The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1848-09-16
The Letter of General Taylor.


pearsnce his signature Of replies to single and
detached questions relative to his position before the
series Of which resulted in his becoming
a candidate. IL presents in q compact form. all the
matters bearing upon the subject and exhibits Ge
in his proper cbaractcrtrue to himself to his
friends, and to his country -
EAST PAscAoovLA, Sept 4, 1913
Dear sir On the I'D day Of May last, l addressed
matters Of public policy lest my fellow citizens might
be mislsd by the many contradictory and conflicting
journals of the day, and were circulated throughout
the country l now find myself misrep-esented and
upon another point of such Importance
70 myself personally, II not to the country at large
as to claim from me candid and con nected exposi-
tien Of my relations to the public in regard to the
pending Preside initial canvass
The utmost inge nuity has been expended upon
eral and detached sentences Of letters which
have recently appeared over my signature, to show
that occupy eQuvocal attitude towards the yar.
GUS parties into which the people divided; and es
pecially towards the whig party represented by
pba in June last Had these letters and scraps of let
tiers been published construed in connection with
what have heretofore said upon this subject should
not new have to complain of the speed with which my
answers to isolated questions have been given up TO
the captious criticism of those who have been made
my enemies by nomination which has been rendered
to without solicitation arrangement of NINE Of
the in which selected passages In some Of my
letters, written in the freedom and carelessness of
confidential correspondence have been commu ncated
to the public press But riven from the context and
separated from series Of explanatory facts and cir
cumstances which in so far as this canvass Is
cerned historical they deceptive as though they
positively fabricstions. address you this letter
to correct the injustice that has been done and
the public to the that object of interest
to them, by this ibera process
shall not weary you by an elaborate recital ofevery
incident connected with the first presentation of my
name as q candidate for the Presidency ! was then
at the head of the American in the Valley of the
Rio Grande. l was surrounded by wings and demo-
Gratis who had stood by in the trying hours of my
life, and whom it was my destiny to conduct through
scenes ofsti greater trial. My duty to that army and
to the Republic, who, battles we were wagng, for
bade my assuming position of seeming hostility to
any portion OF the brave men under my command
all OF whom knew was wing In principle, for made
tions.
ring our late Presidential elections that the accep
lance Of nomination, under the various interpreta
ed to the public with formuary ofpotical principles
was equivalent almost to declaration of uncompro-
missing enmy to all who did not subscribe to s tenets
was unwilling to hazard the effect Of such relation
ship towards any Of the soldiers under my command,
when in front Of an enemy common to us all 1t would
have been unjust in itself and it repugnant to
my feelings q, it was to my duty. wanted unity
In the army and forbore any act that might the
seeds Of distrust and discord in its ranks have not
my letters written at the time before me, but they
I'll OF one import, and in conformity with the views
and by strangers by wings and democrats to consent
to become candidate. l was nominated by the peo-
natives, in separate and mixed meetings resisted
them all and continued to till led to believe that
aspect
the popular wishes yielded only when it looked like
presumption to resist longer and then / should
not have done had not the nomination been present.
ed to me in form unlikely to awaken acrimony
produce the bitterness of feeling which attends popular
elections. say it, in sincerity and truth, that part
of the nducemen to my consent the hope that by
going into the canvass 1t would be conducted with
DOR not with kindness 1t has been fault Of mine
thai this anticipation has proved vain one a..
Presidency, under the circumstances above noticed,
accepted nomination after nomination in the spirit
spective Of parties, and acknowledged. No who
Joined in thes nominations could have been deceived
have declared myself to be whis on ali pEopsr oc
casons With this distinct avowal, published to the
world, did not think that had right to repel
| had right to refuse the vote of democrat at the
polls and proclaimed it abroad that should not
ect the preferred support Of any body of my fellow
citizens. This was my position when in November
last returned to the United States long before either
of the great divisions Of the people had held nation
| one Of them would hold any.
Matters stood in this attitude till spring. when there
my views upon questions Of national policy, that felt
constrained to correct the errors into which the
public pub 1, mind was falling 6y a more explicit snunca
April last That letter. and the facts which have de-
tailed as briefly as proper understan ding of them
would permit developed my whole position In relation
The Democratic Convention met in May, and com.
posed their ticket to suit them. This they had right
to do. The National Wing Convention met in June,
| and selected me their candidate. accepted the
| nomination with gratitude and with pride. was
proud of the confidence of such body Of men, repre-
sentiDg such constituency the whig party of the
United States; a manifestation the more grateful be-
BILE with the dignity OF the Presidential Office and the
responsibilities Of its incumbent to the whole people Of
the nation: And may add that these emotions were
di .tingushed citizen Of New York. whose aeknow-
lodged abilities and sound conservative opinions might
a ticket justly entitled him to the h''' place on the
The convention adopted me as it found me-a wing
be without excuse if were to- shift the
which subsi ted at the time They took me with the
declaration Of principles had published to the world
and would be without defence il to say or do
anything to impair the force of that declaration.
have said that would accept nomination from
or title of my opinions as written down Such
nomination as indicating coil cidence of opinion on
the part Of those making it, should not be regarded
with disfsvor by those who think with me; as q COM
pliment personal to myself it should not be expected
that would repuse them with insult. shall not
modify my views to entce them to my side; shall
tarily.
have said was not party candidate, nor am l. in
that straitened and sectarian sense which would
prevent my being the President of the whole people,
in Gaze Of my election. l did not regard myself as
one before the convention met and that body did not
seek to make me different from what was They
did not fetter me down to a series of pledges which
were to be iron rule Of action in all and in despite
of all the contingencies that might arise the course
Of Presidential term. not engaged to lay violent
bad who may differ in opinion with me. am not
expected to force Congress, by the coercion Of the
veto, to pass laws to suit pass none. This is
what mean BY not being party candidate And,
understand this is good whig doctrneI would not be
pa-tizan President and hence should not be party
candidate in the sense that would make one This Is
the and substance of my meaning and this is the
purport Of the facts and circumstances attending my
nomination, when considered in their connection
with, and dependence upon one another.
refer all persons, who are anxious the subject,
to this for the proper of my
position towards the Presidency and the people II It
Is net Ineligible, cannot make it So and shall cease
to attempt It. -
In taking leave Of the subject have only to add,
that my two letters to you, embrace all the topics
design to speak Of, pending this lcanvass II | am
elected shall do all that honest zeal may effect
to cement the bonds Of Mon and establish the
happiness Of my countrymen upon enduring basis
To Capt. J. S. ALLISON u TAYLOR