Iowa capitol reporter. [volume] (Iowa City, Iowa) 1841-1855, 1847-06-23


PAUL BRATTAIN,
OF VAN buren,.
Gen. TaylOr's Politics.
Our readers will recollect that some
weeks since, in an article upon the subject
Of Gen. Taylor's nomination for the mex
Presidency by the federal party, we pro.
pounded to the wing journals Of this State
who had with such infinite self.compla.
cency decked their necks with his collar
few pertinent interrogatories with re.
ference to his political sentiments. Among
the queries then put to them, they were
particularly requested tc inform the pub
lie whether old Rough and Ready was .
bank or an anti-bank, high tariff or free
trade man, in favor OF, or opposed to, the
Independent Treasury System.
These being the main leading questions
Of national policy which divide the two
great parties of the day, it is the height Of
presumption in party 10 present can
didate for the Chief Mayistracy and call
upon the people to rally to his political
standard, without informing them as TO his
views upon these questions, or giving them
the least clue to the policy by which, il
elected, his administration will be guided,
upon subjects so deeply affecting the pub
lie welfare. In this respect the Taylor
move is but another instance Of tho ex-
ceedingIy low estimate placed upon the
popular intelligence,by the arrogant, bloat-
cd votaries of federal whiggery, whose
hopes Of self aggrandizement are all based
upon the supposed ignorance and gsllibil.
ity Of the people. 1t bears upon its very
face. in bold relief, an assumption that the
great mass Of the American people are dee.
titute Of any real principle and incapable
of rejecting upon the tendency Of public
measures-that, wanting the capacity, sell
reliance and independence to think and &C.
for themselves, the people will promptly
respond to the hurrah raised for militia.
~ hero BY ambitious spoils hunters, and
with one accord unite in calling him
to the executive chair, without once stop
ping to inquire into his principles and ut.
terly regardless Of the consequences which
may result to the national prosperity.
Though some six weeks have elapsed
since we put forth these enquiries, not one
word has the opposition press of this State
vouchsafed in reply, beyond general asser-
lions, without proof, that Gen. Taylor was
ga good Wing" The term wbie," BE-.
ing the assumed name Of the federal party,
has become altogether perverted from its
original Specification. As substitute for
the term Fsderalist, or more properly, in
view ofthe position of our opponents with
reference to the war, federal Tory, its sig
MITIGATION is fixed and its application well
understood. But when we take into con-
sideration ell the various uses to which,
since being stolen by the enemies Of pop
ular rights, the term whig has been applied,
it has much more comprehensive signifi-
cation. In its application to Gen. Taylor,
for instance, it signifies man who has be-
come popular by his successful prosecu-
tion of the war which they condemn and
abhor-who is, therefore, an available cam
didate for the Presidency, and who, in er-
der to secure them the spoils of office,
will permit himself to be used as their
candidate for the Presidency. In this case
the term wing is not intended to denote
the political sentiments of Gen. Taylor
The federalists pronounce him "a good
whig" merely because they fondly hope
to make him answer good purpose for
the wing party. If they elect him, they
reason to themselves, he will be their man,
and although, ar in the case of Jno. Tyler,
they may previously disappointed in the
policy Of his administration, yet they will
be secure Of place and power in his cabi-
net and Of the numerous Offices within
the gift Of the President.
But the symptoms of opposition 10 this
move on the part Of many Of the more
conscientious Of theiwhig journals in the
neighboring States, together with the evil
dent wavering on the part Of some Of those
who wore FIRST in raising the Taylor flag,
would seem to indicate that there is con.
adorable portion ofthe wing party not J ct
wholly lost 10 all sense Of dencency and
consistency. In fact, it is now quite OBJ
yious that Il this measure be forced upon
the rank and Gle of that party, it will pro.
duoe rupture IN the North which CANNOT
be hsaisc, and viii result in the complete
overthrow of all the darling schemes ofthe
federal leaders. The Webster mission,
400, is producing its elect; though the