The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1852-10-20

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compar atiyely email man and had never greatly
distinguished himself, although favored with ex.
csent opportunities to win renown In halls oil leg
islaion and fields of battle, was suddenly present.
ed to an astonished nation as candidate for the
highest office in the world. IL sometimes happens
that great men who have fought their way up 10
high distinction, and are still aiming higher are
restrained and held back by the wounded and
crippled adversaries whom they have conquered
and left behind them In their onward march, and
hus they defeated in their last efforts OF honor
able ambition by the rcics OF their former Victories
They fnd like Scott on bis march to Mexico. that
the most dangerous enemy 10 in the rear. Then ia
happy time for men of mediocrity. The leaders
are all excluded by old enmities and grudges, and
yet there must be a candidate; and some one IL to
be chosen who 10 not great enough to excite jeal-
ousy, nor strong enough to be feared. And then
the fortunate nominee "lsarns the blessedness Of
being little" '.... ..- .t.
/ do not say that General Pierce is bad man or
weak man, only say that he has not given to
the country any evidence that he possesses that
high degree Of prudence, wisdom, and hrmness,
which all good men desire TO see in President Of
the United States. That his history affords ample
proof that he ID opposed TO the benign system Of in
ternal improv ement, which all the Wings, and many
of the best Democrats, consider necessary to the
his public course and his associations lay him open
10 the suspicious Of being under the influence OF
that dangerous ambition which has seduced SO
many Of our people into passion for foreign do
try in the and revolutions of foreign nations.
Look, now, at our candidate, General Scott
man OF mark from the beginning. His very per-
con distinguishes him from all other men-stand-
ing like Saul, by the head and shoulders, above
all Israe And his professional brethren, once his
equals superiors in rank, more object to his
professional advancement than to his taller stature,
because they know that both those advantages
spring from the same efficient cause-a noble
ture, nobly exerted and improved for the public
good.
The highest evidence that any man can give of
his fitness to rule in the great and diversified BUSH
of life is, that he has discharged all the duties
assigned him with ability and skill. And when
those duties in themselves various and require
the exercise Of q variety of talents and OF know
LEDGE the successful discharge of them all is cons
elusive proof that he who uniformly does 80 well
must possess great and various abilities.
Scott from youth to age has shown himself
equal to every emergency. Always ready, always
rich in resources, and displaying a wonderful
adaptation of his powers and his means to the end
designed. When young soldier, in whom ODE.
dience and courage are the chief virtues be set an
example of resi- ect for his superiors, and selffor-
getting boldness against the enemy. With that
genius which always finds or makes itself road
to emnence, he infused his ow daring intrepidity
into his soldiers, and more than once astonished
both friends and foes, by gaining unlocked for
victories superior numbers OF the best troops
OF Europe. Afterwards, when advanced to higher
command and acting on a broader theatre; he
proved to his admiring country that he was not
merely the brave ana 1mpetuOu6 SOlQleF ruSnlng
upon the enemy for instant death or victory, but
also the strict, yet kind discipnarian, the cool
and prudent commander, the wise and far seeing
general His constant attention to discipline and
personal comfort Of his soldiers, endeared him to
them as father and friend; and the efficiency
thus given to the army enabled him to rally with
confidence upon the troops to carry out in all their
details, his intricate and complicated plans Of cam
His pre- eminence i'll professional fame has not
excited the envy or jealousy Of his brother soldiers.
They all acquiesce in the justice Of his election,
for-deservedly eminent as many of them arc for
courage, and skill, and science-none Of them can
claim to be his superiors.
AS soldier and commander, it is his happy for
tune to be most praised by those who themselves
are most deserving of praise His professional
est point of martial glory that his country can give
him; and now, as military man, all that he can
hope for 10 to preserve in untarnished brightness
the laures he has SO nobly won. No doubt, look
ing to posterity, he is animated by the laudabe
ambition to surmount the laurels Of war with the
oak leaf chaplet of civic excellence.
And for this he needs nothing but occasion and
opportunity. It is for US. and Tor the good of our
country, to afford him the opportunity, BY electing
him to the Presidency. With him at the head Of
the Government, wo shall have every desirable
Of
able relations with all foreign countries.
In war he has finished bis harvest. Peace now
affords the only field in which he can reap renown.
proper for such labor. At various times he has
been entrusted with the management of delicate
and difficult business of civil nature, which re-
CURED in the agent, an accurate knowledge of the
lave of nations, and Of the constitutional law Of
our own country; and in every such instance he
has acquitted himself greatly to bis own honor and
the public good. He attained success where
cess was almost hopeless, and thus showed that he
possessed an intimate knowledge Of the characters
and passions Of men, and mastery tactand skill
in guiding them for good. And these are precise
ly the qualities which fit man to be the ruler of
free people.
Let US elect him, then; with heart and voice,
with feeling Of patriotism and effort of in
telligent strength, let US put him where he ought
to beat the head of the nation. By so doing, we
will at least evnce the disposition do all can
to insure wise moderate, home-loving admins
tration. and to rebuke and dsqualify, for further
mischief, the buccaneering spirit of foreign ac-
QUESTION, and the wild, anti national Democracy
which, neglecting home duties, seeks theatre Of
action in distant lands. .....
One word about the Vice Presidency. Twice
the Wing party have suffered the calamity of
sore evils, deeply lamented. The first was
mitgated by any circumstance of good fortune,
for it threw the Government into incompetent and
hostile hands. The second was attended by every
nation for the loss of of it's first choice. The
Wings had learned wisdom by bitter experience,
and had put into the second place a man altoge-
Their worthy of the irst-a man of knowledge and
virtue, of midness and strength, whose unpre-
tending wisdom and unoffsndng energy will
make the story of his administration one of the
brightest chapters Of American history. The
Wings have not forgotten these lessons of cxpe-
rence. Again they have acted wisely and well
in the choice Of Mr.. Graham for the second Office
He lie man of high and highly-cultivated intelli-
gcnce, Of pure character, undoubtcd Wing prin-
ciplcs, and long and varied experience in public
affairs. Should wo be unfortunate as to lose
President Scott, we lost President Taylor, we
have the best-grounded hopes that we will gain in
Graham what we gained in Fillmore.
Very respectfully, EDW. BATES.