Martinsburg gazette. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1833-1855, 1847-06-17
CENTRAL TAYLOR /.

aCteIISAC ulSlIuSt OF MS own 1iaHBSdNDbs ioa
the Chief Magistracy, ne expressed desire
that some one OF our distinguished Statesmen
should be elevated to that high office, has eiic-
tied from the Washington Unioc the follow
ing paragraph, IN almost every line OF which,
even when the writer affects 10 BE- most com
plmentary, hostility to the old Hero, who has
thus far providentially survived as he denes
the efforts Of the Administration and its friends
to destroy him, IS (perhaps unconsciously) be-
uayed. The Union thus prefaces the letter:
"The following letter bears marks OF the
'modesty' which the New Orleans Bulletin at
tributes to Gen. Taylor But we hazard the
remark that il might have been equally. II not
more modest, if casting away all AMBITION
he had stood aside for the present, and hrnly
passed over the honors OF an election 10 one oil
the eminent and deserving citizens, whom be
considers better qualified for so high and res
ponsbe station Whilst the gallant and
distinguished General, however, removes all
the doubts las the Bulletin supposes) as TO his
acceptance Of the nomination for the Preslden-
cy,' we are free to state, with all respect, that
this not going far enough. The people ought
TO know-and free people will never be sat
isied without knowing far his prine-
pies suit them Is he Democrat, or is he a
Wing? He goes for "a strict observance of
the constitution What does the General
mean bv strict observance? Is he Of tae
school Of Jefferson. or oi Webster and Clay
Does he go for national bank-for nation
al system oil internal Improvements proiec-
tive or revenue tarifi,--ihe law Of 1912, or of
1876? We have no idea that the old soldier
affects any mystery upon these questions
He will scarcely pursue the advice oil his
committee OF secrecy at Philadelphia. But
let some friend call upon him for another let
ter, and lei the old General come out. This
is what The country has right TO ask and
nothing short OF this requisition ought TO sat
isfy an enlightened people, who value 'prln-
cples more than men,"
We have no doubt the Union would have
been highly gratified, had Gen. Taylor pc
remptorily refused 10 permit the use of his
name as candidate for the Presidency But
1.-The gallant and distinguished General does
not SO understand his duty-and that, we ven
ture 10 say, he will perform, fearless alike of
open and secret, official and unofficial aSsall-
ants, should he be called upon, from quarter
entitled 10 such response, 10 exchange the
military for the civil service OF his country -
Acting upon the maxim Of the patriotic Iowa
DIES, while he does not seek the high position
TO which so large portion OF mis- counirynen
have evlnced determination 10 elevate hun,
he will not decline il should il be conferred up
on him.
Nor need the slightest apprehension be en-
tertaned, should he become hereafter cand-
date for the Presidency, that he will fail to give
a clear and candid exposition OF his views up
on all questions of public interest, upon which,
in the event OF his election, he may be requi-
red 10 act Reared in the camp, he has all
the frankness Of the soldier. and none OF the
arts of those who have been trained in courts,
and learned in that corrupted atmosphere, TO
act, like Mr.. Polk Tor example. upon the ia
nous maxim of Taleyrand, that language is
tntendedto conceal ideas-ofwhich maxim there
is not 10 be found, even in Talleyrand's ser
pantlne career, a more striking illustration than
that furnished by Mr. Folks letter TO James
X. Kane on the Protective policy But 'Hhere
is time for all things and neither Gen Tay
ler's friends nor his enemies have a right. before
he shall be candidate, as be certainly is not
now, TO call upon him for declaration OF his
opinions, which we take il for granted he will
not make, if he should be 30 called upon, I'M
Ill, having become avowedly candidate, the
people will have right to know, and he Will
feel bound 10 make them acquainted with his
sentiments III regard TO the past and future
policy OF the Government he may be called
upon TO administer. He will not (to use one
of the favorite phrases Of the editor Of the
rnlon) WRAP mp his opinions in doublel."
when II shall become the peoples right To
know them, and his duty To make them known.
lie leaves that course for such men as MIR.
Polk. who, after having written the equiyocal
Kane letter, stubbornly refused, when appr-
zed more than once Oft the damcrically oppo.
site constructions given 10 ii IN different ai-
tudes, 10 say whether his cabalStic terms
meant, or were intended TO mean. THIS or that
whether they pledged him TO Free Trade,
as was boldly asserted IN the South. or to the
perpetuauon OF the Protective policy as was
affirmed with equal confidence in Peunsyya-
MIA and other Tariff States If he cannot
be elected without resortng 10 such a iraudu-
lent device, he will never reach the Presden-
cy. Even that high honor he will never pur
chase by such dlsreputable means.
In It's devotion 10 a literal Interpretation of
the constitution. which has been certainly sig
nallzed IN remarkable manner since it became
the organ OF the Executive author OF ,he Mex
lean war, the Union seems not 10 he satisfied
with the declaration of Gen Tavlor that he is
10 favor of ''a strict obServanra' 90 the proyi-
VISIONS o, thai instrument The uspiciousneSs
VIZ Nlbl - llOA dl all SlItli2t'--|iItt II NdN
seen how little Gen. Jackson, Mr. Van Buren
aud Mr. Polk, all of whom went into office.
pledged TO ''strIct construction" Of the con
stltutIon. according to the strait laced definition
OF the powers ofthe General Government. set
forth IN the Resolutions and Report OF $500.
have been restrained by their pledge. when
ever they had an object To accomplish by It's
violation. The Union. therefore, asks. ''what
does the Generalmeanb stric, Observance ~
We cannot, Of course, tell that paper. in de-
tail, what he does mean but We may venture
10 say what he does not mean. lie does not
mean, we are very sure, }hat the Executive
has the power, either to make war. OF TO rem
der 1t inevitable, by invading, in time Oh peace,
foreign territory, for the purpose OF setting
by force a question OF boundary, which Con-
gress had expressly declared was lefi open for
future negotiation He does not mean that
the Executive has RICH; 10 annex conquer
81 territory 10 the Union, by the proclamation
Of military and naval commanders. 10 form
territorial governments therein, 10 appoint OF.
fcers TO administer them, and 10 punish Mex
lean citizens, from whom an oath of ale
glance 10 the United States has been exacled
at the point of the bayonet. as traitors for acts
OF fidelity TO their own Government. and Re-
iending their own soil He does not mean
that The Executive has right TO usurp the eS-
Senliaily Legislative function Of snaefiag id,cs
Tor the collection Of duties upon imports in