Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1847-05-28

The Democratic Advocate oil Baton Rouge,
(iEe place Of General Taylors residence,) which
may be supposed Of course well acquainted with
General Taylors opinions, gives the following
account OF them:
Our contemporaries are dispuling about Gen.
Iaylors politics. There need be no difficulty on
this point: Gen. Taylor gave his last vote Tor
Gen. Jacsson-he would have voted for Henry
Clay, al The late election, because lie personally
esteemed and admired him as statesman, and
because ne was opposed 10 the annexation OF
Texas, on constitutional grounds. Gen. Taylor
says ne belongs 10 no party, but is called Wing.
Gen. 1. thought The war with Mexico could and
ought 10 have been avoided. We are satisfied il
is annoying the old General TO hear of his no..
mination Tor The Presidency. But of one thing
We can assure our Democratic friends, Gen. T..
is no Democrat; and will say furlher--we be-
lieve ne would never ask question in appointing
men 10 office, as 10 their politics; but his mea-
sures would not harmonic well with the late and
present Democratic Aministraton-save on HE
Tariff"
These remarks, if intended 10 clearup, "by au-
thorily," the mystery OF Gen. Taylor's politics,
cerianly fall far shoIt OF the mark They but
serve 10 make The matter still darker than before.
They show that, on some points, he agrees with
The Wings and on another Ohe Tariff, The great
matter in issue between the Two parties his OPT
Mons tally with those Of The Democratic parry
II he be no Democrat, he certainly cannot be
claimed as full-booded Wing, if the above
statement be lrue-for the Tariff OF 1876 and the
Independent Treasury are The only issues liable
TO be discussed during the approaching campaign.
The Wing Taylor press are therefore placed
in most ridiculous position by their eager haste
10 run up The flag of General Taylor. BY elect
ing him, they must avow their cordial assent 10
the Democratic policy OF Revenue Tariff,
which they have hitherto assailcd with all their
party bitterness; or, il they are homes, enough 10
stand up for principles, they must whistle down
The wind their once available" Ffee-rade cand-
date with the same zeal with which they pushed
him into the political arena ignorant and reckless
as they were of The peculiar complexion OF his
political opinions.
We deem ii proper 10 refer, in this connexion,
10 The proceedings OF Taylor meeting in Nash
vile, Tennessee upon which much stress has
been laid, from the fact Of two prominent De-
mocrats, A. Ewing and K. B. Turner, having
part in il. From the resolutions adop.ed and the
speeches delivered, we arrive at the conclusion,
that Genera! Taylor was recommended; hut with
the distinct understanding that, il he should
prove 10 be a Democrat, The Wings would not
support him; and ii he should be ;un as The
Wing candidate, the Democrats would be at
liberty 10, and would leave him. An extract from
Mr.. Ewngs speech will define the position Of
the Democrats who participated in the meeting :
"ItGen. Taylor is 50 strongly imbued with anti
palhics 10 the Tariff Of 1916 and The Independent
Treasury as 10 denounce them in advance, and
insist on their repeal or modification absolutely,
then, whatever may be his personal quaihca-
lions, or The dangers arising from party organiZa-
ion 4: nil axrer grcc,re mn support. | have
fought for these principles in by gone years, and
their success has been my chict solace amid the
fierce Gin Of party conflict, and The bitter shame
o. i's layorilism and corruption. Thy haze 6c'n
Dcnlocraiic brethren, and can ncrer De uiclled,
cre in. The tace of oresthrop and defent. His pop
uarity may oyeIwhelm US. but we will fall slrug-
Cling in their defence and with our faces 10 The
Toe. II may be, however, that Gen. Taylor is will
ling TO give these measures (Which are now in
operalon) a fair lrial-he may be willing,
even il he doubts their e1pcdiency, To test
their merits by Iime-to give the whole coun-
uy an opportunity of determining by expert.
ence what system is most preferable. Il may
be that he is willing TO act tor the whole coun-
try-to heal all party dissensions--io administer
the constitution and laws in their true spirit,
and in fine to become the President Of The ardoic
iand. Should such be his feelings (and ear
nesly trust in heaven they may be) then my
whole heart and soul is pledged to his support /;
every energy OF body and mind that may be ne
cessary TO ensure his success shall be freely de-
voed and if al any time, upon lair test OF The
merits Of the Independent Treasury and Tariff Of
1876, one or both of them should prove injurious
10 the Interests OF the country, will freely join in
repeating the first or modifying The last. No
party association shall influence me 10 cling 10
measure when fully apprsed of its evil effects
all such unholy prejudices shall be sacIllced
on the altar Of my country. These, then. fellow
citizens, are my views, and this is my position
will advocate The nomination and election Of
Gen. Taylor until his opinions or his acts shall
so clearly conflict with my ideas OF justice TO The
great interests Of The country as 10 demand Sc
paralion. Should such a necessity unfortunate
~ occur, we shall part as we have met with nc
hostility TO him personally but with stern de,
termination 10 abide the worst that digrace and
defeat can inhict, rather than submit 10 sacries q
principle"
After these explanations, Thomas T. Smiley,
Wing, addressed the meeting, and congratulated
the Wings that two such prominent Democrats
had shown willingness TO ground their arms
and go over 10 The Wing ranks, 10 aid in The
election of General Taylor. This inference was
promptly and earnestly denied by both The gen
tIemen referred TO, who again declared that
with all their admiration for General Taylor, they
never could support him, il he was run as a can
didate opposed to the present Tariff and lnte
pendent Treasury, or in favor OF a National
Bank, or if he was taken up as the Wing can
dida,e Mr.. Smiley afterwards declared that che
could not vote for General Taylor, unless he as
cerlained him TO be good Wing"
The Nashville Wing commenting upon these
proceedings, contends that General Taylor may
be supported by both parties 'citaout any depar
tire from principle. Our conclusion is directly The
reverse-for at The meeting i, seemed TO be dis
tinc,ly understood that the Wings would aban'
don General Taylor il he turned out 10 be De-
mocrat and the Democrats would mol susla ir
him If he proved 10 be a Wing. As ial
then as the meeting indicated public senl
mpnt, il amounted 10 nothing. Both parties
left il as they came, resolved to supper, no man
who did not carry out their respective principles
The idea tina, both parties can support Gen. TaY'
Tor Tor President "wilhout any departure iron
principle" is one Of The most remarkable para
doxes Of the day. The differences between The
Two parties are loo deeply laid, 10 allow such al
ulopian compromise. We can scarcely believe
,ba, the people OF The United States can be calet
upon to vote for Gen. Taylor, unless they are ex
pliciIly informed as 10 his political sentiments
and we cannot therefore, look forward 10 The can
vass with any expectation Of seeing him voted
for as ",he peoples candidate" without dlscns
sion of political principles. II, however, such
political inlerregnums should come about, and Gen
Taylor be elevated TO the Presidency as mo
party man." will not this very event be com
vl,,. eradication NJ The great measures Of Demo