The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1848-09-23

,bo nubIic to the extent that am an object of
interest to them,by this llihera process.
shall not weary you by an elaborate re-
ci;n of every incident connected with the
6rst pre sentation of my name rs candidate
for lie Presidency. | was then at the head
of the American army in the valley OF the
Rio Grandc. | was surrounded by wings
and Democrats, who had stood by me III the
irving hours of my life, and whom It was my
destiny TO conduct through scenes OF still
,,reo,er trial NV duty 10 that army, and TO
she Republc whose battles we were wnglng,
forbade my assuming position OF seeming
hostility TO any portion of the brave men I'M
dor NV conmand--al Of whom knew was
Wing in principle, for made no conceal
nent of my political sentiments or predilec-
tons.
Such had been the violence of party strug
Giles during our late Presidential elections,
thut the acceptance of nomination, under
the various interpretations given TO the obi
CATIONS of n candidate, presented to the pub
liz with n flrmulary of political principles,
,yns equivalent almost to n declaration Of I'M
compromsing enmity to all who did not sub
scribe to its tenets. ] was unwilling TO haz-
ard the effect OF such relationship toward any
of the soldiers under my command, when III
front ofOn enemy common to us all. IL would
have been unjust in ITSELF aud il was MS re-
pugnalt TO my own feelings MS il wns to my
duty. wanted unity in the army, and fore
bore any act that might SOW The seeds OF dis
'trnSt and discOrd in its ranks. have not my
letters written at the time before me, but
they are all ofoue import, und in conformity
with the views herein expressed.
Meanwhile was solicited by my personal
friends and by strangers, by Wings and Dem
ocrais to consent to become Il candidate. |
was nominated 10y the people in primary as
sembies-by Wings, Democrats and Natives,
in separate and mixed meetings. ! resisted
them ALL and continued TO do so till led TO
believe that my opposition was assuming the
nspect of n defiance of the popular wishes
yielded only when it looked like presump-
ton 10 resist longer, and even then | should
not have done so, had not the nomination
been presented TO me in II form unlikely to
awaken acrimony or reproduce the bitterness
of feeling which attends popular elecions.-
say it in sincerity and truth, that part of
the imducemeut to my consent was the hope
that by going into the canvass it would be
conducted with cnndor ifnot with kindness.
II has been no fault of mine TINT this antici-
patton has proved vain one.
After permitted myself TO he announced
for the Presidency, under the circumstances
above noticed, | accepted nomination after
nomination, in the spirit in which they were
rendered. They were made irrespective of
parties, and so acknowledged. No one who
joined in those nominations could have been
deceived as to my political views. From the
beginning till now have declared myself to
be II Wing on all proper occasions. Wit,
this distinct apowul published to the world, |
did not think that ! had right TO repel nom
nations fronrpOlitical opponents, any more
tlnn had right TO refuse the vote of n
Democrat at the polls and ! proclaimed il
abroad that should not reject the proff1red
support of'any body of my fellow citizens
This was my position when in November last
returned TO the United Suites; long before
either ofthe great divisions ofthu people had
held a national convention, and when it was
thought doubtful if one ofthem would hold
any.
Matters stood in this attitude till Spring,
when there were so many statements in cir
culation, concerning my views upon questions
ofnatonal policy, that felt constrained to
correct the errors in which the public mind
was falling, by more explicit enumeration Of
b principles, which did 20 you in my letter in
April last. That letter, and the facts which |
have detailed as briefly rs u proper under
standing Oflhem would permit, developed
my whole position in relation TO the Presiden-
cy at The time.
The Democratic convention met in May,
and composed their ticket 10 suit them.-
Wing Convention met in June, and selected
Inc as their candidate. / accepted the nOmi-
nation with gratitude and with pride. | was
proud of the confidence of such n body of
men, representing such constituency as the
Wing party of the United States, nanites-
tation the more grateful because it was not
numbered with eXactions incompatible with
the dignity ofihe Presidential office, and the
responsibilities of its incumbent TO the
whole people ofthe nation. And may add
Tint these emotions were increased by asso-
eating my name with that ofthe distinguish
ed citizen OF New York whose acknowledge
ed abilities and sound conservative opinions
might have Justly entitled him 10 the irst
place on the ticket.
The Convention adopted me as il found
me-a Whig-tlecded but not ultra in my
opinions and would be without excuse, if
l we're to shift the relationships which sub
sisted atrhe time. They took me with the
declaration of principles had published to
the world, and | would be without defence,
'sifl were TO say or do any thing to impair the
force ofthat declaration.
have said that | would accept n nomina =
ton from Democrats bur in so doing would
not abate one jot or title of my opinions as
written down. Such u nomination, as indi-
eating n coincidence of opinion OH the part
" of those making it, should not be regarded
with disfavor by those who think with lie ;
as compliment personal to myself it should
not unexpected that would repulse them
with insult. shall not modify my views to
aentice them to my side; shall not reject their
aid when they join my friends voluntarily.
have said was not a party candidate nor
an ], in that Strengthened and sectarian sense
which would prevent my being the President
of the whole people in case ofmy election
did not regard myself as one before the
Convention met, and thur body did not seek
xl:n II