-*«*% Qass £ -^^^ SPEECH OF HON. HIR AM BELL, OF OHIO, IJN RHPLY TO HON. E. B. OLDS ON THE PRESIDENCY. GEN ERALS SCOTT AND PIERCE, THEIR COxMPARATIVE QUALI- FICATIONS AND MERITS, &c. Delivered in the House of Representatives, Julij 20, 1852. Mr. BELL said: Mr. Chairman: I do not rise to reply to all thai has fallen from ray coHeaorue, (Mr. Olds,) fori have not been in a position to hear all that he said; and besides, as he baa exhibited a written argu- ment, which he intends to publish, it would be im- possible to reply to it, not knowinsf what is in it. But I have been watching my colleague with some little interes;, for I undersiatid somewhat the mode of warfare pursued by that party in my own State of which my coUeegue is a prominent leader. I perceive that niy honorable friend and those who act with him arc not willing to canvass before the peoph; the principles, acts, and votes of the man whom they have nominated lor President; but the- expect to accomplish much by making charges to put the friends of the old veteran on the defensive. Well, sir, it is not the fi.-st time that General Scott has been upon the defensive, but he never yet re treated, unless it was to recharge upon the enemy and gain a victory. The hduorable member (Mr. Olds) said that he would not pluck one leaf from the laurel that adorns the brov,- of General Scott— that he was the greatest captain of tlie age. It was his civil qua! ifir:itions he proposed to canvas.=!. He also told us that the Democratic party, in nominating General] Pierce a? their cindi'date, endorsed his (Pitrce'3)| official record; and that his votes, letters, andj speeches composed that record; and which they,! the Democratic party, cheerfully handed over to' the Whig party for investigation and scrutiny. j Mr. Chairman, I am glad that the friends of' General Pierce ha\e thrown that record before thej country with such a challenge; for I assure youj it will prove a most unfortunate record tor the success of the DeiDocratic parly this fall. I will speak of that re-ord hereafter. The honorable member, for fear of the effect, or some other cause equally potent, that ti>e publicatinn of the votes of Mr. Pierce wou'd produce upon the Presidential i election, has lailed to refer to the record of such votes. Is he afraid to let the people know what the, principles of Franklin Pierce are.' How he voted' on measures of national policy? He is. He dare not publish his votes. i Mr Chairman, notwithstanding the tender re gard my colleague (Mr. Olds) appeared to havei for the fair fame of General Scott in the com! mencement of his remarks, 1 submit to this corn mittee whether his whole speech was not a per- sonal attack upon that veteran hero and his publicl life? Such was its character, and that its object. . And why? I will tell you, Mr. Chairman. The! honorable me mber, and the leaders of the party i Gideon & Co., Printers. with whom he is associated, are not willing to meet the issues that now divide the two great po- litical parties. It is their object to get up fal^e issues. Hence my colleague in his remarks has studiously avoided touching upon any of the pend- ing measures that now interest the people. The ghosts of the Alien and Seflition laws, the United States Bank, the Native American party, md similar questions, some of which have been consigned to the tomb half a century ago, accord- ng to his own account, now appear most to haunt ■ he gentleman's imagination; questions that have not for years been in issue, and that are not now in issue, but out of which he fancies he can make some political capital. The same game was tried by his party in 1840, and t;^e results of that campaign show the efficacy of a warfare of this kind. What surprised me most was that my iriend should go so far back in the history of the Whig party as to convict himself. If I had been near enough to my colleague I would have whis- pered in his ear, "Friend, be careful, you are treading on forbidden ground." If the Whig oarty are chargeable with what my honorable ■oUeague says ihey are, which I deny , and if those charges are to apply so far back, the votes of my CLiUcaguc and bis political life would prove an old \dage to be true, that ." The giciteot rascals fre- quently turn State's evidence " [Laughter.] NATURALIZATION LAWS AND NATOHALIZED CITI- ZENS. My colleague has charged General Scott as being unfriendly to citizens of foreign birth, and read before the committee a part of his letter in 1841; but his other and subsequent letters he has with- held. Why not read all? If he wished to do jus- tice to an old soldier, should he not have read all Genera! Scott had said or written on that subject publicly? Yes, sir, he should; but he did not do it. He dare not tell the whole facts, and give the whole truth on that subject, to go before the public. What are the facts? Simply these, sir: The first letter, a part only of which my colleague read, of iGeueral Scott, was written under the Influence of 1 great excitement produced in one of your cities (Philadelphia) by a conflict and loss of life be- tween Americans and foreigners. After this ex- citement died away, and when General Scott had become better acquainted with that class, he wrote the following letter: "Washington, May 29, 1848. "Dear Sir: In reply to your kind letter of the 8th instant, 1 take pleasure in saying that, grateful for the too partial estimate you place on my pub- lie servicee, you do me no more than justice in as company has General Scott icept? All classes of sumin^ that I entertain 'kind and liberal views American citizens. The high and the low, rich towards our naturalized citizens.' Certainly, if would be impossible for me to recommend or sup- port any measure intended to exclude them fron) a just and full partii ipation in all civil and political rights now secured to them by our republican laws and instil utions. "It is true, that in a season of unusual excitement, some years ago, w .en both parties complained oJ fraudulent practices in the naturalization of for- eigners, and when there seemed to be danger that native and adopted citizens would be permatiently arrayed against each other in hostile factions, I waa inclined to concur in the opinion, then avowed by many leading statesmen, that some modifica- tion of the naturalization laws might be necessary, in order to prevent abuses, allay strife, and restore harmony between the different classes of our peo pie. Jiut later experience and reflection have en tirely removed this impression, and dissipated my apprehensions "In my recent campaign in Mexico, a very large- proportion of the