Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1848-08-10


the fundamental principle of the Wing platform
of Vermont, and of the free States, by nearly all
of which they have been adopted.
And did understand the convention, when
considered this fundamental principle as an I'M
perati0c instruction to your delegates? Had
then asked your Instructions shall | sustain the
nomination of candidate who will sign a Bill
or Treaty for the further acquisition of Mexican
Territory, and who will veto any bill containing
the WiImot Provso, what would have been your
answer! That case is now presented to you.
The single ground upon which | shall rest
my refusal to give in my adhesion to the nomi-
nation as a sufficient justification, is this, that
had no evidence that General Taylor would OPP
pose the further acquisition of Mexican Terri
tory, or that he would not veto bill containing
the principles of the WiImot Proviso- other suf
fcient reasons | shall notice as forming part
OF the grounds of my uncomprising hostility to
his election on the contrary, did and do be.
lieve, and have good grounds for believing,
that Gen. Taylor is in favor of further acquisi.
ton of Mexican Territory, and will veto any bill
that contains the principles of the Wilmot Pro-
viso.
But here will dispose Of position that meets
me at the threshold, That by conserving to go
into convention, the Wings Of Vermont were alb.
solutely bound to support the nominee of the
convention without regard to their or his poiti.
cal principles; and that the Wings were bound
by the act of their conventions, and the delegates
as their agents, were bound to give in their ad
heson-so that the Wings of Vermont are bound
to support the nominee, though he might be hos
tile to every principle of the Wing platform
ty English, it is this, give US the loves and fish.
es and we will surrender every principle of the
Wing platform.
Thus far did hold myself bound to sur
render all questions of mere preference or of per.
sonal objections, to the decision Of the majority
and thus far | was prepared to go; but vital
principle will never surrender to party expedi-
ency. This deem a sufficient answer But |
shall recur to the subject again.
Twill now examine the grounds put forth-lst,
for belief that Taylor is opposed to the further
acquisition of Mexican territory, and I'd, that he
will not veto a Bill containing the principle Of
the Wmot provso
| remark here that by the ratification of the
Mexican Treaty-the issue of 'no Mexican ter
ritory" is changed to 'no more Mexican territory
and that the Wmot proviso becomes applicable
to all territory acquired by that Treaty. But i
we had acquired no territory of Mexico, the Will
mot Proviso could have had no application tt
Mexican Territory; on that, the Wings of the
North and South had, as a compromise, agreed
To show that Taylor is opposed to the furthe
acquisition of Mexican territory, the following
passage from his Alison letter of 22d April las
is quoted
"The principles of our Government, as well as it
true policy, is opposed to the subugaton of other ma
tons and the Reimbursement Of other nations by
quest. In the language of the great Washington -
Why should we quit our own, to stand on foreg
ground In the Mexican war our national honor ha
been vindicated; and indicating terms of peace W
may well afford to be forbearing and even magnanin
Gus to a fallen foe"
This shows merely that he was opposed to th
acquislon of territory by conquest only. But a
to acquisition las indemnity) by treaty of peac
as to hOw much territory,-we should be forbeal
ing and magnanimous, he leaves open.
In opposition to even this feeble inference,
place before you the following evidence. quot
7 from Mr.. Botts's Address of the Both Marcel
l848, to the '0hO5su Uhig party efthe Unite
: StdtcS,' '&ia
& "In the Convention, and in my Address, aske
what General Taylors opinions upon the great
absorbing question Of the Mexican war? Is he f
the absorption and annexation of Mexico? Is he for
u defensive line and indemnify or is he against the
o QUESTION of Territory?
o Fortunately, before this leap in the dark Is take
[ have the means of answering the question, whit
l. must be taken conclusive, until the denial com
from his own pen.
"a short time since, the Legislature of Mississp
appointed a committee to wait on Gen. Taylor, and i
" vlte him to Jackson, 1.-THE seat of government of Miss
sippl,) to parake ofthe hospitaes of the State. r
n of extraordinary character reached my ears
Id to the nature Of the conversation reported by tn
to committen to have taken place with Gen. Taylor
the subject of the Tariff and the War; At my i
IL stance member of Congress from Mississippi adore
Is sed letter to the chairman of that committee to asce
or tain precisely what was said. Here is his answer:
C, Z In regard to the conversation had with Gener
to Taylor, have to say we did not talk on the Tariff,
did on the War He expressed himself IN FAVOR
!, THE WAR; he said HE WAS DECIDEDLY IN FAVOR
>, PROSECUTING VIGOROUSLY, Till they should yield
:, honorable peace: HE WAS FOR INDEMNITY cERTAI
u, and THAT TERRITORIAL; was not welded to any Ii
OF particularly but though pehaps as kind of comp
m mise with the Wlmot provso men, we had bettor
st up to the 32deg. making the Rio Grande the the
ern boundary u? to that degree, and said the Sor
10 should never agree to the Wilmot provlso; athou
ne ulQ not DeleVe uleTc WOulu ever U6 slavery tue
yet if the country acquired, the citizens should
re left free on that subject He SAYS ALL Mexico WI
EVENTUALLY COME INTO OUR GOVERNMENT BY
a GREEs THAT IT CANNOT BE AVOIDED. On the st
he ect of politics. he said he no politicians had be
te theefourhs of his life in the army devoted his ii
and mind to that service, and had paid but little ate
" ton to any thing else.'
do "This Mr.. Bolts continues is all Of the letter Il
~ relates to General Taylor on political subjects"
ch "By the foregoing, them it appears that Gen. Ia
NO lor is in favor Of prosecuting The ,Oar vigorously
m, claiming indemnify certain and although welded
iii no particular line, yet he goes into the President
al chair, if elected, undcra full and solemn coavicOn
by degrees the aOhoe Of Mtrico must come into our g
% eminent, and that cannot be aUOided-The presun
an ton is fair that he will not resist it. Let no
Ot position be made to the vigorous prosecution OF
of by Mr. Polk, the part of those who still ms
he upon the election of Gen. Taylor Let no more les
as lance be made to the indemnity, by territorial ocq
ston on the part ofthose who still advocate his CLAIR
m Let no more camor be raised against 'manes des
W ny" leading to the absorption and humiliation of Nj
u.s. ico when the conservative Wing party of this coun
ate shall have selected as their chief magistrate wh
- whose agency and will it can never be accomplish
te one who believes it cannot be avoided, and will
h therefore resist it. Let those go for him who may
these are his opinions, know not how he can 90
Ne that office by any agency ofmine. know notho