Carroll free press. [volume] (Carrollton [Ohio]) 1834-1861, 1848-08-25
From the Brookyille American.
A Letter from IIr. CorWin.


We have the pleasure Of presenting TO oCr
readers lcuer from the Hon. Thomas Corwn,
in favor Of the election Of Gen. Taylor. His
reasons iorhs position, aregooi ard satisfactory.
WAsHIYoToS, goth July, 1848.
Dear Sir: Your lelleror the l4ihiusl. reach.
ed me half an hour ago. and ! avail myself of
my earliest leisure moment, to reply. have
seen in lhepapers from various pausof the couu.
Try, contradictory conjectures as to the vote Of
tins aud that person. and amongst others, myself
have never doubted as 10 my duty as a yo.
ter. since the nomination was made. Il true,
did not wish General Taylor. ! preferred
others 10 him. But aConvenlion Of Wigs was
called, expressly fer the purpose Of agreeiI z up.
on one OF the five or SIX persons named. was
IN iavor Of that Convention, and il was fairly
conducted, ! feel bound to sustain It's nominee.
Had the man been named that wished, aud the
friends Of Gen. Taylor had refused to sustain
him, am sure. should feel warranted in char.
giug them with bad faith. cannot apply one
rule TO myself, and different one to others
. Had the Convention named man who was no,
a Wing. OF who was Infamous and unworthy,
should feel, in that case, absoyed from any OBJ
legation 10 support such a man. Bul General
Taylor does not fall within either Of these class.
es. he is Wing. he is above suspicion or
reProach in his personal character. He has pro.
we'd himself worthy Of every public trust conf.
ded in him, and that think is a reasonable
guaranty that he will not fail in this. | know
the non-sayehoIding SGalcs object to Gen. Tay.
Ior, thai he lives inaslaveSiate and owns slaves.
Did not Mr. Clay live in slave Slatel-does he
not nowi Was not Mr.. Clay Il slave-ho!derl-
Yet we are proud TO VOC for him; and would
now do more and sacrifice more 10 place him in
the Executive chair than would for any man
in America. And so would thousands Of The
purcsl and best men in the free States. Thus,
this objection isnoI insuparaJIe, aswe have seen.
The non.sIavahoding STATES should ask this
question; VIII The man proposed, (wherher he
live IN free or slave Slate,) use his power for
the extension OF slavery 10 territory where il
does not exist! On this point, what is General
TayIor's power! No more, ! answer, than
yours, unless he should cxeu ithrough his veto.
VIII he do this! ! answer, according 10 his
pledges he cannot. He has said in his letter 10
Captain AIlison-"The personal opinions OF the
individual who may happen to occupy the Ex.
eculive chair, ought not TO control the action Of
Congress upon questions Of domestic policy. nor
ought his objections TO be inlerposed, where
questions of constitutional power have been SET
tied by The various departments Of the Govern.
ment, and acquesced inby the people,"
If slavery is extended any where in territories,
it must he done by act of Congress. Is it not
question of "domesuc policy?" Clearly it is.
Has il not been settled that Congress has the con-
slitutona power to prohibit slavery! The Mis-
souri, compromise, and various other similar ex-
crlions Of The power by Congress, recognized by
every department of the Government answer
This question in the affirmative. And all know
that this has been "acquiesced in by the people"
Thus, then, it is clear, that the people, if they
wish 10 restrict slavery to its present limits, have
only 10 elect the proper men 10 Congress- and
their will will be law, uncontrolled by that so
much abused veto power. Indeed, the doctrine
of Gen. Taylor on the subject of the veto, as
laid down in the letter above quoted, (ntended
for publication and therefore 10 be considered a
pledge, is, in my judgment, of more value as
principle, in our system, than any which has
been advocated by the Wings, since the revou.
tion. This despotic power, by its use and a.
buse, has, for the last few years, extended its ty.
rannical grasp TO every, even the minutest ques-
! ZION of legislation. lthas ranged, uncontrolled,
over our whole system of domestic policy, from
the establishment of Bank, down 10 the erec-
ton of harbor at the mouth of creek. Eve.
ry act of the Congress of a free people, has thus
been made TO square with the judgment or ca
f price Of ONE MAN. Such a government is an
accurate definition of despotism. 1t is true. i,
only continues for four years in one hand; but
it is none the less desposm while it lasts. and
if it is TO be longer tolerated, will be continual;
, The only change being the transfer Of absolute
power from the hands of one petty tyrant 10 bis
successor. An honest man, as Gen. Taylor is
} admitted 10 be, with such opinions and reasona-
S Bile intelligence, which even his enemies con-
i. cede, cannot make bad ordangerous President
have been asked--how can YOU, who denoun.
ced the Mexican war, vote for its Hero? My
, answer is to me, plain and obvious: Gen. Tay
lor was an officer Of the regular army. He took
b. his commission when youth. He contracted
$ TO fight when and where his country called, anC
TO obey the orders Of his superior in command
The President was commander.in-ch HI
!. ordered-General Taylor obeyed. He acted a
a Scott and hundreds Of others did. TWAS, ant
J, is, the view of their duty, taken by all officer
OF the army and navy. 1t is very differen
n question with volunteers. The government re
n quests--it does not, cannot command a citizen
}. to volunteer his services, in foreign war. Th
: government can compel the militia "lo repel in
" vasion," but it cannot force bey ond the Unite
4 States line, single man, except he is in the reg
Of uar army. In the speech, for which | hav