men under my command were your countrymen, (Irish,) Germans, &c. I wit- nessed with admiration their zeal, fidelity, anti valor in maintaming our flag in the face of everj danger. Vieing with each other and our native born soldiers in the same ranks in patriotism, con stancy, and heroic daring, I was happy to call them brothers in the field, as I shall always be to salute them as countrymen at home. "I remain, dear sir, with great esteem, yours, truly, WINFIELD SCOTT. "VVm. E. Robinson, Esq " General Scott, in his letter of acceptance of the nomination, dated 24th June, 1852, in speaking il what he would approve if President, uses the fol- lowing language: That he would "approve a sin- • gleaiteration in our naturalizationlaws, suggested ' by my military experience, viz: giving to all for ' eigners the right of citizenship who shall faith ' fully serve, in time of war, one year on board of ' our public ships, or in our land forces, regular 01 ' volunteer, on their receiving an honorable di • charge iroin service." These, iVIr. chairman, are the sentiments and opinions of General Scott. I wish them known and published through the length ami breadth of the land. These were known to the honorable member (Mr. Olds) when he read an extract of a prior letter. I presume he had all those letteri before him. He had read them a hundred times With all these facts before him, he reads an old extract from sume paper, that General Scott had no more connexion with than the moon, and still persists in his unfounded charges against General Scott, wf hostility to adopted citizens When men will so far misrepresent a fellow citizen for politi cal purposes, it is time that the honest, independ ent, and patriotic citizens of this country arise in their strength and affix their sealof condemnatioi upoij such conduct at the ballot box. They wil do it, sir. The people are moving. They are be coming aroused. They will protect the character and lame of that man who has protected them in the hour of peril. The honorable member says a man is known by the company he keeps, and that the Senator fron New York (W. H. Seward) is a supporter of General Scott; therefore he infers that General Scott entertains the same political views that Sen- ator Seward does. That is his course of reason- ing. It deserves no refutation. But, sir, any man may be proud to claim, as his associate, a man of the talents and patriotism of Senator Sbwahd, without concurring in all his views. The company he keep*. I accept the mode of trying our respect ivo candidates proposed by my colleague. WhatlJnot true and poor. From the time of his first commission in the army he has enjoyed the confidence and ap- proval of all the President?, from that day to this. His skill, bravery, and patriotism have often re- ceived the official approval of Congress and differ- ent Legislatures. He has shared the perils of war, upon the tented field, with officers of the highest rank, as well as the common soldier But, sir, what company has the favorite candi- date of my friend from Ohio kept.' What com- pany has General Pierce kept in New Hampshire on the subject of religious toleration? I mean in reference to that clause in the Constitution of New Hampshire which excluds^Jathclics from holding office. Dare my friend go home to the free and independent voters of the State of Ohio 2nd say that it is right to exclude one class of community from holding office because they worship at a dif- (erent altar than ourselves .'' Will he go home and say that General Pierce is not of the same opinion with that party who supported that, prohibi ion in the State of New Hampshire? Dare he say that he is not a man of influence in that State? Can he say that he is not a man of influence in the town in which he resides? And will he say that that influtnce was exerted to strike that odious re striction from the constitution of the State? No, sir; no, sir. Th«f is the only State in this Union whose constitution contains a vestige of reliffious intolerance; and could not Mr. Pierce, with his commanding influence, have procured a change? Yes, sir. Mr. Olds. I do not like to interrupt my col- league; but it he knows that the opinions of Franklin Pierce are precisely o(>iposite to those he represents, and then makes that statement upon this fliJor,I leave him to the tender mercies of the ountry. Mr. Bell. I have got the gentleman where the shoe pinches The truth of the matter is this: I have heard such a thing rumored in the public pa- pers, and that is all the gentleman has heard. J have heard it since his nominadon. But I hope, in the name of patriotism, tiiat Franklin Pierce condemns in his heart that spirit ot inlolrrance. I do not say that he has not. But if he has, why did not my colleague tell this committee so? Why did he not state this matter before the committee? Why did he not state the principles of General Pierce, instead of making those random charges against General Scott.'' Why did he not fell U:? his principles? Does he think the people of this coun- try are prepared to vote for a man without know ing his principles? That would be a fair inference from his argument Mr. Polk. I do not desire that the charge of the gentleman from Ohio (Rlr. Bell) should go out unanswered, or without being accompanied yb a proper explanation No longer than two years ago the people of New Hampshire called a convention for the purpose of amending the constitution of the Stale.. Mr. Pierce was a member of that convention, anci voted to abolish that feature of the constitution upon which the gentleman has commented. It was stricken out by a majority of the convention. _. But the constitution, to be ratified, required two thirds of the votes of the people. There arc more than one-third of the people of New Hampshire Whigs. They voted against the ratification ol the constitu- tion, and thereby prevented the alteration ol that feature which the gentleman now complains of. Mr. Tuck. If the gentleman from Tennessee says that the Whigo of New Hampshire voted against the new constitution, be asserts what is Mr. Polk. 1 wish to understand the gentleman. "about saving the Union, &c., until they got this I stated that more than one-third of the people of man Scott, of Virginia, an instrument to propound the State voted against the constitution, and that,! to these men questions which, if they answered in if the Whio-s of the State voted against it, it was'the aflBrmative— that is, pledging: themselves in not Mr. Pierce's fault. What does the gentlemanl advance, if elected, to veto a lawof Congress with- mean .'' Does he mean any thing personal .'' Does out constitutional objections — would be acting con- he mean to allege that I have stated any thing un ijcrary to the very principles of your Constitution, true ? !