Democratic enquirer. [volume] (M'arthur, Vinton County, Ohio) 1867-1873, 1867-02-07
Our Political History from
1920 10 1860.

ed by nearly the whole strength OF the
Democratic organization Of the United
States. The waves Of the sea, which had
been 80 tremendously agitated, did not,
however, Immediately calm down. For.
cible resistance to the execution Of the
Fugitive slave baw, one Of the cOEpro-
mise measures, was made in several pla'
ces in the North, and the public tender
10 relation to it was generally irritable
and hostile. At this juncture the Presv
idential election Of 1852 came on. The
Democracy, unable to agree upon any Of
the prominent Presidential candidates,
such as Cass, Buchanan, Douglas and
Marcy, nominated new and unheard Of
man for that post, General Frauklin
Pierce, of New Hampshire. He had a
long political experience. both in the
House and in the Senate, had been .
gallant volunteer in the Mexican war,
ard was generally known as public man
of fne talents, undoubted Democracy
and uusullied patriotism. This record
he nobJy sustained through the eventfu
era Of his. Administrations The Whie
party was greatly embarrassed in tho Sc
| lection Of nominee. Its eminent lead
or, If not ths suthor of its being, Henry
| Clay, after political service Of half Q
century 10 duratiOn--aftsr late glorious
manifestation in which be discarded par
ty for country in supporting the compro
mise agreement, which gave peace to tht
country, was dying in that capital which
had been SO long the sheater Of his tri
umphs. He was therefore out Of tht
question. But bis great, yes, by fal
greater, colleague in the party. Dsnie
Webster, was sill 10 the field and anx
hioas to obtain the prize. The prejudi
ces growing out of his early Federalism
were subsiding-he had lately rendered
limportatIt t seTvi0gr tor thO, mholO country
and 1oUtUa4ferward hopefully to be re.
membered by it. 1t seemed that his time
so long and anxiously waited for, had q
last come. President FttimOre, whose
! Administration had deserved 30 well th'
confidence Of his party, was likewist
anxious for the Endorsement Of re.elec
tions But the Northern section of thC
party could never forget or forgive hin
or Mr., Webster for their course in regart
to the Compromise Measures. They
therefore rallied under the banner O
General Winfield Scott, the head of thC
army, gallant military veteran, bat
like his predecessor, General Taylor
unfit for the high office for which he wa
nominated--unft both by deficiencies o.
character and deficiencies of education
After a long and tedious balloting at thr
Baltimore Convention, in which Messrs
Flnm0Te and W6bsIeF'S frYen6S CUuit
have nominated either, if all their vote
Ehad haan4 concentrated General Scot
was selected, but, ,placed.upun a platform
favorable TO the cOmpromise adjustment
The platform was immediately EepudiateS
| by a,IaEgsslds fOrmidaBle section Of tht
party in the North. This result, was
source of great .mortifCalion and d3regre
to Webster. Fillmore and their imms
diate friends, andfit wan soon apparen
that, though they might acquissce 10,
they would not cordially support the
nomination.. An amusing incident IL
Illustrating this soon occurred. A crowd
Of. enthusiastic Wings, preceded by q
band of music, paraded to the residence
of Mr.. Webster, one Disht5soon aftel
the nomination. After playing severs
tunes, with much exertiol he was sFous'
ed from his slnmbers, and his magnid
cent form, stately and imposing even ID
his old age, and which in his vigorous
manhood caused him to be stared at il
the streets Of London by the coal, ,hesV-
err, appeared upon the balcony and was
greeted with a tremendous shout. Seen
tlemeD, exclaimed tho great expoundel
of the Constitution, 81 am much Obliged
to you for Ehis friendly call. It is glo.
rious night; the moon ia shining full
orbed, ;D unclouded s2lendorn The
heavens are studded with the bright and
starry constellation. The armament il
liz up with the glow Of nature in it
tgTandest development" lsaza si
I Saying q few more words upon the
beauties Of astronomy and the sublime
mysteries Of creation, Mr.. Webster re-
tired, making no reference whatever to
GeReral Scott or to the nomiAation a m hiah
he had lately received, 70 draw out which
was the object ofthe visit to Mr.. Web
ster's house, 1t was ratification speech
that afforded unbounded merriment to
the Democrrtic party at the time. The
result cf the election proved that the
people had been tired Of running after
military glory to put in high civil posi-
I.tions. OF the thirty-oner States General
Scott received but four, two Northern
and.tWo Southetp, and only got forty.
two electoral votes out Of two hundred
and Dinety.six which were cast. Thil
contest is mem 3rable from the fact thai
It was the. last National appearance 10
the political field Of the Wing party,
which had SO lately swept the country in
the plentitude of power. It followed
Messrs. Clay and Webster, who both
died that year, into the tomb, and it's i'm
mense hosts were merged into other, and
I far more7-for the country dangerous,
political organizations. For short time
the Democratic party stood alone In the
political field, without . rival before il
who dare dispute its proweSs. It was a