The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1848-09-03
NEW YORK, SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 8, 1913.

great majority they might have nominated any
candidate they chose--and, In the second place,
II Is true there were persons in that conven-
tion-membersf from New Engand-most active in
nominating Gen. Taylor and men who would cut
of their right hands before they would do any
thing TO promote slavery in the United States |
don't admire their polcy-I don't believe that; but
acquit them of any base motive. / know the
leading men OF that convention. think | under
stand their principles and the motives that governed
them. Their reasoning was this Gen. Taylor
is whig, not eminent in civil lite, not known In
civil life, but still man of sound wing principles
Circumstances have given him reputation and the
fo0f OF the country AS he is the wing caudl-
date he will be chosen, and with him as our
candidate, we will be able to elect members to
the two houses of Congress, get an augmenta-
hon OF wtig strength, the wing majority in the
| House OF Representatives will be increased, and
| the locotoco majority In the Senate will be d.
minIshed. That was the view, and that was the
/ motive, however wise or unwise, which governed
great portion of that assembly in Philadelphia
| Now, gentlemen in my opinioD, this was unwise
policy. 1t was not suitable TO the wing character
1T was not reconcileable with true wisdom-it
was short-sighted, and temporisIng on great
question of principle but acquit all persons con
cerned in 1t of all such motives as have been as
cribed to them, and especially of those mentioned
IN the Buffalo platform. Such, gentlemen, are
TIE circumstances connected with the domination
Of General Taylor only repeat, that those who
| had the most agency originally IN bringing him
before the people, were the whig conventions and
meetings In the several free States, and that
great HdJOTlly OI Tie convention Wnlcn nominated
HIM in Philadelphia were from the free States,
| and might have rejected him If they chose, and
| selected anybody else on whom they could have
united. This is the case, gentlemen, as far as
a judgment as can form. This is the case pre-
| sented to the wings, as far regards the opn-
ions, fitness, and personal character of General
Taylor, and the circumstances that have caused
| his nor. lnatlOn. Now, If we were weighing the
propriety of nominating such person to the Pre-
| sidency, 1t would be one thing; the expedIency,
as may say, the necessity, which to some minds
| may appear to be imposed on patriotic and we'll
meaning wings, to vote for him, since he has been
nominated, is quite another thing And that leads
TO the consideration of what the wings of Massa-
chusetts are to do. If they do not see fit to
neral Cass or MIR. Van Buren,, or they must
omit to vote atall. | ss,e that there are cases
| in which, if we don't know in what direction to
move, we ought to stand still till we do. | admit
that there are cases in which, if we don't know
what to do. we had better not do we know not
what; but on question so important to ourselves
and the country-on question OF popular cleo
ZION in constitutional form, in which it IS impos-
| slble that every mans voice can prevail, it be-
comes question OF consequence, duty, and pa
troism, what is best to do on the whole and here,
again this leads to consideration which should
influence wings, IN my opinion, Oil the question
now before Them Under the practical admins
taton of the constitution OF the United States
there cannot be great range, of personal choice
| in regard to candidates tor the Presidency. In
order that their votes may be effective, many must
join for some one candidate of those prominent
before the public. That is the necessary result
from our form of government, and from the work.
ings of the constitution and 1t oestherefore some
times bring men to the necessity of choosing be-
| tween candidates, neither of whom would be
their original persona choice; Now, what is the
| contingency What is the alternative presented
| 10 the wings of Massachusetts! In my Judgment
| 1t is merely one. The question is between Cen
Taylor and Gen. Cass, and that is the whole of
it.. (ApPause) am no more skilled in political
affa / npl udn for p,vca h,,f
in my opinion, there vs. not the least probability
ofany other result than the choice of Gen. Taylor
or Gen. Cass. know that the enthusiasm oft he
| newly formed party, the popularity of new name,
without communicating any new idea, may lead
some TO believe that the sky is about to fall,
and that shall soon catch larks. entertain no
the free soil parry. / have read their platform,
and think there are some rotten places IN It,
Uaughter) Yet ! can stand on 1t very we'll
But can see nothing in It that Is new or vau-
able What is valuable is old, and what Is new
is not valuable. Uaughter) If the term free
soil party, or free soil men, designate that is
fixed and unalterabe, that is to-day, was yester-
day, and will remain the same, then hold myself
~ be as good free soil man as any in the Buffalo
| convention. | desire to know who is to put
der my feet freezer soil than that have since |
| became public man: l want to know who
| is to impress on my breast a more fixed de-
termination to resist the advances of slavery in
| this country, than | have had since | first
opened my mouth In the councils of the country.
Inc gentlemtn III buIIdlO nave placed al the mead
of their party Mr.. Van Buren,, for whom have all
| the respect that l should entertain for one with
whom have been associated in some degree in
public lite, tor many years; but really, speaking
for myself, should think that If were to express
confidence in Mr.. Van Buren, and his patriotism on
any question, and most especially on this one of
slavery-if on this question he and should be
found united, think the scene would border on
the ludcrous, If not the contemplate. (Laugh-
ter) / never proposed any thing in my life
| that Mr.. Van Buren, did not oppose, and / never
could favor any measure that emanaed from
HIM. If, therefore, Mr. Van Buren, and were
10 find ourselves together under the free soil
flag, / that with his accustomed good
nature, he would laugh daughter and appausel
at the strange occurrence and jumbles of
political life, that should bring him and me
TO sit down cozy together, side by side, on the
same platform. Uaughter) MY first acqualnt-
snce In public lite with Mr. Van Buren, was when
he was pressing with great power. the election OF
John Quincy Adams. Mr.. Crawford was not
elected, but Mr.. Adams was, and Mr.. Van Buren,
was in the Senate nearly during the whole of the
vernon of the State Of New York and he was
| the soul and centre OF opposition to Mr. Adams
administration, and he did more than any ten
men In the country to prevent Mr.. Adams re-
election These are intelligen facts, which even
| short memories may retain General Jackson
was elected President, and Mr.. Van Buren, was
placed at the head OF his administration, as Secre-
tary Of State. II so happened, or it did happen,
to England, under instructions from the State De.
partment, to arrange In that country the disputed
subjects of colonial trade. Mr.. Adams held a
high and austere tone towards England. He
planted himself on the ground of reciprocity-the
right OF introducing our produce, as well as our
ships, into the West Indies, since Great Britain
was allowed to bring her productions aud her
ships into the United States Mr. Adams placed
this on the ground OF rlght--on the prin iple OF
reciprocity. The British government would not
yield il: Mr.. Van Buren,, In his instructions to
| Mr.. Mclean, told HIM to yield the question Of
| nght-to disclaim the pretensions, as he called
| them, of the Adams administration, and then
went on to say, that the administration of which
he was Secretary OF State thought that Mr. Jack
sons administration ought not to be repulsed by
the English government from the enjoyment OF
that which he was willing To call moi y riaht hut