|This gentleman — Mr. Scott — propounded questions Mr. Tuck. Certainly, I intended nothing per , to those Democratic candidates, an affirmative an- sonal. 1 mean to say that the gentleman has statcdj'swer to which said nothing more or less in ad- as truth that which was not correct. Ijvance, notwithstanding what the people might do Mr. Bgll. I wish to propound a single questionj in this Democratic country, notwithstanding what to my honorable friend from Tennessee, (Mr.] they may determine through your legislators and Polk,) since he has propounded one on his part iCongress, the President says, "I forbid — I veto." It is this : Whether he is apprized of the reasons|| He exercises an authority more than the King of why General Pierce did not answer the letter of j' Great Britain, or than the king of any limited Mr. Scott, of Richmond ; or whether, if he did an- jmonarchy, the exercise of which would bring to swer it, can the gentleman tell us what the an-khe block any king that now sits upon an European swer was."* jthrone. Through eagerness for office a part of Mr. Polk. Mr. Pierce has, in his letter accept- ing the nomination of the Baltimore Convention, answered the questions contained in that letter. Mr. Bell. That does not answer my question I desire lo know whether he answered Mr. Scott's letter directly? those candidates answered affirmatively. Young America was too shrewd He left a creeping-out place; he would not interfere with Congress at all. General Pierce knew the character of that letter; and it is the greatest evidence I have seen of the talent of that man, that he withheld his reply from Mr. Polk. He did not anssver it directly, be-iithe public, and professed to be p-actisi/igiato some- cause General Pierre had previously a,unoiinced where at tha' particular time. that he was not a candidate for the nomination to' Now what is all this about? You well remem- the Presidency, and, therefore, felt himself underl|ber that I did not commence thesechirges. I want no obligation to answer it. l,that distinctly understood I would rather try Mr. Meads. I wish to give the gentleman all these men upon their lives, their public history, the informaiion upon that subject that I possess, iheir votes, their acts, and their services to the and it is to this effect: that when the letter of Mr.,|couutry. 1 am referring to those charges which Scott arrived at Concord, New Hampshire, Gene ihave been made by my co' league, (Mr. Olds,) ral Pierce was absent, practising in some of hi*l and when I came lo apply the rule that he laid court?, and in his absence his partner undertoobi down, why, sir, there v/as more than one inter- to reply; and in that reply, I understand, he saidiested in the matter. I do not think any thing that General Pierce w as from home, and therefore strange of that. I like to see my friends upon could not answer the letter personally, and that if !ihe other side of the House make the best advance he were at home, eneral Pierce, not being a can I ibey can. I think it is rather a prima facie case didate for the Presidency, would hardly feel him ||against General Pierce according to their own self under any obligation to answer ques'ions ollshowing. General Pierce would not answer ihat that sort. That was just before the conveiitiotji letter, because, if he would not pledge himself in met. The coijvention, when it did meet, nomi j advance to veto an act of Congress, he would not nated General Fierce contrary to his expectation,! £:et the nomination; and if he pledged in advance and in h s letter of acceptance sufficiently com I that he would veto, it would bea very little chance milted himself to all the questions v/hich had beenijhe would stand of an election. propounded to the other candidates for the Presi dency. Mr. Bell. I do not doubt, Mr. Chairman, that the gentleman has been informed, and probably believes all that he has stated. [L^'sughter.] In- deed, I would not doubt it at all. I trust — I will Mr. Chairman, I will now call the attention of the committee to the subject I was referring to when interrupted for explanations, I mean the test qualifications under the constitution of New Hampshire. And, sir, I will state another fact. In the strong notsaylttust — 1 know there are very few whii Democratic towns of the State of New Hampshire, will accept the reasoning that has been given where the votes were recorded on each clause of for his not answering the letter It is frequently the constitution, a majority V'lted for retaining the case that it is only by taking the testimony jthat clause; and in the Whig towns the reverse that is given on a cross-examination that youljwas the case. get at the real facts. What does he tell us? Hi|l Mr. Hibbabd. The gentleman's statement is tells us that the letter came there during General incorrect. I trust I shall be allowed a moment's Pierce's absence, and it came into the hands of hi? {interruption. partner; and his partner, knowing that he was not I Mr. Bbll. Nit now. If I am mistaken you can a candidate, was authorized to say he was not ai correct me hereafter. But I will give you the home, and would not answer it if he was at home | tacts, which will show whether I am right or That is the substance of it. Is that a good reasoniwrong. My statement is, of course, based upon for not answering? How came his partner to un I'ihe information I have received through the news- seal that letter unless he knew the contents of it?i|paper3 of that State. I challenge the gentleman If he knew its contents, was it not of enough im lito gather up the vote of every town in the State of portance to have been sent to Franklin Pierce? It reveals this fact, sir; and what is it? Why, sir, ii shows the eagerness of the Democratic candid;Ues of whom there was a multiplicity, almost a score, and who have honored your country in her coun- cils, to obtain a nomination by any means. Men who have thus been honored through the excitement — ay, sir, an excitement got up and carried on by some honest and patriotic men— and by a great many more for political humbugs, New Hampshire, and if what 1 now state be not proved, I will rise upon the floor and candidly ad- init that 1 was mismforined. Whenever I per- ceive that I am in error it is mj' greatest privilege to make a correction, especially when the error is calculated to aflfe.