WASHINGTON, June 24, 1852.
When the Whig
Convention nominated Scott, they killed off those who had been most clamorous
for slavery, and therefore did a great work. Though not a triumph of
antislavery sentiment, therefore, it was a defeat of Hunkerism at the North,
and of slavery domination at the South. It was the first antislavery stand in a
National Convention that has ever been successful. So far it is matter for
thanksgiving and hallelujah. But it adopted the proslavery platform. This was
effected by the union of the slavery men of the South, and the Hunkers or
Fillmore and Webster men of the North. These together made a large
majority; one hundred and forty-nine being a majority. All these men worked
together in the organization for the Committee on Credentials and for the
Platform Committee, and were, of course, successful. But, when they came to
candidates, they split. Nothing could carry enough of the Webster men over to
Fillmore, or enough of the Fillmore men over to Webster, to make a majority. A
portion of each knew of the other, what all sensible and unbiassed men knew, —
that the nomination of the other would be death to the party; and they would
not defeat the party, even for the nomination of a favorite. Thus it was done,
and thus it was not done.
There is such an
infinite difference between Scott and Pierce, that all true antislavery men
must desire the success of the former. About ten or a dozen Whigs from the
South, and about the same number of Fillmore men, went over for Scott. This is
all that could be meant by the South's supporting Scott or abandoning the
compromises. They have got them in form, but not much more. The
reason why they say Scott adopts the Southern platform is, that he accepts the
nomination of the party that adopts the platform; and, indeed, his telegraphic
despatch to the convention was, that he accepted the nomination with the
platform. But as many interpretations can be given to the platform as to the
Thirty-nine Articles. And, besides, the Whig Platform, though disgraceful to
human nature, is not so black by many hues as the Democratic.
I read this morning
the greater part of Kossuth's speech at the Tabernacle, New York. Is it not
his greatest speech?
We are now taking
the question, by yeas and nays, on the passage of a bill to give a certain
quantity of the public lands to the old States for educational purposes; and it
looks as if it would go through the House. I hope so with all my organ of hope.
SOURCE: Mary Tyler
Peabody Mann, Life of Horace Mann, pp.
370-1
