Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1847-05-18
lOND, VA TUESDAY MORNING, MAY 1s ls47.
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For Tie Enquirer
GEN. TAYLOR AND THE PRESIDENCY.
you have lost" said Saturninus on The day
of his elevation, "Yop have lost a useful COM
mander, and you have made vely wreiched en-
peror."-[Gibbons Rome, vol. |, p. ISL.
In late Richmond Enquirer, The following
editorial paragraph occurs:
IA gentleman in this city, who was with Gen.
Taylor on The Rio Grande last auumn assures
US that ne knows Cen. Taylors opinions 10 be
an,agonistc 10 those of The Wings particularly
upon The question o! The Tariff. The Wings, on
The other hand, declare emphaicay that Gen.
1. is lhorough-going Henry Clay Whis;' was
opposed 10 The annexation Of Texas, and that in
every respect, he harmonizes in political senli-
ment with The Wing parry. Again-Gen. T.
mas been nominated as their candidate BY the
Natiyists, and The letter given above is said 10
proceed from the same source"
While this diversity oil opinion as L. General
Taylor's political position seems to prevail, we
desire 10 address a lew remarks 10 the patriotic
and rejecting men OF all parties. We believe
| that The election OF Gen. Taylor, under The cir
cumsiances, by any or all Of The antagonist par
ties, would be the first step in an alarming pro.
gTess, and an imposing sense OF duty prompts US
10 raise even our voice in feeble admonition.
If Gen. Taylor should be elected, il cW he Tie
&rst instance, Ill The history Of this Republ,c of
President taken from The a,my Washington,
Jackson and Harrison had, it is true, auained
The first grades in The army; bur they had all
retired from the army long before their nc
minalion 10 the Presidency. Each OF them
had attained high rank as civilians. Wash
ington, before he was made ommander-in.chief,
had displayed 81 much craftsmanship in The
| al tbalh at hi,
Patrick Henry 10 be The first man in that body.
jackson had filled The highest political and judi
cial Offices in Tennessee, and had been elevated
to The U. S. Senate. Harrison, besides holding
Stale Offices in Ohio, had served in both Houses
OF the U. 8. Congress. The military career OF
| these men was upon The Roman model. Cincin-
nalus-ikc, they leiI the plough, when their conn-
lTy required their service and returned 10 il when
he emergency was over Civic pursuits were
abandoned al The first approach OF national dan
&c. they were resumed al us departure. Mill
laIy experience completed and adorned the char
| acieT OF The salesman.
| Washington held military commission dur
| ing most Of The period Of the French and Indian
difficultie. from 1851 to 49, He then resigned
served number Of years in the Virginia House
| vi Bursesses and again in IT'S received q mill
larry appointment from Congress. This he held
| until he close ol the Revolution in 1888. His
whole service, during both periods, was Tor less
than fifteen years. Jackson went 10 Tennessee
as State Solicitor, and filled nearly all the high
| civil offices lie Stale. He was the first Rep
resenlaliye OF Tennessee in the House OF Repre-.
senlatives and also represented that Stale in The
| U. S. Senate. From the Senate he was transfer
red 10 the Supreme Cocrl of Tennessee. After
/ the commencement al The war with England, he
loined The U. S. army with The rank Of Major Ge-
Il al md oil a a n n
war in 1877. IIe was again elected 10 the u. S
Senate, and retired from that station when nom
mated for The Presidency His whole service in
the u. S. army was for less Than five years vi &C.
tua hard fighting. Harrison's military career
was We believe, still shorter, as he resigned be-
tore The close OF The war.