^t third persons. But, sir, I have no fears in this case, for I a.n right. The old constitution of New Hampshire, and which is still in force, contains the following: Article 14, under the bead of "form of govern- ment," provides that "every member of the House democeatic towns. of Representatives shall," among' other things,; yeas Nays "have an esfate within the district which he may, Barnstead 53 330 be chosen to represent or the value of ±,100, one Cgnt^e Harbor. 19 97 Gilmanton.... 61 494 Effingham 1 136 Ossipee 12 2S1 Fufionhorough 42 149 Wakefield 1 212 VVoU borough .11 363 Bow 26 150 Chichester 11 172 Warner 36 235 Wilmot 43 151 Alexandria.... 12 196 Ellsworth 1 72 Hill 11 148 WHIG TOWNS. Yeas. Nays. half of which to be a freehold, whereof he i • seized in his own right," and "be ot the Pro- ' testant religion, and shall cease to represent ' such town, parish, or place immediately on his • ceasing to be qualified aa aforesaid." Article 29, under same head, contains the fol- lowing in regard to the qualifications of Senators: "No person shall be capable of being elected a • Senator who is not of the Protestant religion, ' and seized of a freehold estate in his own right, ,* of the value of £200 " The constitutiun further provides, Article 42, "that no person shall be eligible to the office of • Governor unless he shall at the same time have ' an estate of the value of £500, one- half of which « shall consist of a freehold in his own right within ' this State, and unless he shall be of the Protest- ' ant religon." Article 61. Qualifications for Councillors shall be the same as for Senators. There was a convention called about two years ago to amend said constitution, of which Mr Pierce v;as elected President. Several ailnendments to that constitution were submitted to the people to vote upon. One of which amendments proposd Merrimac 139 Nashua 647 Nashville 255 New Ipswich. . 94 Dublin 91 Fitzwilliam.. . 94 Jeffrey 74 Keene 233 Marlborough. . SI Troy yVinchester. . Claremont . . . Bath Littleton 100 Lyme 88 61 203 245 107 69 16 95 53 14 1 42 6 32 13 6 186 34 50 57 340 3,186 2,512 574 This table shows that the above-named Demo- cratic towns gave almost ten votes to one against the amendment, whilst the Whig towns gave nearly four to one in favor of it. The town of (Jon- cord, in which Mr. Pierce resides, ^ve one hun- dred and twenty-two votes in favor of the amend- jment to five hundred and nine against it." ! These facts contradict the inferences of the hon- orable members from Tennessee (Mr. Polk) and was to striite out from the old constitution that||trom New Hampshire, (LVlr. Hibbaed,) "and ex- part which disqualified Catholics from holding of- jhibit the liberality of the Whigs of the Granite fice, and also the property qualification. For it'|Slate in a much more favorable light than that ot will be seen that New Hampshire is one of thej, the Democrats." Now, sir, where was Frankim Democratic States that forbids poor men from hold-[ ing office. And I would say further, Mr. Chair- 1 man, that I believe that every State in the Unionj that retains a property qualification for holding office has for many years been, or now is, under the government of the self styled Democracy. What Franklin Pierce said in that convention I know not, nor do I care, for It was only a prelim inary proceeding. And I understand, sir, that there was no division of eentiment among the members of the (fonveniion as to the form in which the question should be submitted to the people to vote on. He may have made a five- minutes speech for Presidential capital abroad; but if he did, I have understood it was after the vote on the reli- gious test question had been taken in convention. But, sir, this is of little importance. It is the in fluence that Franklin Pierce and his friends exert- ed, and the undisputed control they bad over the question that I am considering. On the same day (March, 1851) that the vote was taken on the amendments to the constitution, there wus an election tor Governor of the State. There were two Democratic and one Whig candidates The Democratic candidates received 39,159 votes; the Whig candidate did not receive one-third ot the votes, as he got only 18,4S4. The vote on amend- ments to the constitution was small, as will be seen by returns copied from the New Hampshire Patriot, a Democratic paper. Ti'C aggregate vo'e ^ on the test and property qualification was as lol lows: For abolishing it, 9,862; for retaining it, 17^.^2. The Democratic party of that State at all time*.^had the power of abolishing those odious featurt** in their constitution but refused: "That the Wlug'ti were not accountable ibr tlie defeat ol the amenHiiient abolishing the religious test and property qualification v.as clearly demonstrated l)y the prcssvof the State at the time, which gave publicity to th6 following farts, in contracting (he votes given in the strotigholdB of both parlies in favor of the amendment. The comparison is made between fifteen towns of each party, hb fol-j Ipws: Pierce at this election? He, sir, is the idol of the Democracy of that State, and if he had been in earnest in favor of abolishing that test, he had only to say so to his friends, and it would have been done. The Democracy of New Hampshire is held up as a model for the people to imitate by the sup- porters of Mr. Pierce. They are his company. 1 have given you their votes, by which they ex- clude the Catholics from the privileges of other citizens, and also prohibit a poor man from being eligible to certain offices. The people will pass upon the claims of that man who sanctions, by his acts of omission aa well as commission, such a dis- crimination between citizens of our common coun- try. TJte Whigs are riglUon all such questions, and will abide the result with confidence. 