Arkansas intelligencer., 1847-08-14
GEN. TAYLOR AND THE PRESIDENCY.

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how tickle is the mutitude--how unreliable are
J politicians, must be the conclusion of old Rough
and Ready, when he conlemplates the enthusias-
tic support of certain presses and politicians,
pledged to him in one moon, and in the next to re.
ceive the cold shoulder, and in the following, a
direct and fat refusal 10 support him not because
The glory of his victories on the Rio Granie have
lost their us,re, for that is imperishable-n be.
cause he has shown less patriotism since the bat
tie of Buena Vista, than he did on that famous
feld-not because it has been discovered that his
abilities unequal to the task of welding the helm
of State, for i. has been discovered that he writes
his own dispatches, and had been the best Judge
Advocate in the Army. Not for any of these
reasons, but because he will, in no case permit
himself 10 be made the party hack of those rery dis
interested politicians.
When Gen. Taylor was first brought out, these
"very dlsnterested friends" proclaimed him good
enough whg for them. They kne,c his politics
he was the greatest whig of the ge, and no praise
could be sung IN high enough key. in honor Of
their champion.
heaIns OF paper we're written away in letters
commendaory of his great achieyements-hs
high palrotIsm--his worth as public man. He
was put up as the " peoples candidate" for the
Presidency, In their papers, but he was requested
pr'rdely' to subscribe TO their party discipline.-
AT last. in responding TO so many letters, he Ut
tered sentiment which was at va rance with their
party arrangements-at war with their schemes.
and promised them no reward for their Jealous
support.
Gen. TayIor's best disciplined troops at Buena
''S'a could not =" retreat and " take another po-
sItIon' when they discovered that they had ava.
kencd up host, more than they could contend
against, better, than did these same disinteres,ed
politicians.
1t IS not our intention to take up much sDace
on this subject, we merely give one of Gen. Tav.
Iors letters and some extracts from whig papers.
which we think will suffice TO show how much re-
Iance can be placed in those politicians who took
the lead IN the support of the old Hero.
Ihe following letter 10 the editor Of the Cncin-
natl Signal, has become more celebrated and has
created more sensation in political circles East of
the Mississippi, and more CONSERVATION in the
ranks Of the wings, than did Rough and Readv's
achievmentS among the ranks of Santa Anpa's
army:
HEADQUARl ERS ARMY OF OCcUpArIoy.1
Camp near Monterey, MAY Is. 1917.
Sr:-l have the honor to acknowledue the
receipt of your letter with the enclosure of vour
editorial, extracted from the :. Signal" of tho 18th
April.
AT thus time. my public duties command 80 fuI.
~ my attention, that II IS impossible to answer
your letter in the terms demanded by lis courtesy
ana the Importance OF the sentiments to " which II
aiiudcs, neither, indeed, have | the ,imc, sb0uld
feel my self at liberty 10 enter into the few and
most general subject Of public policy slrgested
by the article in question. Nv own personal
views were better withheld till the end of the war
when my usefulness a military chief, serving
IN the held against the common enemy, shall mol
longer be compromised by their expression or dis
cusson IN any manner.
From many sources | have been addressed on
the subject of the Presidency. and do violence
nelIher TO my self nor 10 my position as an officer
OF the army. bv acknowledging to you, as | have
done 10 all who have alluded to tho use of nv
name IN this exalted conneXOn. that nv services
are ever at the will and call Of the country and
that am not prepared 10 say that shall refuse
II the country calls me TO the Presidential office
but that can and shall yield TO no call that does
not come from the spontaneous action and free
will of the nation at large, and void of the slight
est agency Of my own.
For the high homo. and responsibilities of such
an office, take this occasion to say that have
not the slightest aspiration; much more ira nuul
and satisfactory life, after the termination of ~,
present duties. awaits me, trust, in the society
OF my family and particular friends, and in the
occupations most congenaI to my wishes. In no
case can permit myself to be The candidate of anu
party or yield myself 10 party schemes.
With these remarks. trust you will pardon me
for thus briefly replying 10 you, which | do with
a high opinion and approval of the sentiments and
views embraced in your editorial.
With many wishes for your prosperity in life.
and groat usefulness in the sphere in,whc your
talents and eXertons are embarked | beg to ac.
knowledge myself, most truly and respectfully,
your obedient servant,
L. TAYLOR, Maj. Gen. U. S. A.
JAS W. TAYLOR, Esq, Cincinnati, Ohio,
When the above letter was published. it was de-
nounced by the selfconsttuled and disinterested
friends of Gen. Taylor, as a base forgery. The
"NalionaL Whg." tie peculiar organ of the Tay.
or party. proclaimed the letter forgery and de.
Dounccd Its contents as 50 silly twaddle" Other