The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1847-12-25

General Taylor and the Presidency.
The question of the next Presidency Is begin
ming to agitate the whole country, and has
reached Washington, to very considerable ex-
tent Great enquiry is making from all quar-
tiers, as to the state OF the question among
the members of Congress- We have procured
from private sources there, as near, as close, an
approximation to the state OF opinion among
the members of both houses, on this subject, as
possible. This curious table, and other stalls
ties in relation to the next Presidency, VIII be
found in this days journal, attrlbuting to the
members views and opinions, according to their
particular predictions. No doubt many errors
have been committed. IT is our wish to have these
tables as correct as possible; and any member
feeling himself ggrieved, may have 1t corrected,
by stating his exact position. The result OF this
curious investigation, made at Washington dur
ing the last three weeks, will be found In another
column, at length The aggregate distribution
of both houses is estimated as follows:-Taylor,
60; Clay, 80; Polk, 81; Van Buren,. Al; Cass, Y;
Buchanan, 20; Abolition, 5; Scott, ~; Dallas,
8, John Quincy Adams, for nobody, l.
The position of General Taylor, OF all
others, is the most novel, interesting, and
important, both at Washington and through
out the country. The history of the move
ments relative to him, a candidate, Is
fraught with the seeds of the future.
After the two battles fought by him-the
frat al Palo Alto and the next at Resaca de Ia
palma-the name of General Taylor was first
connected with the Presidency in the columns
of this journal. But his pretensions or pros
poets did not create much noise until after the
splendid battles of Monterey and Buena VISTA
From that time, the name OF Taylor was re-
ceiyed, both in the South and IN the southwest,
and in many central parts OF the republic, with
intense admiration and pleasure. Newspapers
came out and there were, probably, fifty, sixty,
or eighty journals, throughout the country,
south and southwest, in his favor at one time
for the Presidency
The friends of Mr.. Calhoun in the South and
the Southwest, were the first to launch forth IN
this movement, probably from similarity OF
opinions between that illustrous statesman ana
General Taylor. The friends OF Mr.. Clay were
the next to come forth In favor OF Gen. Taylor.
The movements ofthe people at large on the SUBJ
,ect were of such a character that the politicians
began to stir their stomachs, and letters were ad-
dressed to General Taylor upon everything con-
stitutional and unconstitutional, down to the
roasting of eggs The old hero OF Buena Vista,
although entertaining the opinions OF all mode
rate men, denied the right OF these persons to
catechise him, and left them unanswered. Ihls
was the thing that most of those politicians de-
sired, and universally they made 1t the ground
work of effacing the prospects of ''Old Rough
and Ready" But 1t was up hill work
The friends of Mr. Clay, in Kentucky, begun
the game, and commenced a secret movement,
by the issue of private circulars from the other
eide of the mountains, which resulted IN the
demonstration made at Lexington The move
ment of Mr.. Clay's friends was to put them
selves in a position to get the influence
OF General TAYLOR; but failing in that, Mr..
Clay will be Withdrawn whenever the lay
Tor excitement has reached its proper height.
Van Buren, and the other candidates tor the
Presidency, seeing this stir, endeavored to un-
earth themselves, and come forth 10 the field on
the occasion. Matters remain, at the present
moment in this position. General Taylor, by
recent letter, positively declares, that ne is still
a candidate for the Presidency, II the people so
desire it, General Taylor, therefore, can De
taken out of the field, and we have no doubt that
his sentiments on the great questions Of the uay'
will be equally as patriotic-as constitutional
es any need desire or care for
From information we have received, his opln-
ions on the tariff, slavery, the war with Mexico,
and it's termination, will be sufficiently patriotic
and practical to meet the APPRECIATION OF the
American people. More than any other man
aimee the time of Washington, is General Tdy-
lor simple IN his manners and determined In
his principes-clear in his objects, and patriotic
in his intentions The fame and popularity OF
General Jackson broke aown the corrupt Con-
eressonal caucuses; and we have no doubt that
the national conventions which have given US
such small men as Van Buren,, Tyler, and Polk,
will also be broken up In similar way, by the
manif- station Of General Taylor, the most po-
pulsr man of the present day, and who 80 signal
lied himself in the fields of Mexico.
With this view of the matter, and the forces Of
= General Taylor numberingsome thirty journals
throughout the country withthree State conven-
tlons called TO nomiu ate him-wlth sixty, eighty
or probably one hundred members of Congress
in his favorlt is right that the people should
rouse up throughout the Union, and thus give an
impulse TO the popular movement that may yet
overwhem all opposition. There is no necessity
or a national convention 1t is only necessary fo
the people TO settle the question: each in thel
own state, by state convention, 10 Rominat
-,ais .Ieelsral ticket. Before hs tegmgstoa q