Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1847-05-18


The army which Gen. Taylor now or shortly
will command is nearly as numerous as The
PIe;orian Guard. which spor;ed with The purple
oil imperial Rome.s
Another consideration is equally alarming. II
is we'll known how much in our political srug-
giles the passions OF coniending parties are ex-
cited. elimination and recrimna,ion are the
order of the day. The most reprehensbe
practices are mutually charged. In close con-
lest, neither party will admit itself fairly beaten,
but each will always attribute its defeat TO The
practice Of the most outrageous fraud. We refer
Tor illustration, 10 The Presidential elections Of
1910 and "A. Could we expect general, al The
head OF an enthusiastic army, 10 submit quietly
10 what he could easily be persuaded 10 think was
fraudulent and illegal releclion7 There being
no tribunal 10 which an investigation can be re-
ierred, The election could only be contested by VIC
lence. An abduction plu,," II rather more Sc
rious character than that OF which We heard in
1910, would BE- readily devised and attempted
We drop HE curtain over The melancholy specta-
Gle.
Ifmiliiary success is 10 be made the controlling
test, and one party goes 10 The army for It's candi
date, the other in sheer self-dcfence must be dri
ven TO the same Thing. While one party seizes
upon Gen. Taylor, The other may take up Gen.
Twiegs. Each candidate will have his party in
The army, as well as among The people The
disastrous feet Of such 4 state oil things upon
the discipline Of The troops and The cooperation
OF different commands is 100 obvious 10 need
comment. But this is nol the worst. The army
is divided into parties. The heat OF political
warfare animates ether division. Men, with
arms in their hands, have never yet been content
with war OF words. The first blow is quickly
given. Each party among the people naturally
Sfr} sfe ;e., - ~ nd he
intestine struggle terminates in military despo-
tisml When Inc influence OF Ihe army is once
Introduced into political affairs, il soon becomes
supreme. We content ourselves with referring
lo The history OF Mexico ior illustration, andleave
the Imagination OF The reader 10 trace out the de.
plorable resnlIa OF The introduction oil army inhu-
ence into our civic contests.
II successful general can always command
The Presidency, il will al any time be In the pow
er OF the Executive TO appoint his successof.-
He has only 10 involve the nation in war, ap.
point his favori,e 10 the chief command, secure
him vel appointed army, and the woIl. Is done.
However artled, said Mr.. Adams in his bio.
graphical sketch OF Mr.. Madison, written in 1886,
however startled we may be al the idea that The
Executive Chief Magistrate has The power of in
yolviDg the nation in war, even without Consult
ing Congress, an experience Of fifty years has
must have e1 ,llhe power" lie cites as an
Instance The REQ, nion Of the French Republic
and the reception oi her minister, (by Washing
TONS Adminisra.ion,) which nigh, have been
regarded acts Ct hostility BY The allied powers.
But We will not fatigue Tie reader with FUR
lher detail Of the manifold evils that necessarily
attend The success u this movement. We do
mol mean 10 contend that they all will occur du-
ring Gen. Tayor's administration, should he un-
fortunately be elected bul our knowledge Of the
character OF Gen Taylor affords no guarantee
thai they will not; tor he roth is, We know no.
hing Of him. bur mat ne is a brave and efficient
officer. II is 10 the ruinous precedent that we
now object. II, under the extreme circumsan-
ces Of this case, we elevate Gen. Taylor solely
on account Of his military qualifications We give
an irresistible prestige 10 military reputation in
ali future political contests. What is il now thai
gives nearly all This strength TO his ptetensions
but general belief in The ovcfpowering availa-
billy OF military repu,aion2 How many limid
men ale there through the country who see all
he dangers Of This movement but who yet shrink
from opposition under The conviction that then
efforts would be iruitless} How many silly men
are there who shut their eyes 10 the consequent
ces, and g. for Taylor because they hope and
expect 10 shout with The majorilyi Elect Gen.
Taylor, who is only known 10 The people in his
military character and an impulse is given 10 This
feeling which il will lie impossible, perhaps, 10
arrest. The history OF The world shows lha, The
FIRST military chieltains whom il records have
been J je' 5u iyp 81 fysJY cl
may present himself, in all the pomp OF victories, a
candidate Tor The Presidency. When the patriot
looks to The past and the rule esta blished that
military success is an allsnfticient qualification,
his energies will dronp and this ''bod, bad man,
~ ard Atr
Calhoun in the Senate, during the past Winter,
say, in his emphatic manner, that al The COM
mencement Of this war, we closed one volume OF
our national history, and commenced another;
and that, for The fast time since he had been in
public life he could not see The future. II The
early pages Of this new volume are 10 record
tins depiorable precedent, fortunate IS The eye that
never will see that iulare!
But we have 100 much confidence in the Pat.
Tiu'ism and COED sense oil our leilow-ciliz-ns 10
think that this movement will not meet with Sc
we're and meIiled rebuke. The people Of this
country will mol permit paIIizan ntliguers IL
prostitute their affections to their own dirty uses.
They will nip this evil in The bud. They will
stem The stream now, al lis fountain head, and
not permit il 10 swell into torrent They will
show 10 The world lha, this American Republic is
a Government not Of lumuluary passion, hul Of
calm, Distinguishing judgment lhey WIZ SCI
an example 10 their own posiefy teaching them
10 give their affections, without giving their bef-
lies TO he patriotic soldier. ClVIS
THE number Of the Prrlorian Guard varied from 10
10 l5,000.-lGlbbon.
Mr.. Bot $, (says the Mobile Register has been
elected 10 Congress from The Virginia metropoi-
tan district The Wilmot proviso formed one OF
the grounds OF debate between him and his opro-
nent; and The Wings oflhe district may be there
fore inferred as approving entirely the position
and pledges of Mr.. Bolts. That matter is not,
however, LEI, 10 mere inference, for the Richmond
PAPER. avowed openly that MIR. Bolts had taken
exactly the only ground which true Southern
men ought 10 take and the Advertiser OF This
civ endorses the opinion fine Richmond Wings.
We have had the curiosity TO compare the let
ter of MIR Bolts in which he announces these
opinions, with the speech OF Mr.. Wilmot him
self in favor oihis proviso; and, Tor The LIE Of Us,
we cannot perceive any PRACTICAL difference,
Which should prevent The Wings from voting Tor
Wilmot for President, il he were Wing, under
The same pledge. There is not syllable utter
ed In Mr.. Botts' Letter which is not TO be found as
distinctly 10 Sir. Wilmuls in favor Of total ahsl-
hence from Interference with ;he institution OF
t....,, hsravar II ay;atc-in favor nj tho riphf