The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1848-07-08
SPEECH
Of Senator Crittenden,
m he great Ratification Meeting at PiAsbwg,
Pennsylvania.

now agitating the public mind, is that rela-
tive to the Presidential question. The chief
Executive Magistrate Of this Union occupies
u position, whose influence extends over the
whole country, and into all the departments
of government.
Tho two great parties have met in their
conventions, and selected their candidates
have made their nominations. The Wing
convention has nominated General Zachary
Taylor. Applause Preceding this nomi-
nation, there existed, as there always will
upon such occasions, great differences of
opinion among the Wings MS 10 who should
he the candidate. IL was not possible that the
wishes of all could be gratilicd, but the con-
vention was composed of delegates from all
sections of the Union they compared their
opinions, and Gen. TOylor's nomination was
the result Of the free and full interchange of
their views. The only virtue these conven-
tons can have, is to unite us. If they do not
mite us, they have lost their only virtue.-
The National Wing Convention Of Philadel-
phia has nominated Gen. Zachary Taylor for
President of the United Stntes. Applause.
lie has been nominated and is presented to us
as our candidate by all the forms known to
us in such cases.
now propose, my fellow citizens, to eX-
anime somewhat into the qualifications Of
Gen. Taylor for this high office, and what
| IcCOUllllGllu MN LOT ll' w
the first place, personally TO know General
| Taylor What objection can be made to
him? What objection is made 10 him by his
opponents? ! have heard no impeachment
| of his character as soldier or n man but
his qualifications of the office of President
have been called into question. do not my
self think that mere military renown and tai
ents qualify man for exalted civil stations,
any more than believe that high civil talents
qualify II man to command an army. 1t was
sometimes the case, however, that those who
had welded the sword bravely in defence of
their country, were also endowed with grIu,
civil ialents-were learned in civil duties,
and submissive TO the constitution and laws
! Of their country.
What induced the beliefthat the possession
ofhigh intellectual powers was the great quail
| ificaton necessary for an aspirant TO the Pres
! idcIitial office J: When we ascertain that
man Inns us much intellect MS any man must
have who ever thought of for that Office, we
have learned enough on that subject After
all, the heart of man is the best qualiIica-
tion-a heart that is honest and faithful
Grarslude would keep such n heart in the
| right path and under the rule of such man
we could not be in danger. Noue of Our
! Presidents have ever failed through II wnnt
ofintelcct--the failure ofour administrations
where they have failed-has been through n
| want OF lleuTI, not Oh HGuu. n Hlull VIII a
sound American heart, and good common
understanding, is what is wanted, and with
such we are secure against treachery and
danger. And honest men are not so scarce ms
is sometimes supposed. We have tale of
an old philosopher, who, when asked why
| he walked in daylight with n torch, replied
thar he was searching for an honest man.-
! Well, gentlemen, think the people OF the
United States have found what the old phil
1 IL,
honest man in Zachary Taylor. Applause.l
They have not carried torch 10 fluid him
his character was n torch, showing him to he
an honest man. 1t is held so high that all
the world can sec, and the whole sky and the
whole heavens are filed with lis light. APP
plause.
A word as to Gen. Taylor's political princi-
pies. Previous to the attempts OF politicians
to investigate his character,no man was more
universally recognized among his personal
acuuantances as Wing, than General lay
lor. / know him to be a Wing. loud APP
pluuse.) He has sald-S- ifthere is IA man liv-
ing who would not tell talsehood. that man
is Zachary Taylor--"I am Whig,but not an
ultra Whig,"-if he had been near place of
election in 1914, he would have voted for
Clay. (Applanse,) This man-Gen. Taylor
has spent his life in the camp-ln distant
places-where the service afhs country cali
ed him. He has kept his mind from the ami
mosilies of n party politician. While he a
grees in all the leading Wing principles, he
has no unlind feeling towards those who
differ from him. Wings and Democrats have
fought under his orders, side 10y side-equals
w fighting, conquering, and shedding their
blood under him-how could it be possible
for him TO regard the one with less favor than
the other? How could he give place TO any
of those little animosilies of the petty polit-
clan? How could he be bound by petty par
ty ligaments, inducing him to favor one more
than the other ofthose who fought under him
bled under him, and of whom he is alike the
object of obedience and affections
! General Taylor is reading man-although
he took no degree i'll college he is read
ing man, aud is familiar with all history-an-
Gent and modern: He is student OF Plu-
tarch--he is one of Plutarch's men! Zap
plause.) In worth, in modesty, he is equal
to any ofPlutarch's heroes and as an Amer
lean, l am proud to stand here and PROCLAIM
it. and claim him rs my countryman.
When General Taylor commanded the ar
nv in Texas, he was ordered to advance 10
the Western boundary of Texas. The hon
est old soldier had sense enough 10 perceive
that il was not his business to decide as TO
where this line lay, and he made the Cabinet
tell him that, MS TO which they bad NOT eX-
uctly decided among themselves. When
asked by the Cabinet to take military posi-
ton on the Rio Grande, he did so, and he
commenced the campaign. Let any one who
doubts General Taylor's capacity, examining
the history of his campaign, and let him say
If he can discover one solitary fault--one
thing which was omitted; but which ought to
have been omitted.
1Mr Crttenden here gave short but ami
,nated sketch ofthe campagn.1