The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1848-10-06
IMPORTANT POLITICAL MANIFESTOES.
Harrison Gray Otis, to the People of Massa-
chusetts.

your dlspensed
from the need of apology for addressing you upon
any topic of public INTEREST," hut two have
passed away since have taken active agency ia
great national questions. aud you have enjoyed the
advantage Of wiser coupseors 10 the full possession OF
mental and physical vigor in bth of which nd my
self sadly deficient. Among these, would not now
think Of intrudiDg but for the suggestion of Of
their number that on the question OF the approaching
Presidential election, opnon might yet aud favor
with some individuals by whom am not entirely for
gotten and believing this qus,tion to involve the
struggle Of the tuition for lie death it
to duty to yield to their Wishes however limited
mxinfuence may be, writing under the pressure of
years aud in6rmity.
To justify the strength of my expression respecting
the danger impending the consultation, will not
recur to the ADM nistratiou of General Jackson,
although regard that the of all the subse
quent abuses but refer every wing to his own know
ledge and recoe cton of the iuroads made upon 1t by
that iron-wied oppressor. Nor shall do more than
attempt by very brief review of the career Of the
present Incumbent to recall to the minds Of the why
party q few leading features Of bis naturalization
which have been familiar to their Reproduction, and
which prove that mischief commenced by giant, may
be aggravated and completed by pigmy
And, first Iregsrd his election as fraud upon the
very constituency which gave him their votes.
Certainly it is evident that the makers Of the
stitution expected that the object Of eeotng the cleo
ten of President could be secured without the ma
chinery of caucus. Provision was Intended to be
made prevent intrigue and com bination among the
electors themselves by the mode and time Of choosing
them Experience, however, demonstrated the exPe-
diency perhaps the necessity OF some auxiliary means
to and communicate to the electors the
predictions of the people. TO this end, caucus,
fairly chosen and honestly disposed may be the best
that can be DEVISED and when they confne them
selves to selection from those who have been nomi
and avowed candidates of considerable sections
masses of the people, they do all that be done
to ratify the public will and in uce among the people
salutary and necessary compromise of their different
preferences This, however, at best, is but mitga-
tutonal prescriptions. But when caucus, chosen
for the purpose of selecting candidate from those
whom the public attention is axsd rejects them all
they altogether evade the provisions of the consti-
tuition, and become themselves electors. For their
constituents must take him or nobody-aRd be- there
fore is the legitimate choice of any part of the
ton. but a6lius nuitius.
such was the position of Mr.. Polk, gentleman bu.
little known beyond his obscure beat except Gen.
Jscksons Speaker. He however, vaulted into his seat
with oil the alacrty and confidence of one upborne BY
speech gave foretsste Of what to be expected,
breathing defiance to Great Britain, and alarming the
nation BY the apprehension of most unnecessary
for Q century, and from which 1t was almost mi
raculously saved by the Senate. 1t announced,
also the disposition to extend territory by inter-
minable chain, of which Texas is the drst link This
led to war, made by him. upon McKee, which involved
Congress in the dilemma OF granting him the power Of
the purse and the sword; after runous expense
the blood and treasure Of the people, and the con-
traction of burdensoms debt the peace which fol-
lowed has riveted the destiny of the old United States
to distant immeasurable wds and to that Of motley
population, between which and citizens there Is
not and never can BE- common feeling ntimens
Yet this population ia intended to be fused into
own by which Congress will in time be converted into
Babel, and the entire character of its legislation
changed while its sessions will be appropriated
and nearer to the Rocky Mountains.
When to these considerations are added the bold
and stupendous innovations In the commercial and
monetary policy established by Washington and the
fathers Of the constitution and the use Of tho Veto
legislation which the Executive does not initiate it
would certainly seem as If no free nation had ever
witnessed Q more perfect despotism in disguise For
ALI these measures except the last some are ready to
say that Congress s responsible It is notorious that
they all repuguant to the good sense and wishes
Of majority of Congress and Of the people when first
broached But executive patronage is thu talisman
BY which principles changed In twinkling, and
the is found in the maxim Of Madame do
Stael II the plague had offices to give the plague
would ind worshippers"
II this system Is to be continued, and a man shsl
be placed at the head Of affairs whose heart is bound
nm In its ution another four years will suffice to
accustom the majority to the har will
grow familiar to the massesthe real patriot will be
dishearts ned and the power of purse and sword Of
peace and war, Of extending territory, Of increasing
debt, and imposing taxes and monopolizing spells will
be concentrated in the hands of man. and he too
often 0 very ordinary man
Supposing this outline be correct and that every
true whig must feel t to be and be able to l 1t
with his own recoections such person has only to
ask his own conscience q single question: the answer
to which must compel him, one would think to an in
evitable decision. Is man. and one man only, by
the force circumstances, placed in position which
renders him able and willing TO the nation from
its impending calsmies? Iii Uncomfortable that
answering this question sfirmatvey, can be neu-
trail or passive in the coming contest? To throw away
his vote on who be chosen to refuse to
save himself his party, through prediction for
who cannot be chosen, would resemble the folly and
bigotry Of the sailor, in Smoet, Who having fallen
overheard in the night at aud floating on hem
COOP the next day refused TO be picked up by friend
ly sail, because it was not his own ship.
After all the information which can collect and
every consideration of which am capable believe
General Taylor to be the occupying the described
position: and my confidence In him disturbed by
doubts of with my party In every art
Gle of their creed-which 1t s not should notwth.
be mpesS 70 81 tb him NTH my
cordially and without doubt or msgiving of any
kind To this conclusion have arrived by careful
retrospect of the principal objections which have been
Put forth against him.
The first If OF abandoned is that he is not whig
this OF hss
sious and to have credit for his sincerity until contra
dcted by conduct at variance with his profession
General Taylor, man Of honor and veracity, an
nounoes himself to be wbig. This is sufficient. His
friends persons of the highest consideration, confrm
this de claraton He has done nothing to contradict
it, by word action. He is not ultra whig, which
fairly interpreted means, that he is not proscrptive
malignant and intolerant whig So much the better.
Again, he has given no pledges. But the answer is
the same his character is bis pledge for his adherence
to the general principles Of the party IT. beyond this
any individual s authorized to file special interroga
tories in behalf of his party every must have the
same right. The absurdty of such claims, and the
IRENE inconvenience and corresponding
to them, self evident
Another objection to General Taylor is that he is q
soldier, and not statesman. The candor and unpre
tending modesty with which be has admitted the truth
of this objection go very far to obviae its force They
imply of the proprety of surrounding bimsel
with ofexperience and proved fitness for advisers
They would be- in person ofquaites inferior to thos
of General Taylor, guarantee against rash counsels
and pre- cpitate violent aud rretrevab,e errors Blu
in who has been found equal to the most tryip,
emergencies whose moderation, frmness, decision o
character pei eration reach of foresight and
ces in unexpected difficulties, are Familiarity know
throughout the countrythis character is absolute
safeguard against every species of NATURALIZATION
The general objections to placing military chief
tain at the head of the nation wofold First thu
apprehe nson that the habits of absolute authority
may be carried from the field to the cabinet that h
may be thus inclined to say 81 am the Staten and
he cannot bend the constitution to his will, to pierc
it with his sword But soldier of this Species befor
he Is entrusted with civil Offices displays his characte
sufficiently to give warning. Like the rattesnake, h
may be known by his note of preparation. and II tn
people will incur danger equal to plague pestilc
and famine, IL Is their fault. Second the want
political experience and other qualifications for
nut Abona Aboo