Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1860-08-11
POLITICAL.
Speech of Robt. E Scott, esq, of Virginia,

Mr.. Scott said: Although the privilege of
participating in our political elections is de-
MED to you, there is no part of the people of
this wide country more concerned III their
result. This city, Is, emphatically, The ere
alton Of the Federal Government. It's grand
edifces, its public works, its arts, its scen-
ces, its industry, It's prosperity and happl-
ness al depend, for continuance and advance
ment upon the success with which the Gov
eminent is conducted. Springing from the
Union, It's life will be co-eXtcnsiya with the
Union duration, for the city must die with
the Union dissolution lis natural, there
fore, that you should feel interested in our
public affairs and that YOU should give that
testimony Ut your interest which this large as
semblage affords.
We are Just entering upon 4 canvass that
is TO inaugura.e new Administration, for
beyond It's shortest constitutional limits ii is
decreed that the present shall not endure
However much the public sentiment was
divided upon the question Of contidlng power
to it, there seems 10 be no disagreement up
on the question OF rcclaimiug it; and perhaps
it will be regarded ~ the most successful
achievements Of Mr.. Buchanan's political life
that he has accomplished what none of his
midst of party antagonsms and heated sec
tional strites that every where peryade the
country he has demonstrated the practicable
ity Of producing entire concurrence OF will
and unity of action in the public American
mind. After three years experience Of his
administration Of affairs, in II Convention OF
his own party he was gnOred; unable to
agree upon Il successor, the Convention adj
iourned to future times and to other places.
; but in not one of the fragmentary parts into
which it divided, was his name ever men
toned; there was no expression OF confidence,
no word Of kindness; nothing but cold, calm,
expressive silence The same Indifference
seems to have marked the primary assemble
yes OF the party, save in Il few excepted cases
where some oifcc-holder, or 0ffce-Sceker, or
some friend of such had influence. In 1886
the Democratic party agreed upon its plat
form They placed Mr.. Buchanan upon
it, and elected him to Office. In 1860 they
were unable to agree upon successlon.-
Why was his name never proposed for reel
ection? Why did his party rather cncoun-
ter disunion and defeat? These are prcg
nant questions, and are only to find solution
in the measures and character Of his Admin
istration.
speak to those far better qualified than
myself to sit in judgment on these measures.
The President is your ncshbor, his Cabinet
officers live among you, and you have daily
intercourse with the entire corps of inferior
officers that the business Of the country col
lccts ut this centre. You have, therefore,
means of information better than mine, even
if ! studied, which have not, the develop
ments Of the newspapers and the exposures
Of Congressional committees. In the NUM-
cipal affairs of the city you encounter the
President and his suhordinates You know
and can appreciate them. You see the cold
tyranny with which the missions OF Execu
tive will, in your charter elections, cOnstraln
the opinions and cocrcc the votes OF those
who depend upon Government patronage.
But these are prominent facts, that strike
the attention Of the most casual observer
1t may be truly said that no President ever
came into power under circumstances more
auspiciUuS for Il successful administration;
certainly no President ever had wider field
for the display of qualities that mark the
statesman and patriot. Party divisions are
perhaps inscparable from our political con-
Stitution, and the evils Springlng from them
must always more or less be felt in our poltl
cal elections But when the election is over,
whatever party prevail the Chief Magistrate
should regard himself as the President OF
the nation. and not the mere head of IL party.
Unenthralied by narrow party bonds, he
should rise to the dignity Of his high office,
and administer the Government with view
to the common interests OF all. lt was 10 Sc
cure the common interest that the States aSsO-
ciated in the Union, and it was to cement
this Union that the people Of the States
adopted the Constitution, which IN its spirit
and its letter en!oins this high duty upon
every public fuuctlonary. For myself, |
know Of no greater departure from the line
OF official duty of no greater violation Of the
Constitution, whether III executive or IegiSla-
tive action than tie initiation of measures
from party considerations and pressing them
forward in party Interests: AID IN the earlier
DAYS Of the Republic such was the universal
sentiment But since the days Of our fathers,
the country has experienced great change.
In those days fraternity and concord marked
the relations of the people; economy, Justice,
and integrity marked the conduct OF Execu-
tive duties; enlightened craftsmanship GOV
erned the course Of Federal le2is!atvn and
proper regard fer the rights OF others. and
what became ourselves n 4 nation, controlled
those days have passed, ana with them seem
to have passed away the wisdom aud intcgri-
ty commcmoratei iii their history.
II were 10 asst n the cause for thl> great
change should rcy,rt,o The departure !ton
that spirit Of the Union and that IN JUNCTION
of the Constitution Of which | nave spoken.
The Federal Legislator" c"n>umrs lis lime
in discussing party topics: laws originate III
party interests and are enacted Tor parry ad-
vantage Grave Senators ana Representa-
tives debate for party success. The Federal
Executive has an aim no higher removals
and appointments are made tor party ends,
contracts are let to party tavorite$, and in all
things the Government Is administered Is Il
party job. That from sach u system extra
yagancc, frauds. and corrupt!onS "i ali sorts
must spring is inevitable: they are evils Inri-
dent to the system aud inhere IN II.
That Mr.. buchanan could 1t once hay"
corrected these great evils, and by force OF
any power con!ided to him restored the Coy
ernment in ali OF its departments To lis an
cicnt purity, no one pretendS. But III the
reformation Of abuses that had entered int"
the details of the Executive departments,
throughout all of their raml!icatonS, there
oIl 90 lob and cE usefulness SrrpaI