Gen. Taylor has, We Understand, been IN The
army about tory years. He must have gone in
when n mere boy llis whole lille has been ey-
clusivcy devoted 10 the military profession. lie
is ci,iy known IL he public Az an officer o. The
army. aud never has been known in any other
character. lis habits, sentiments and sympa-
lhes must be those OF The army, and OF The army
only. His attention, so far as we are informed
has never been devoted 10 political affiirs-in
deed the public prints slate that he has never
| even cast his vote since G..n. Jackson WIS before
lie people some fifteen or twenty years ago! tie
iis-tci nuJrn IruiitiI uncr, nuI even seat
! piise-woTse lis il not matter 81 alarm 10 con-
sideraIe men, thai such man should be eagerly
| put forward for tile INST and most responsible
civil station in The Republic? Do not the calcu-
latuns OF these political srcculalois indicate an
unhealthy condition OF public senIimentl When
The nation begins 10 look thus exclusively 10 The
army and army qualifications 'oI is highest civil
offices, have we not already taken our frs, step
upon that highway, which is whened with the
scpulchres Of former Republics
We do not desire 10 be understood for mo-
mept as contendng that success in The held de-
tracts from The merit OF The civilian. On the
contrary, We regard il as high recommendation.
! There is nothing noble. Than 10 see man who
possesses every qualification 10 attain The first
rank as statesman, deserving, al the call oil pat
rolsm. The even tenor OF his civic pursuits, and
exposing himsefto The tolls and dangers Of mill
tary life He thus affords the highest evidence 81
patriotic feeling, while his military experience
strengthens al the same lime that il aGorns his
civil character. When his services in The field
arc no longer needed, ne returns 10 his former
mode OF life, with character toned and braced,
Without being mhued with the sentiments and
prejudices of the mere professional soldier. Thus
was with the first characters oil The ancient Re-
publics Thus il was with Washington and
Jackson. They had been first IN peace, as well
as first in war, b-lore they became first in The
| hearts OF their connIrymen.
But we do most earnestly protest against mere
military reputation. without any evidence OF pu.
Iitical experience or civil genius being constituted
a passport 10 the highest civil office in The Re-
public. The military profession is loo ereinsius,
10 qualify lis members tor political service under
Republican institutions. Separated by every
sort OF distinction from the body Of his fellow
citizens pursuing 4 mode OF life peculiar 10 his
| II. IL ~ n.r;n hoh nd q
totally foreign 10 those o! the community, The
army officer can have little or no sympathy with
the great body OF the people. Social equality is
the vital principle OF Republican Government.
| Ii is not, as supeIh fetal observers are fond OF
declaimng, mere qualification Of popular
tastes Il is The great vivifying principle that
suslains the political system. is social equality
that educales Republican statesmen for Republi.
can service. A constitution would Dot be worth
the parchment upon which il is ensrcssed u II were
not administered by men educated in It's spirit -
| His business and social relations so intimately
connect almost every man in this country, with
every class of the people, that his character ne
cessarily receives lis general tone and bias from
that Of the community OF which he is member
! By This mutual contact and a,trlon, certain
uniformity of feeling and opinion, is communca-
| led 10 all classes. The statesman thus prepared
enters public life, perfectly acquainted with the
character OF his fellow citizens and deeply imbu.
ed with popular sympahies. To such, and TO
such only, can the administration of Republican
institutions be safely entrusted Every body
knows that these advantages are not 10 be expec.
led in the army officer. He is segregated from
the peope-he has no permanent home associa-
ton with any portion Of his coun'rymen. His
professional intercourse is aways upon an eslab-
iished order, in which he constantly looks up 10
some one as his superior, or down upon some one
as his inferior. His manner OF life does not ena-
tle him 10 acquire any very extensive intimate
acquaintance with The people al large. Habilua
regard 10 the Fictitious distinctions OF rank must
of necessity, give an ant-rerublican direction tc
his character. OF course these remarks can have
a Just application 10 those only, who have devoted
their lives 10 The military profession. Thai
mode Of life may be admirably calculated &c
form good soldiers, but il is the worst of all pos
sible schools for Republican statesmen.
But sci ous as are these objections, there are
others OF still greater moment. An oitcer en-
toying an actual command in The army is brought
forward for the Chief Executive office! There
fortunately preyaiis throughout this country