Lewistown Gazette

Interview of the Hon. John M. Botts with General Scott.

The Hon. John M. Botts, a delegate from Virginia to the Whig National Convention, has written a letter to the Richmond Whig, dated Washington, May 3d, in which he thus speaks of an interview he had that morning with Gen. Scott in relation to his publicly "defining his position" on the compromise:

"I had a very long, free and full interchange of views with him, and I found his position to be precisely this in reference to his writing:-- he is differently advised by friends North and South (whose counsels are entitled to consideration) to write, and not to write; a large majority, including many from the South, urging him to remain silent. This condition of things embarrasses him not a little, as his individual preference would be to publish his views at large, while he does not feel himself at liberty, in his present position, to take the bit between his teeth, in disregard of the advice of much the larger portion of his friends from both sections of the country. If he writes, he obliges a small, and perhaps offends a large number of those whose counsels he ought to listen to; while if he remains passive, he gives no particular cause of offence to either.

Gen. Scott occupies no doubtful or equivocal position on the compromise, nor does he desire to do so; and if he did, I would not support him, even if nominated. His views are freely expressed to every man who approaches him, no matter to what party or section he may belong. He is accessible to every respectable man in the country, who chooses to approach him, and he has never hesitated to say that he is in favor of the compromise measures in all their parts, and opposed to any disturbance, agitation or alteration of the fugitive slave law; and he enjoins confidence and secrecy on no man to whom he makes this communication.

Under the circumstances mentioned, he has come to the conclusion (and I incline to think wisely) that the true course for him to pursue is to publish nothing, unless he be the nominee; when, if the convention shall adopt a course that will make his acceptance necessary, or otherwise afford him the opportunity, he will speak out freely and fully, and this would place him, in my opinion, in a more elevated position than if he were to permit himself now to be bullied into writing to secure the nomination.

The fact here brought out by southern men that Gen. Scott is an open advocate of the compromise measures, will probably throw the Pennsylvania locofocos into fits, as their only hope of success is based on the supposition that they can induce the people of this State to believe that Gen. Scott is a nullification candidate. That game will be as effectually knocked on the head as were thousands of Mexican greasers at Cerro Gordo, Contreras, &c."