The national whig., 1847-06-25
GENERaE TAYLOR
AND OUR FOREIGN RELATIONS.

appeared IN the contest oil 1914 against iuggiDS
into the canvass for President, our Foreign
Relations aud the questions that might arise
in their course, were published in the Boston
Atlas. If we had copy of the Atlas by US,
we shoudcertainly draw upon that fountain for
sound arguments against Party Conventions set
Ting up this or that foreign question as party
test. The course of the Baltimore Convention
in making Texas and Oregon party watch
word, was indignantly denounced by the Atlas.
We came near being plunged into war with
Great Britain by the action of that Convention,
and It can be proved that we are now waging
war with Mexico in consequence Of the deter
mnation of the Democratic party leaders then
declaring that the boundary of Texas extended
up TO the Rio Grsnde, and that Mr. Polk ought
10 be elected because he agreed with the Con-
vention in that matter. We now inquire OF
the Atlas whether ii intends TO abandon the
wise ground occupied by it in 1874 and rush
into the very error now which it properly de-
nounced lhen2 Does il intend to force ques
ton of foreign relations into the Presidential
arena in 1882 Does il purpose 10 take from
the proper authority the treaty-makiDg power,
and to vote for no man for President who will
not in advance pledge himself to make no
treaty with the public enemy exceptupon such
and such principles2 Is il Wing doctrine lis
il Wing practice to invade the constituted de-
partments Of The Government, snatch their
power from them, and, by carrying questions,
which belong to them by the Constitution,
before the People at the ballot box, tie up the
hands OF the delegates who may be selected to
administer the Government We ratherthink
that this is Democratic doctrine, Democratic
practice. We are sure, that il is only neces
sary TO present the subject in its true light to
the Atlas 10 convince il, that the position taken
by it is a wrong one. "
Suppose we go into the next canvass upon
Mr.. Berrien's Resolution TO receive no Mexi-
can Territory under any circumstances and
elect our President upon that question. Sup.
pose-what is quite supposable case and
which we fear. will be preciptated upon the
country by Mr. Polk, before he leaves his pres
ent position our President comes into
power and finds our foreign relations SO com
plicated by his predecessor, that il will become
necessary. absolutely necessary for the Senate
to advise the President to make treaty with
Mexico for the acquisition Of territory, or that
it will become necessary for the President 10
make such treaty 10 avoid worse evil
What would be the position Of the President in
such an event2 The very possibility of such
a state Of things should be avoided--is the die
tate Of wisdom. The evil of dragging our
foreign relations into party politics is already
seen in the actions Of President Polk. II would
be felt quite as seriously in the case supposed.
It's one of the grand doctrines Of the. Wing
party, that each department of the Govern.
ment should be left free to act under the Con
sututIon, so as 10 meet emergencies. Can
there be question, which requires more per-
feet freedom in the President, In the Senate,
and in the House of Representatives, than this
Mexican question: None, that we can ina
gine. What may have been wisdom when
Mr. 'Berrien offered his resolution, may be fol-
ly in l849. The history of our Indian rela
tons is perfectly illustrative Of our Mexican
relations. The Indian policy Of the United
States has ever been against the sentiments Of
the American people, and yet we went on and
are now going on reducing them, driving them
westward, taking their lands under pretended
treaties, wronging them whenever necessity
demanded and often when there was no neces-
sty, SC. &c. What would have been the po-
sition Of our Executive in this matter il the
non acquisition of Indian Territory had elected
our Presidents
We know that Gen. Taylor, upon the abstract
question of acquiring foreign Territory, in the
present status Of the Union, occupies the
ground held by MIR. Clay in his Raleigh Let
ter, but as we said, yesterday, we are not per
mitted to speak for General lor on this or
any other point, as his witness. He is and
ne will be his own witness. Our knowledge
Of the fact is sufficient to influence our own
course in relation TO him upon this subject,
and we have no doubt that the Atlas will find
that he is right upon this abstract question long
before he comes 10. speak his sentiments for
mally upon it. 'aa
But the Atlas wishes to know whether If he
is in favor Of acquiring any of the Territory
of Mexico, lie is for or against planting the
institution Of slavery upon in? And here again
we must leave General Taylor to speak for
himself. II is not good that is ever tolerated,