Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1852-10-13

A Just Parallel.

We find IN the Marietta lntelligenccr Tx
account given below Of some remarks made
in that town by the Hon. Samuel +. Vim
ton, respecting the Wing and Democratic
candidates for the Presidency. 1t Is much
says q Latin adagc, lamlai0 iaHddrj, TO bt
praised by the praiseworthy, and our Mari
eta contemporary does we'll to attach grea
weight to the calm and fair statement Of
The respective meri:s--clpH not military
Of Generals Scot and Pierce made by Mr.
Vinton
Mr.. Vinton, in his remarks at the Viii.
meeting on Thursday, said that he hat
known Gen. Scott Intimately for twent,
years. He had been privileged to NEE
with him probably hundred times in tn,
company of the ablcst statesmen of thu
country,and with the representatives of for
eign countries. He considered Gen. Scot
to be one of the best read men in the civil
and political history of the country whom
he ever knew. He had frequently beer
surprised at the fitness and accuracy of thC
Generals knowledge IN regard to the early
legis!a.ioe history of the United States anC
OF the several States. He seldom met, il
these conversations of intelligent statesmen
gentleman of as correct information upor
allsubjectS pertaining to the civil alministra
non oil the Government as Gen. Scott; anC
Ne never knew man who had higher re
spcct for the laws and civil authority of tht
country. He believed Gen. Scott to be in
every respect entirely qualified to perform
the duties of the Office OF President, will
high honor to himself, and with great use
fulness to the country.
"He had also known Gen. Pierce severa
years, having been a member of the House
during Mr.. Pierce's term of service in the
body. Mr.. Pierce was quiet, gentleman
Ky man in his department, and maintained
friendly relations with his fellow-members
But he was never considered by his party
nor by his warmest friends, as 'man o
mark, rand nobody sought to learn his view:
on any great measure Of public policy. HI
was not put forward to advocate or defend
even party measures, nor placed by par
~ Speaker on committees where importau
work was expected. One thing alone wa:
expected Of him, to WIT, that he would "vott
to scribe" what he considered to be New
Hampshire Democracy!
"Mr. Vinton contrasted the history O.
Scott and Pierce, not so much as military
men as civillians-statesmen some
length. and said that, in view of that histo
~, and from his own knowledge of the two
men, he had no hesitancy in saying thai
the cipil qualifications-he would no pre-
sumo to assure his audience that his militia.
ry capacity was equal to that of Gen Pierce
but the civil qualifications oil Gen. Scott
were vastly superior to those of Gen
Pierce"
Nothing can be more strictly within
bounds than all those assertions of Mr.
Vinton-especially the last For not only
will the known and proven civil qualifica.
tons of General Scott bear the most advan.
tageous comparison with those of his ad.
nittedly respectable competitor Gen Pierce
but may be fairly measured, now that Mr.
Clay is no more, and his great compatriot
Mr.. Webster excepted, with those of any
of our living public men. Even his friends
IN the enthusiasm which his dazzling mill
tary exploits excite, forget that General
Scott was originally man of high civil ed
ucation that he has for full twenty success
siye years sat face to face with this Gov.
eminent of ours in all its changes; has,
with that constant activity of mind fol-
which he is so remarkable, and patriotic in
tereSt IN which none surpassed him, can
vassed IN private olong with all our leading
men OF both sides, all the public questions
which have agitatcd or can we'll agitate the
country has come to know personally the
value of every body as public servant
who has done or IS fit for any thing of i'm
portance and. besides all this, has partici-
psted in many Of the mos! important public
counsels OF his time, whether Wings were
in power or Democrats in power. General
Jackson confded to him most dangerous
and critical matters, in which he was to
play, and did play,the politician so ably as
70 have no need to play the soldier. So
did Mr.. Van Buren,. In short, nothing a.
mong us Is riper or ampltr than General
Scotts political experience, and few could
have better proGted by it. Though so well
read man that VIC have often, considering
his active military life, been surprised a
the extent ofhis reading, yet his statesman.
ship is more practical than theoretical
All, therefore, we repeat, which Mr.. Vim
ton has said of his civil qualifications, is
strictly true. If to this we add, as all Gen
eral SCOTS personal history proves we may
do with equal truth, that he is one of the
most humane and kind-hearted of men, and
at the same time one of the most moral, con
setentioas, and Just, the reader will have
what we can vouch to be faithful portrait
ure Of the personal character of Winfield
Scott.-.Fational htsliigcncer.