daily times. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1853, 1852-04-19
Congress of the United States.
SENATE,
THURSDAY, APP

THE STRAIGHTFORWARD SCOTT.
Mr.. MANGUM said that he had no speech to
make, in the ordinary sense of the term He de-
sired to make few remarks on some few points,
which, in fact mainly referred tohis own person
al position, which he was we'll aware of little
consequence to anybody although self was a to-
pic on which men were supposed to be able to
speak fuently.
1t was known to the Senate that during the past
winter his health had been decidedly Indifferent
and at best always varying. He had not partici-
pated in the business of the Senate except very
slightly, and still less had he participated in any
arrangements or intrigues touching the Presiden-
tial election. Yet he found, humble and individu-
al as he was, that he was made the subject of
newspaper speculation and comment. lthad been
his habit throughout life that on all questions of
this character to be distinctly understood; and he
desired to explain himself perfectly, that hereaf
ter misunderstanding may take place. In re-
gard to the next Presidential election, he should
very probably stand prepared to support the nomi-
nee of the Wing Convention. He protested to
be party man, and should upon those principles
which he preferred. He should yield, as he was
called upon to do four years ago, against his Judg
ment and against all his inclinations, to support
the person chosen the nominee. But, while
he should probably do this, he had his preferences
now, as he had four years ago. That preference
implied no dereliction of principle upon his part
en- of the principles that he had steadily maintain
ed for nearly thirty years, in both branches of
tine National Legislature. He knew, ii he should
go in particular direction, that there were con-
servatives of what was esteemed the peculiar in
stitution of the South in both North and South
who imagined that man unfaithful to them,
untrue to Them if he did not happen to tread
in the path indicated by them. He was old enough,
If no. wise enough, to act upon the suggestions of
his own understanding; and wise or unwise, he
should probably do so without fear, favor, affec
tion-reward, or hope of reward-unintimidated
by power, unseduced by the Establishments of flat
terry. In expressing the preference which he
entertained, he knew that he should differ from
the constituency he represented; still he could not
for that reason abandon what, in his judgment, he
should think was proper and right. He looked
forward to no personal rewards at the hands of
the people; for his purpose was to retire from pub
lie life.
He was not now, nor did he expect 10 be, can
didate for any office. He wanted nothing, asked
for nothing, either for himself or for his.
He understood, from unmistakabe evidence,
that the people of his State unquestionably pre-
ferred the present President for the nomination
for the succession. This preference was not his
preference But he should, if it was so decided
do as he had four years ago, yield his preference
when another should be selected.
He knew that this expression of preference
for another individual would break harshly upon
the of the frends of the Administration here,
as we'll as in North Carolina. But his duty was to
speak the TRUTH and the mature convictions of his
judgment. The people of North Carolina were so
averse to the renewal here of the agitation of all
those exciting subjects which had engrossed pub
lie attention much within late years, that they
would reluctantly bestow their support upon any
one who directly or indirectly would favor or en-
courage a renewal of that agitation. In this he
and the people of North Carolina did not differ
No enlightened patriot could desire to see the
country again pass through the scenes of strife,
agitation, and excitement which took place in $40
and so. He prayed God that the country might
never again be called upon to witness such scenes.
He thought that much had been done here
in Washington to promote agitation throughout
the country as had ever been done by the abo-
tionists of the North the dsunionists of anoth-
or section He had no. sympathy or feeling with
those who would revive that agitation
But he thought there was n man who upon this
subject could present as clean bill of health as
any other one. That man was Winfield Scott
General Scott was his first choice for the Presi-
dency, and if he should be the nominee of the
Wing party, he had little fear of the result He
knew how hard it was for him--without patron
age, without official iniluence-to Get the nomi-
nation against the power of the Administration,
which yields in its support the influence of one
hundred thousand ollice-holders and their friends
amounting altogether to perhaps a half million of
supporters. If the Administration should use un-
scrupulously this power, it would be, he knew al
most impossible to obtain nomination against it,
But he knew that the present President would
use neither that nor any other power unscrupu-
ously.
He desired to express, as his firm conviction,
that upon the subject Of reopening agitation on
the slavery question: General Scott could pre-
sent a clean bill of health as either the Presi-
dent, Mr.. Webster OF Mr. Clay. He then re-
terred to the personal exersions made by General
Scott during the pendency Of the Compromise
measures effect their passage as a settlement of
the agitating subjects they embraced. While
Others paused and hestated, Scott was firm and
unsiriuing, at that time in the advocacy of those
measures He did NOT pretend ia suv that Gem