1 believe the great mass of the Democratic and Whig parties are high and honorable men. 1 al- ways recognise them as such. I pray God there never may be party strifes engendered to cause us to think otherwise. I said my colleague, instead of meeting the issues now presented before the American people, did not even deign to give a single measure upon which General Pierce had cast his vote. Why keep this back? We pre- sent you with aflirmative resolutions of the Whig party, and their votes on all questions of public policy. What do the Democrats do? They pre- sent negative ones. They are always opposed to something which has no application to the times, rhey are al ways seekin g for some false issue. W hat do they say ? Do they say they are in favor of in- ternal improvements? No; they are opposed to ihjm. Di, they say they are in favor of a tariff for revenue, and the protection of all the interests of the people of this country ? No ; they are opposed lo it. They present Franklin Pierce to th. Ame- rican people for their supp rt— a man who is in favor of nothing, but ojiposfd to every thing beue- tii'inl to the country. Mr. Chairman, notwithstanding General Pierce, as well as the convention nominating him, have endeavored lo avoid any frank avowal of their principles, if fhcy have any, on measures of great public interest, yet there are some questions upon which they and their candidate stand committed upon record, that cannot be blotted out. I shall proceed to name some of them: General Pierce is opposed to river and harbor ap propriations, and if elected Pre.'ident of tlie United States would be bound by his terms of acceptance to veto any such bill -that Congress might pass dur ing his term. Proof— The Democratic party that nominated General Pierce, adopted as part of its platform the following resolution: "2. That the Constitution does not confer upon the General Government the power to commence and carry on a general system of internal improve • ments." General Pierce in his letter accepts the Demo cratic platform, and says, further, that "No word nor act of my life is in conflict with the principles of these resolutions or platform." Now, his re- corded votes during his whole time in Congress was uniformly against river and harbor improve- ments, as well as appropriations for lighthouses, marine hospitals, &c. This was admitted on this floor by the honorable member from Michigan, (Mr. Stuart ) apolitical friend of General Pierce, and if I understood him aright, it was upon con- stitutional objections. But, sir, I wil!^ refer to the record in proof of a part of his votes. For it is here in presence of his friends that I make the charge, and no one will attempt to deny it June 28, 1836, a bill was pending in the House of Representatives making appropriations for the improvement of harbors in twenty-three differ entStates. This bili passed, and received the ap- proval of President Jackson. Franklin Pierce voted against it! On the same day, Franklin Pierce voted against an additional bill for the improvement of rivers and harbors, which passed, and received the approval of An drew Jackson. The appropriations made by these bills were all needed, and much more; yet none would have been granted if General Pierce could have prevented it. Tsubmit to the committee some of the appro- priations proposed in one of these bills: For continuing improvemjsnt of Chicago (Illinois) harbor .^32,000 For continuing works at harbor near River Raisin, Michigan 15,000 For continuing removal of obstructions at Black river, Ohio 6,660 For continuing improvement of Cleveland harbor, Ohio 15,000 For continuing removal of obstructions at Grand river, Ohio.. 6,000 For continuing removal of obstructions at Cunningham creek, Ohio 1,275 For continuing removal of obstructions at Conneaut creek, Ohio 2,500 For continuing improvement of Presque Isle harbor, Pennsylvania 15,000 For continuing improvement of Dunkirk harbor. New York .•••;•• ^1>000 For continuing improvement of Ohio riv- er, between Pittsburgh and Falls 20,000, For continuing improvement of Ohio and Mississippi rivers, from Louisville to New Orleans 60,000 For continuing improvement of Mississip- pi river, above the mouth of the Ohio- Missouri river ..' 40,0U0 For continuing improvement of Cumber- land river, Kentucky and Tennessee. . . 20,000 For continuing improvements at Huron river, Ohio 4,310 For dredging machine on Lake Erie 8,000 For improvement ol Ohio and Mississippi rivers, under act of 1832 17,800 In 1837 Mr, Pierce voted against a bill making appropriations for building lighthouses, and other similar works, in twenty-one different States. The same session, Franklin Pierce voted against a bill "to provide for certain harbors, and for the removal of obstructions in and at the mouths of certain rivers." This bill passed the House of Representatives by a vote of 107 yeas to 51 nays. Here are the appropriations in part: Illinois Chicago harbor $40,000 Indiana Michigan city harbor. . . 30,000 Michigan St Joseph river pier.... 15,000 " River Raisin harbor 30,000 Ohio Black river 6,410 " Huron river 2,565 " Vermillion river 20,000 " Cleveland harbor 10 000 " Cunningham creek 5,000 ♦' Ashtabula creek 8,000 " Conneaut creek 5,000 Pennsylvania . . . .Presque Isle harbor 15,000 " Chester harbor 2,000 Erection of a marine hospital at New Or- leans 70,000 Purchase of sites lor.,marine hospitals on western waters 1 5,000 Cumberland river improvement, Kentucky and Tennessee 55,000 Ohio river improvement between the Falls and Pittsburgh 60,000 Improvement of Ohio and Mississippi riv- ers from Louisville to New Orleans 60,000 Mississippi river — continuing k-emoval of obstructions at mouth 210,000 Improvement of Mississippi above mouth of Ohio and of Missouri river 40,000 Erection of pier at St. Louis 50,000 Other improvements in Mississippi, Ohio, and Missouri rivers. , 23,000 Survey of rivers in Arkansas and Missouri 1,000 June 29, 1836, Mr. Pierce voted against a bill making appropriations to "continue the Cumber- land road in the States of Ohio, Indiana, and Illi- nois." This bill was signed by President Jackson. It appropriated, for expenditure in Ohio, !fii200,0 lO; in Indiana, f 250,000; and in Illinois, $150,000. Mr. Chairman, here, sir, is a sample of Mr. Pierce's negative merits for advancing the prosperity of the country. Will the Democratic party of the West and Southwest, many who have sustainfid these mea- sures, support a man who stands pledged against ihem.^ Il'so, ppeak out, and let the people know; you must either repudiate General Pierce and your platform, or oppose the best interests of your coun- try. The Whig party and General Scott occupy no ioubtful position on those measures. They are the avowed and steadfast friends of them. I read the resolution adopted by the Whig Convention and approved by General Scott: "6. The Constitution vests in Congress the pow- er to open and repair harbors, and remove ob- structions from navigable rivers; and it is expe- 'ient that Congress should exercise that power whenever such improvements are necessary for the common defence or for the protection and facility of commerce with foreign nations or among the States— such improvements being, in every in- stance, national and general in their character." Mr. Chairman, inasmuch as the honorable mem- ber (Mr. Olds) has refused or failed to tell this committee or the public what principles his party support, or the opinions of .their candidates upon questions of public