Bedford inquirer. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1857-1884, 1860-08-31
SPEECH
GEN. G.. A. SCROGGS,
Delivered at .4urora, Ere Co., ". T., dug, 4.

Delivered at .auora, Ere Co., ". T., dug, 4.
Mr.. President AND GENTLEMEN Il am
much orati6ed to avail myself of the opportu-
uitv afforded me through your kind invitation,
to meet with you on this occasion, and, as an
American and supporter of Fillmore and Don
elsoE 10 1856, join with my political friends and
coadiutors of Aurora and the adjacent towns in
"free discussion Tn the language of the eall)
and consultation upon the principles and plat
forms of the different parties, and upon the
most iudieious course to be adopted in support
of Presidential candidate.''
Before entering upon such discussion and
consultation, it behooves Us all to diVest our
minds of every prejudice and bias that may
tend to warp our judgments, and to have an
eye single toward an honest inquiry concerning
the political obligations we owe to our country,
and in what way, at this juucture, we can con-
scieutiously discharge them for its best welfare.
While | do not wish to obtrude my own views
or opinions upon any one for his inconslderate
acquleseence, approval or adoption, nor state
my conclusions as irreversible fnalities, beg
leave to submit for your consideration and
judgment the result of careful and earnest
endeavor made, trust, in patriotic spirit,
and with due regard for my own honor, to de-
termine for myself course of political action
under the present existing circumstances.
That my views upon the questions under
consideration are widely different from the views
Of many of you, have no doubt Whether
or not they are concurred in by any of you |
have no means of knowing. But | do know
that they are honestly entertained, that in my
Judgment they are patriotic, and, as | believe,
4 g.
claims to be an American to entertain and
adopt for his political government in the present
emergency.
That have maintained an allegiance to the
American party parallel With any man in the
land. no one | think win presume to dispute.
And here declare my intention to stand by
and maintain the principles of that party, IN
the reasonable aud conservative sense Ia which
| always have understood and maintained them,
discaIding as likewise always have, both in
theory and practice, such OF its dogmas as seem,
ed TO me TO b. unreasonable, llDpracticabse, Cd
intolerant. With this general allegation as to
my faith and practice concerning the principles
Of the American party, without OBTAINING you
with an exposition of my views in detail touch
ing them, which would be out of place now, L
will proceed to the discussion Of the subjects
which are more Immediately within the scope
of our investigation at the present time.
AS Americans, we arc under no obligations
of party allegiance to give our support to any
cue of the nominations for President The
American party has not nominated any cand~
dates for those offices. 1t has not called,
neither will it call, any Convention for or take
any steps toward making such nominations for
our support at the next election.
Tue only National Convention that Ameri-
cans have participated in, even as individuals,
was the National Union Convention which met
in Baltimore in May last, and nominated Mr..
Bell for President and NIr. Everett for Vice
President But that was not an American
Convention. 1t was called BY committee of
gentlemen appointed by number of Senators,
Members of Congress, aud others, who met
from time to time dqring the past Winter at
Washington City, for the purpose OF taking
measures to organize a party under the name
of the National Union party.
One object of the organization of this new
party was to relieve some gentlemen, who
styled themselves 0ld-Line Whigs,from certain
prejudices which they were known to entertain
against the American party aud its organiza-
ton. Through the operation Of this move
ment, the American party, in the name OF which
many of US we're so justly proud, was set aside
aud its national organization abandoned.
In the outset, il seemed to me that the Ma
tioual Union-Party movement might be of some
efficacy in uniting the opposition to the Buch-
anan Democracy throughout the country
consequently gave it, to certain extent, my
feeble cooperation. But the proceedings of its
National Convention at Baltimore, and certain
subsequent, we'll as present proceedings of
those who assume to shape and direct its course
and policy, satisfy me that, at this juncture at
least it cannot be of any efficiency in settling
or reconcilug the present conflicting moral and
political sentiment which is creating SO much
disquiet and solicitude throughout the land.
And here wish to call the attention of A
mericaus to the fact that the National Union
Convention never uttered syllable, either by
resolution, address, or otherwise, in any way
siguifyng that it indorsed or approved single
principle or doctrine of the American party
Neither are its nominees representatives of the
American party. MIR. Bell is Wing, aud
never was anything else but Wing. When
the old Wing party gave up the ghost he, with
great mass of the opposition to the Democra-
cy in the South, were designated by the name
of Americans. Mr.. Everett was never claim
ed, nor was he ever considered, anything else,
politically, than an old-line Wing. Indeed,
from the antecedents of both these gentlemen,
an American has 20 right TO expect any more
consideration for his peculiar political dogmas
from them than be has from the other candi-
dates.
Nevertheless, many Americans and Fillmore
men now look toward Mr. Bell as their first
choice for the Presidency, and indulge the hope
that by some fortunate chance he may be
elected. By many such it is supposed that if
the election of President could be thrown into