Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1848-09-09
TO THE SOUTHERN STATES.
MICHIGAN, AUGUST %, ls4s

MICHIGAN, AUGUST 70, 1915.
II is proper, in matter of such transcendant inn
portance the election OF President of the Unit
ed States, that every section of the Union should
distinctly understand what it has to expect from
the candidate in whom it is invoked TO repose lis
confidence.
Various circumstances may constitute the basis
of faith and trust. The local residence of cand-
date, his identity OF property and interest with he
people among whom he resides. the integrity and
stability of his character, sufficient, without any
specific pledges, 10 authorize implicit reliance on
his principles and his action in his executive ca
pacity.
Vaciation of opinion, on the contrary, change
Of views and votes, support OF measure one day,
opposition to il the next, justify the CONCLUSION that
the interests committed 10 the person, whose pub
lie course is marked by such inconsistency, are
placed in unsafe hands. Intirmity OF purpose,
timidity Of action, disregard OF consistency, super
induced by unworthy ambition, are not the suitable
and fit characteristics of President of the United
States.
You must not suffer yourselves TO be deceived by
name The word Democracy" has always fas-
cnated the imaginatons and almost universally
governed the political actions OF large portion OF
the people of these United States. But il is not
the word. it is the reality that constitutes its charm.
Freedom Of opinion, equality of civil and political
ture, light taxes, whether imposed upon importa-
lions or home property are among the best prnci-
Piles of sound Democratic Government. But, place
Government in the hands of man who merely
processes this creed, whose every movement eXhl-
bits the practical reverse of these features OF Anne
rican Democracy, and who sustalns or resists inca
sures as they may tend 10 elevate or depress the
aspirations of his ambition and the essence of the
principle, so attractive to aRepublican, vanishes
from our hopes, and is mingled and lost in the tran
sient expediency and policy of the day.
You have, fellow citizens, before you three can
didates for the Presidency. Mr.. VAN buren, has
accepted the nomination from new-iangled party,
called the 81 Free Soil y men. made up of Adolf
tionists and Wilmot-proviso- Democrats and Wings.
No Southern State can extend TO him lis support,
j.. particularly as Mr.. VAN buren, expressly approves
and sanctions these principles.
General TAYLOR, another candidate, was made
So at first, by meetings Of the People, without par
" discrimination. He had no aspirations for the
office. He was more astonshed than any one else
al the suggestion of his nomination. He was in
the ienied-teld, amidst the most trying events of
the war, ardenty devoted TO his military duties and
determined as far the exertion of his best Ia
tents would enable him, 10 cover the arms of his
country with success and glory, and 10 bring the
Mexican War 10 a speedy and honorable close.
u y
race distinguished for its republican principles, as
well as for It's bravery and responsibility. His ia
my his property, his domicil, are Southern. He
has an unusual degree of common sense, sound
Judgment a discriminating mind and degree of
resolution, stability, and iirmness unsurpassed He
Is Republican in manners, habit, sentiment As
a citizen, no Roman was ever more remarkable for
stern integrity and patriotism. As commanding
General, no Roman ever more uniformly or
glorously successful. As man of honor, he is no
less distinguished.
Gen. TAYLOR, in reply TO all the letters address
ed 10 him concerning the Presidency, has declared
that he would, if elected, administer .he Govern
menl according TO the strict principles of the Con-
stitution, and for the benefit of the whole People
of the United States. He could not object to his
nomination by any set Of his fellow-citizens. He
had accepted the nomination Of many primary
semblies, some Democratic, some Wing, some ire
spective Of party. He accepted the nomination
made by the Philadelphia Convention, L" and would
have accepted the nomination OF the Baltimore
Convention, had it been rendered on the same
terms, without requiring party pledges from him.
Gen. TAYLOR has, in all his correspondence, SUBJ
siantially, uniformly and consistently said that he
would not go into the Presidency trammelled with
pledges. He" is not party candidate. and if elect.
ed, cannot be the President Of party but the Pre-
Sluent OF me UHOfe cope Vi the united States.
Does the South ask for any other than a frank,
honest, and firm candidate, pledged to administer
the Government according TO the strict principles of
the Federal Constitution II she does not, Gen.
TAYLOR cannot fail to command her confidence.
lie has d" combination and soul, indeed,
"Where every god does seem to set his seal,
To give the word assurance Of MAN"
Gen. CAss is the third candidate. He has re.
ceived the Baltimore nomination, and is baptized a.
the nominee Of the Democracy. But it is only in
name. The proceedings Of the Convention were
irregular. South Carolina had no legitimate dele.
gates in that body. A single individual, assuming
10 represent a single district in the State, al
lowed by the Convention TO usurp the power o.
casting the whole Of the votes Of South Carolina
The Convention excluded the delegates Of the lar
gest State in the Union, in the worst and most in
suitng form in which such exclusion could have
been made. The Convention violated the cardina
principle Of Democracy by requiring two-thirds in
stead Of majority TO make the nomination.
The Convention laid down platform Of princi
pies, Of which Gen. Ckss said in his letter Of &C
ceptance, that he adhered to them as firmly as b.
approved them cordially,
Let US now see what this Baltimore platform i
as regards the peculiar institutions Of the South
The following is the principal resolution there
adopted touching this subject
oil" Rssoired That Congress has no power under the