policy now interesting the peo- ple of this nation, 1 propose to compare the claims of each candidate— Generals Scotland Pierce — for the support of their fellow-citizens, in connexion 6 with the distinctive principiee of the Whig and Democratic parties of the day. INTEBNAL "iMPBOVEMENTS AND RIVEB AND HAH- BOB APPROPBIATIONS. The fVhig party and General Scott are in favor of and support these measures. Proo/— Resolutions of Baltimore Convention and votes. General Pierce is opposed to those measures. Proof— His votes and Democratic platform. TAXES TO SUPPOBT THE GOVERNMENT. The Whig- party are in favor of an economical administration of the General Government, and of raising- a revenue to support it mainly from du ties on imports. See resolution of Whig Conven- tion, as follows: "5. Government should be conducted upon prin ciples of the strictest economy, and revenue suflS- cient for the expenses thereof, in time of peace, ought to be mainly derived from a duty on imports, and not Irom direct taxes; and, in levying suchl duties, sound policy requires a just discrimination and protection from fraud, by specific duties, whenj practicable, whereby suitable encouragement may be assured to American industry, equally to alll classes and to all portions of the country." ] The Democratic party refused to proclaim their opinions on this subject at their convention. But, sir, it is well understood that many of that party favor direct taxation. RELIGIOUS TOIiEBATlON. General Scott is known to be an American at hea dom "And be it further enacted. That when any of the public lands of the United States have remained unsold for the space of fifteen years after the ter- mination of the public sales, the same may be en- tered and purchased by actual settlers on the fol- lowing terms, to wit: If a settler is desirous to pur- chase a residence for eighty, or less than eighty acres, he may enter and purchase the saaie at fifty cents per acre." Upon this proposition the vote stood — ayes 21, noes 23. Among the noes were Franklin Pierce and Wiiiiam R. King. The votes of the Senators from Ohio, Indiana, Jllinois, Kentucky, Louisiana, Arkansas, Mississippi, Michigan, and Tennessee, without regard to party, were "given for this pro- vision, which was defeated by the votes of Pierce and K:ng; and yet the poor man of the West is asked to vote for these men. VETO POWER. General Scott disclaims the exercise of the one- man power to thwart the legislation of the people's representatives. General Pierce, when interrogated upon that question, either refuses to answer or keeps his answer pocketed, but permits bis friends in one part of the country to say he is in favor of, and in another part against, the exercise of such mo narchical power. dUALITIES OF THE HEABT. General Scott's whole life has been spent in that kind of service that has made him famUiar with the sutTerings of all classes in all conditions of life, of which he has been among the sufferers. the rt and practice on the subject of re hg.ous free-,, ^,^^ wounded, sick, or hungry soldier, t n. He IS for equal privileges to all. The De ^jg^^^d^^d disconsolate widow, the victim of the pocratic party of New Hampshire who first nom- captured prisoner, or the wayfaring mated General Pierce for President, exclude ' t; ^^ ^^j ^ sympathetiS Catholics from office and require a man to holdi^^'^n , > No man was evef turned a certain amount of property to quahfy h^n for . j ^^^^ .^ distress without office. Such IS the consutution of that atate; and j . -^ that party, who had the power, voted ^g^insi,^'^ ^^ ;^ ^.^^^^^1 p.^^.^^^ ^ ^^^ ^^^ ^^y ^^^^^ j,^ ^^^^ amending it. ,^^^ possess these qualities in a high degree, for I PBOTECTioN TO AMERICAN INDUSTHY. iihave no pcrsoflal acquaintance with him ; but if The Whig party and General Scott are in favorj he does, he has at least on one occasion had a bad of affording protection to American agriculture man u fact ur/es, commerce, and all branches of in- dustry, by a discriminating tariff of duties, &c General Pierce and his party are opposed to it. DISTRIBUTION OF THE PROCEEDS OF THE PUBLIC LANDS. • The Whig party are in favor of dividing the money arising from the sale of our national do-j main among all the States in an equitable propor-j tion. The Democratic party oppose it. j THE BIGHT OF PETITION. General Scott never denied the right of an] American citizen, under the Constitution, to peti-i tion for the redress of grievances. j Mr. Pierce voted against it in Congress. I refer] to the journals. ACTUAL SETTLERS UPON PUBLIC LANDS. General Scott, in his letter of acceptance of the nomination, uses the following language: wav of showing it. Mr. Chairman, after the death of Genera! Harrison, w'hcn his widow was mo'i'-a- ing the loss of her late bosom companion j'ad earthly protector; svhen she was poor, and her husband had spent all his means in moving to your capital, there was a bill brought forward in Congress to allow the widow Harrison one lull year's salary for her deceased husband. Franklin Pierce not only voted against this bill, but used his influence to prevent its passage. But, thanks to the benevolence of the membersof that Congress, there were lew that thought as Mr. Pierce did. Tlie bill passed, and the lonely widow's heart was cheered with some relief. CIVIL aUALIPICATIONS. General Scott is far superior to Mr. Pierce in this respect; yet the Democratic party — no, sir, I will say the Locofoco leaders of that party— are trying to depreciate the merits of the old Odtriot for civil qualifications, and trumpet forth Frank lin Pierce as the greatest civilian of the age But I therefore barely suggest, in this place, that llhcy tell us of nothing that Mr. Pierce has ever should I, by the partiality of my countrymen, bcjjdone in or out of the Legislature or Congress to elevated to the Chief Magistracy of the Union, 1 warrant such an assumption or claim. Tiiey have ehall be ready, in my c nnexion with Congress, to |poiitic reasons fur such-a course. They know he recommend or to approve of measures in regard to'] never did a single act in his life to merit the con the management of the public domain, so as to se-j|fidence of the people in him as a'stafesman 1 cure an early settlement of the same favorable to challenge a successful contradiction of this state- actual settlers, but consistent nevertheless with :i inent. He was educatcJ a lawyer, and that has due regard to the equal rights of the whole Aiueril been his practice except when in the Legislature can people in that vast national inheritance." | Dr Congress; and in the latter capacity all his in- By reference to the Senate Journal of January' flucncc and votes were cast in opposition to mea- 14. 