Richmond daily Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1842-1861, 1846-06-17
THE BALL IN MOTION.

mating Gen. Taylor n candidate for the next
Presidency. We expect TO hear from the
New York meeting; and in the meanwhile we
subjoin tho proceedings Of that held at Trenton,
last Friday evening. which is said to have been
large and enthusiastic, opening its deliberations
very appropriately with three cheers for the Hero
of the Rio Grande. John r. Tucker, Esq pre-
sided, Jonathan Cook, Esq. acted rs Nicc-Presi-
dent, aud +. s. Mills as Secretary. The follow
ing resolution were unanimously adopted:
Whercss for many years past the Presidential contests
of country. have been managed moro with view OF
sggrandzns selfish politicians, than OF advancing the true
OF the country and whereas the time has arrived
when becomes the solemn duty Of the citizens OF this
great Republic shake of the slavery OF party, and select
from among distinguished men, candidate Tor the
Chief Magstracy, some who has shown himself to
possess qua6c for that office superior TO those OF
mere subservency party; and whereas hold that
Commanding General on the Rio Grande has shown him
sell be worthy OF confidence. by his skill and bra
very the field and by the talent displayed in his modest
Dispatches after OF the most glorious victories ever
achieved the American and in his whole military
correspondence therefore,
"Rcsoved, That we, citizens OF Trenton, without
ference party lines, party questions, generally I'M
dersood, do nominate General Zachary Taylor the Hero
Of Pao Alto and Rescara del Palma the Presidency OF
the u States, and that hereby invite all true hearted
Republicans unite with in this effort TO elevate
brave soldier, successful General and true Republican
TO that high Office.
"Resoyed That here the poudest battle field OF the
American Revolution, boldly raise the standard Of the
Peoples Candidate, and invite union of honest OF
all parties for the sake Of common county, and the
true interests Of the people"
Should the Mexican war be protracted, and
Gen. Taylors career of conquest be unclouded
by disaster-for, with the multitude, all history
shows success, without reference 10 crcumstan-
ces, is usually the criterion of desert-it will be
difficult, if not impossible, even by resort to the
potent influence Of party catch-words, sustained
by the efficient machinery of party organization,
TO resist the tide Of popular enthusiasm, which
will bear the Hero OF Rio Grande, as it formerly
bore the Hero of New Orleans into the Presi-
Dental chair. "Hero-worship" has been one oil
the prominent frailtes of mankind in all ages
and in all lands-and the feeling has been de-
prived of none Of its magic power by the thirty
years peace, which had left US with scarcely an
idol towards which the country could turn its
adoring gaze. Gen. Taylor's recent brilliant
triumph has supplied this want. The dim and faint
remembrance of the siege Of Fort Erie and the
brilliant sortie Of Gen. Gaines, and Of the bloody
and glorious fields of Chippewa and Lundv's
Lane, upon which Gen. Scott displayed his mar.
tia skill and ntrepdity, has been completely effa.
ced by the splendor of the orb which has burst
upon us with such sudden effulgence. The stars Of
our galaxy of living heroes, grow pale in the
fresher if not intenser light which illumines the
Southwestern sky. And what civilian, however
gifted in intellect or devoted in patriotism or
heroic in sacrifice, can hope to win the public ear
amidst the loud shouts and huzzas that herald the
approach Of the conquering herol True, we are
fold that
peace hath its victories no less renOwnd than War;
And such victory has lately been achieved
IN the Senate Chamber, by the wise and patriotic
statesm to whom. most fortunately in this great
crisis in foreign relations, the destinies of the
country had been entrusted. BY averting War
they have achieved triumph which entities
them to a wreath compared with which the blood.
stained laurels even of Cesar are worthless
weeds. But the lustre of their bloodess achiev.
ments grows dim in the light of martial renown
Far be il from us TO derogate aught from Gen.
Taylor's claims to the admiration and gratitude of
his countrymen. He is rthy Of all the eulo-
ges with which the press has teemed, not
more for the skill and valor displayed in the
field, than for the modesty with which he tells
Ihe story of his triumph. But we are not able to
divest ourselves entirely Of certain old. fashioned
notions touching the dangers Of "hero- worship
and the wisdom of bestOwing high civil office, in
free government, upon trained in the court
rather than in the camp. 1t does not, we arc
aware, necessarily follow that the successful Gen.
eral may not be also an accomplished Statesman ;
but, he has read history most careessly and un.
probably who has not learned from it's admonitory
teachings that the habits Of thought and action
formed at the head Of armies are not the best qua
lifcations for the Chief Magistrate of Confeder.
ated Republic. Gen. Taylor may constitute an
exception to this general truth. We are strong.
ly induced, by the calm and temperate tone of his
official papers, as well as by his mild and unas.
Stunning career, to believe that he does. But the
people ought at least TO know something more
than they now do Of his qualifications as a States.
man rs well as Of his political opinions, before in
moment Of generous and natural enthusiasm
they commit themselves to his support for an Of
flee, which, recent experience emphatically ad.
monshes US, ought to be filled only by man Of
large experience as well as of comprehensive in.
telIect.
Perhaps one signal benefit may result from
General Tsylor's nomination; and that is. the
speedy termination Of the Mexican War. The
political aspirants for the Presidency, who. by
their connection with IT, hoped to share in the re-
Elected glores Of the campaign, will see that they
are rnising up, in the military commanders ap
pointed to conduct II, formidable rivals for public
favor, and that the engineers are in mminen
danger, indeed, Of being "hoisted with their owl
Petard." Policy, therefore, may dictate to tn,
Administration the eIpedency Of putting an end
hs soon as practicable, to a state Of things which
threatens to defeat the arrangements for 9Th,
succession" and u turn tho patronage Of tn,
Government into unexpected channels. Thu
far, indeed, the movements in behalf Of Genera
Taylor do no, wear very formidable aspect bu
Gen. Jackson's prospects, when he was first nalu
rally Ns,onished by the suggestion Of his name fol
the Presidency, were even less Aatlering than ar,
those Of Taylor at this moment. The cloud
now no bigger than mans hand, may soon over
spread the face Of the heavens. Much. 10 be sure