The Somerset herald and farmers' and mechanics' register. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 183?-1852, 1847-08-31
GENERAL TAYLOR AND THE
PRESIDENCY.

Quoted neutral paper published at Potts.
vile, takes strong ground in favor of Gen.
Taylor as "ihe Peoples candidate" for
the Presidency, and gives notice of the
holding of mass convention in that place
at an early day, TO advance the old Gene
RAILS claims, and to Which the eastern and
northern counties Of the State are expec-
ted TO send delegations. The partiality
of the American people for Gen. Taylor
has recently been manifested in so many
ways and in so many quarters, that we
cannot perceive how he can well be pre-
vented from being elected President in
IS46. We know there are ultra party
men who do not approve of his repeated
declarations that he will not be party
candidate, nor, if elected, party Presi-
dent. But 10 our mind there is nothing
objectionable in these declarations, GER
tainly nothing that should prevent the
VINO party from supporting him. The
idea will not be entertained for moment
by any sensible man, that Gen. Taylor
means TO be understood as saving or init
mating that he has no fixed political prin
ciples, and that he would pursue half
way policy TO suit. as much as might be.
the views of all parties, regardless Of the
effects which such policy would be like
ly 10 have upon the country. We are
bound, in justice TO his intelligence and
integrity, to put more liberal construc-
ton upon his words. When he says
that he is not politician, and that, If e.
lected, he will not be the President of any
clique or party, but Of the whole people.
he maniiests an honesty of purpose that
is certainly commendable, as being q vir-
tue rarely met among aspirants for the
Presidency at the present day; which is
no surrender of principle, but on the
contrary, is the best pledge that man
ceuld give Of his determination TO admin
ister the Government honestly and faith
fully. 1t has been for many years a
source OF incessant complaint, that our
Government was administered more with
an eye to the advancement of the inter-
ests of the Administration and its parti-
zans than for the benefit of the whole
people, and now when man is brought
up as candidate, who is not willing TO
prostitute Executive authority and infiu-
ence to such base purposes, what man
he he Whig or Democrat--who desires
10 see corruption removed from high pla-
ces and the Government restored 10 its
pristine purity, but will heartily and cor
daily enter into his support But. how
ever men may differ on this point, let
none be so simple as to suppose that Gen
Taylor has no opinions Of his own in re-
gard to measures involving high interests
and important principles. To suppose
that he was destitute of such, would be
supposiug that he was little more than an
idiot. We have good authority for say
ing, that in principle he is a Whig; but
we have his own declarations that he will
not be tle candidate or the President OF
this or that party, and from these it is con-
cluded by some of both parties that he
will not suit them, because he would in
all probability not 60 as far III carrying
out party measures as they want Presi-
dent 10 60. Our own inferences from the
premises are, that he approves Of the
Wing policy generally, though he may
side with the Democrats on some ques-
tions, where no great and important prin-
ciples ace involved, and that he holds 10 the
pure Republican doctrine that minorities
have rights which it is the duty OF major
tiles to respect, and in case of neglect or
refusal by others, that they be projected
by the Executive to the extent of his
lawful power. These constitute part
of the Wing creed; and though the con-
trary is never preached by others, II is not
unlrequenllv practiced. II the Wings, as
a party, cannot expect to realize in Gen.
Taylor all that they could desire, the |
prospect for the Democrats is still less
cheering; and if he be elected to the Pre- |
sidency, as now appears quite probable,
aud should succeed in allaying party strife
and in restoring the Government to that
high and pure standard which it occupied |
in the days Of WASHINGTON, he will be
hailed as one of the greatest benetactors