1«.J9, you will find the following proposition! aures calculated to advance the prosperity of the pending in that body: i|country, as 1 have before proved. T Now, Mr. Chairman, let public history— the records of your country, and the life of General Scott — speak for him in this respect. Commence wirh his interference and saving the lives of the Irish prisoners while he was a prisoner on board of a British vessel; and ufter which, and in 1813, he recommended and procured the passage of an act of Congress which effectually placed soldiers in our army of foreign birth that might be cap tured by the enemy upon the same terms of pro- tection as Americans. Examine his proceedings in 1832 in settling the Black Hawk war, treating with the Indians, re- storing peace and protection to the TVorthwestern Territories. His perilous services and settlement of the Flo- rida war; his delicate yet successful mission under President Jackson to South Carolina to maintain the supremacy and integrity of the Union, and at the same time not infringe upon the rights of any particular State. He was successful, and order and confidence again restored througtiout the country. Again, you find Scott entrusted with almost un- limited power to settle the difficulties and main- tain the peace upon our Canada frontier and Maine boundary. He was successful here. By his per sonal popularity and ripe qualifications as a diplo uiatist he accomplished what no other man could have done under similar circumstances. Come dosvn to a more recent period in his his- tory. Test his civil qualifications after he became the conqueror of iNIcxico. In a very lew days after his triumphant entrance into the city of Mexico he established and promul gated a code of laws and system for rai.=iag rev enue That> considering its adaptation to tht times and circumstances, as well as its practi'-ai effects, has challenged the admiration of tne great est statesmen. It may be said also that be was the master spirit 'n bringing about a treaty there JMr. Chairman. Gent-rul Scott, like General Washington in his tinie, has the peculiar combina tion of miii.ary and civil qualifications united, eminently fitting him for the oUice of President. MILITARY Q,0ALIFICATIONS . 1 will not compare these, sir. The most- the friends of General Pierce claim for him in this re spect is, that during the Mexican war he was taken from his lav/ office, and commissioned as a general; went to Mexico as such officer; served a short time, and resigned before the teraiinatiou of that war. The history of your country, and the success oi fighting, for chivalry of individuals and masses, that portion of the Mexican war which was con- ducted by the gallant Scott, as chief commander, stands unrivalled, either by the deeds of Cortez himself, or by those of any other commander in ancient or modern times." Dr. Channing, in the preface to his Lectures on War, pays the following tribute to the man whom he Whigs have selected for their candidate at the approaching contest: iMuch, also, is due to the beneficent influence of General Scott. To this distinguished mau be- longs the rare honor of uniting with military en- ergy and daring the spirit of a philanthropist. His eTploiis in the field, which placed him in the jir*l rank of soldiers, have Oeen obscured by the purer and more lasting glory of a pacificator and a friend of mankiiid. In the whole history of the intercourse of civilized communities, we doubt whether a brighter page can be found than that which re- cords his agency in the removal of the Cherokees. As far as the wrbngs done to this race can be atoned tor. General Scott has made the expiation. In his recent mission to the disturbed borders of our country he has succeeded, not so much by policy as by the nobleness and generosity oi coa- acter, by moral influence, bj' the earnest convic- ion with whi^'h he has enforced on all with whom he had to do ihfe obligations of patriotism, justice, humanity, and religion, it would not be easy to find among us a man who has won a purer fame; ind I would do something, no matter how little, to hasten the time when the spirit of Christian hu- nanity shall be accounted an essential attribute and the brightest ornament in a public man." Hear what his political enemies said of him be- fore he was a candidate. In the Washington Union of April 10, 1847, 1 find the following: "Gi-oKioas Achievement. — Victory follows vic- tory in rapid succession. It was a settled maxim that we could never cease this war with honor un- ci! we had taken the Castle of San Juan de Ulloa. Thanks be to our distinguished and skilful Gene- ral— ',o hjs brave officers and men — to the gallant officers and men of our navy, this great achieve- ment, has bten effected with but little loss of life on our part. IVe have taken the Gibraltar of the West- ern Continent. We have added ntw laurels to our wreath. The gratitude and admiration of a free people are due. to Major General Scott. We con- grdtulate >ur couniry again upon the prowess of their army and navy. In less than eleven months, \a succession of achievements has puured m upon us \which would grace the annals cf any people under the her armu-3 under' Scott for ihe last forty years, Isu/t. Let our countrymen rejoice, and let them will best illustrate his services, bravery, skill, andiipour out their hanks to the brave men who have patriotism, und claims upon his country Mr. Chairman, hear what some o! the most emi- nent men of your country have said of General Scott. In a speech in the United States Senate, March 23, 1848, Daniel Webster spoke as follows relative to the character and services of General Scott: "1 understand, sir, that, the.-e is a report from General Scott; from General Scott, a man who has performed the most brilliant campaign on re- cent military record ; a man who has warred against the enemy, warred against the climate, warred against a thousand unproj)itiou3 circum- stances, and has carried the flag of his couniry to the capital of the enemy, honorably, proudly, hu manely, to his own permanent honor, and the great military credit ofiiis country " Henry Clay, in the t-iwiaie of ine United Sla.es in iSoO, spoke thus oi General Scott and the Mexi can war : "1 must take this opportunity to say that for skill, for science, for strategy, for bold and daring ione honor to the character of this free country.' Such, Mr. Chairman, is the man that the honor- able member (Mr. Olds) has compared to butchers in human blood; and would try to make him, and necessarily the American army under his com- mand, appear destitute of those sympathies and humane teelings common to the rest of mankind. But not content with that, he has descended to ihe tombs of Harrison and Taylor to calumniate the memories of those departed heroesand sages — and, in effect, to read the independent freemen of this country a lecture upon the exercise of their rights of suffrage in elevating those patriots to the high- st office in this Republic. He wishes to apply the dispensations of Providence to the unholy purposes ot a political contest. He thinks the Union was saved '"only by the interposition of Providence in the death of General Taylor." This, 1 confess, is the last version given of the salvation of the Uuion I have heard; and hope I may never hear it again* But, Mr. Chairman, what further do we hear from the honorable member on this subject.' Why, sir. s he invokes the spirit of Henry Clay to come forth from the prrave to aid him and his party in vilify- ing and abusing Gf^tieral Scott, and defeating his election. I will assure the member, that if he had ihe power to call iorth all the spirits of Henry Clay and other departed patriots, from the Revolution to this time, he would get no aid from any such source in his unholy purpose. No man, when living, was ever viiificd and abused more than Hairy Clay by the Democratic party, or at least by many of them ; and, if I mis- take not, the honorable member (Mr. Olds) per- formed his full share in that abuse for many years past. Now that that pure patriot and grej.'- states- man is no more with us, his long political life end- ed, his person and character removed from the poisonous shafts of his political enemies, the hon- orable in.-^mber. with hundreds of others who abused him while living, have becotnc most elo- quent in praises of his Ibrmer service to the coun- try. I nm glad it is so ; that political animosities do not always last. And, sir, it is useful in thit respect : The people will now know how to appre- ciate political charges coming from the same s jurce against the living. They will, sir, see that such charges are entitled to no confidence — but only made to accomplish political purposes. For, sir, as I said before, no man was more misrcpresentec- and traduced in his time by men incapacitated by nature and association to do justice to a great sou! and mind, than Henry Clay; nor were deep, heartfelt grief and sorrow, ever to universally man ifested in the death of an individual, since tbedays of Washington, than in that of Henry Clay. He lived long^nough to shame his traducers into an acknowledgment of tiieir falsehoods, and to stamp his name upon the enduring pages of history as one of the greatest statesmen, orators, and patriots of the nineteenth century. Posterity will do justice to his traducers. This is all they have to fear. Sir, it is with General Scott as it was with Henry Clay. When he had passed the time of life to preclude tte idea of again becoming a candidatel for the Presidency, no men were more lavish in their encomiums upon his splendid and useful ca- reer than the members of the Democratic party.' At times, when they fancied General Scott would not be in their roari to the hi.ehest office in the gift of the nation, they wei c never more pi-ol-tic in eu-j logiums upon his genius and world-wide military fame. Their regrets in 1839 and 1848, because he^ was not nominated by the Whig National Con ' continue to be numbered with those that were, and the reins of Government perpetuated in the hands of the true American party. Gentlemen may rise upon this floor, and make barbarous and unpa- triotic comparisons, but they will avail them no- thing. General Sooit has been tried in the scales of public opinion and national justice, and not found wanting. The decree of the people has gone brth from Maine to Florida, and trom the shores of tile Atlantic to the Pacific coast, that justice must and shall be done to him wh.) has done jus- tice to and protected them and their fathers in days past. In him who has said that he f'jels that he is a citizen of every part of this great Rerublic, they know that they will have a wise President, a saga- cious statesman, and a cool, prudent man. Sir, in every capacity and relation in life that he has been called on to fill or sustain, he has dis- charged his duty or trust with credit to himself and honor to his country If a man's capacity for fulfilling the duties of the Chief M.igistracy arete be judged from the manner in which he las dis- charged public duties for nearly half a century, and 1 know no better means of arriving at a just conclusion upon this subject, why General Scott's friends — nay, the whole people — may challenge the world in vain for atiothersuch a record as his. From the time he entered the service of his coun- try in 1808, with a captain's cuminissioh of light artillery, down to the storming and surrenderor the capital of the Mexican republic, ''his epaulettes and plume," in the language of a political oppo- ciit, ''were always found glittering and waving where the battle ra<^ed fiercest, where the bullets ruined tUickest, and where the carnage was dead' liest, directing the American arms on to g/orioiM ' victory." In the Discharge of the various civil trust?, whether at home or abroad, which have been imposed on him by his country, he has execu- ted them with consummate skill and ability. But why amplify upon this subject.'' The country knows it by heart, and is only waiting to ratify it at the ballot-box. In conclusion, Mr. Chairman, permit me to say, that I challenge any man upon this floor to point the countr}' to one single act in the public life of WiniiL-ld Scott, whether military or civil, which will not bear the closest scrutiny, li he will, I will show him the recorded approbfitioii, not only of the a.iministration under svhich it was done, but that of his own party. But, sir, I will do the Democratic party the justice to say, that notwith- standing the abuse some of ibtir leaders have ventions, were apparently sincere; ani their cen- heaped upon General Scott, they have never been sures of the Whig party" for not nominating him lable to point to one single act in his long public were not few. Sir, their priefs and condolences ilife to which they could take exceptions or con- are now hushed, and we benr nothing from them jdeiiin. This fact is the best encomium that can , but murmurings and deep felt uttered curses atjbe passed upon any public man who has served • their own sad condition. Their days must stiUJhis country for more than forty years. i