Staunton spectator, and general advertiser. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 183?-1849, 1848-09-20
Another Letter from Gen. Taylor 10 Capt. Allison.
EAST PAscAoouLs, Sept. a. 1913.

appeared in tic journals of the day, and were cir
culaicd Throughout, the country. | now lird myself
misreprescn.rh ard misunderstood upon Another
point, of such Importance 10 myself personally, If
not TO the country at large, As To claim from me
candid and connected exposition Of my relations TO
The public IN regard 10 the pcndlug Presidential
canvass.
The utmost ingenuity has been expended upon
several letters and detached sentences of letters,
which have recently appeared my signature,
to show that occupy an equivucal attitude towards
the various parties into which the people divi
ded, and especially towards the Wing party as re-
presented by the National Convention which assem-
bled in Philadelphia in June last Had these letters
and scraps of letters been published construed in
conneNon with what have heretofore said upon this
sugcctl should not now have 10 complain Of the speed
with which my answers To isolated questions have
been given up 10 the cap,Ous criticism of those who
have been made my enemies by nomination which
has been rendered TO without solicitation or ar
rangcmcnt of mine, or of tho manner in which Sc
lected passages In some of my letters, written i'm
the freedom and carelessneSs of confidential cor
Responsiveness. have been communicated To the pub
Tic press. But, rlven from the context, and sepa-
rated from series of explanatory facts and circun-
stances which are, in far this canvass is con.
cerned, HISTORICAL they rs deceptive as though
they were positive iabrcations. address YOU this
letter to correct the injustice that has been done
me and the public TO the exen, that am an object
Oh interest 10 them, by this beral process
snail not weary you by elaborate recital of
every incident connected with the first presentation
OF my name MS candidate for the Presidency. |
was 'hen at The head of the American army in the
vaiiey oil The Rio Grande. | was surrounded by
wings and Democrats who had stood by me i'm the
trying hours OF my life, and whom twas my desti-
ny to conduct through scenes of still greater trial
MY DUTY To That army, and To the republic whose
oalties we were waglng, forbade nv assumipu
position O! seeming hostility TO any portion of the
brave men under my command-all of whom knew
was wing IN principle, for | made no conceal
hent OF my political sentiments predictions
ouch had been the violence of party struuple du
ring our late Presidential elections that the aocep
lance OF nomination under the rigorous interpre-
'ations gwen TO the obligations of candidate pre
scented to the public with formuary of poltic,l
principles, was equivalent almost to a declaration
OIL uncompromislng enmity to all who did not sub
scribe 10 It's teneis was unwilling to hazard the
elect OF such relationship towards any of the SOL
diers under my command, when in front of an enc
my common TO us all. 1t would have been un;ust
IN i'seii, and 1t was as repugnant to my own feel
Jugs as IL was to my duty. ] wanted unity in The
army, ana iorebore any act that might sow the
seeds or dlsrust and discurd in lis ranks have
not my letters written at the time before me. but
lney are all OF one import and in conformity with
the views herein expressed
Meanwhile was solicited by nv nerson,l Cr;o,d
and by strangers, by Wings and Democrats. to con.
sent TO become candidate. | was nominated by
the people In primary aSsemblies-by Wings De
ihocrats, and Natives, I'm separate and mixed meet
ings. resisted them all, and continued to do so
l,li LED 10 believe that my opposition was assuming
''ie aspect OF defiance OF the popular wishes. i
yielded only when it looked like presumptiop to re-
sisi longer, and even then should not have dono
SO mad not the nomination been presented to me in
form unlikely TO awaken acrimony or reproduce
te bitterness OF feeling which attends popular cleo
IONS. say 1t III sincerity and truth that part of
,''e nduccmen' 10 my consent was the hope that
oy going INTO the canvass ii would be conducted
WIN candor II not with kindness. II has been no
ianit OF mine that this anticipation has proved a
vain one.
Aiier permitted myself TO be announced for the
Presidency, under the circumstances above noticed.
accepted nomination after nomination in the spirit
IN which they were rendered. They were made
irrespective OF parties, and so acknowledged No
one VINO joined In those nominations could have
oeen deceived as to my political views From the
beginning till now have declared myself TO be n
wing on all proper occasions With this distinct
aVowal published to the world did not think that
haa right 10 repel nominations from political on
ponents any more than had right to refuse the
vo;G OF Democrat at the pc!!s: ard I proclaimed
1t abroad that should not reject the proiIrr, sin
port OF any body of fellow citizens This was nv
PoS!Non wheh In November last | returned to the
United States long before either of the great divi
slons of the people had held National Convention
and when 1t was thought doubtful if one of Them
would hold any. - '''''''
-, Matters stood In this attitude ill spring, when
''efe were so many statements in circulation CON
corning my views upon questions Of national policy
''a. 1 Ieil constrained to correct the errors into
wnch the public mind was falling by a more ex
plicit enumeration Of principles. which did in my,
letter to you in April last That letter and ,ho
facts which have detailed as briefly as \ nroner
understanding OF them would permit, deveIoped NV
whole position III relation 10 the Presidency at ,b
time. ct 'ne
ne Democratic Convention met in Nav. and
oo'nPoSeu '',eir ucket to suit them. This they had
1,gn' 70 40 he National Wing Convention
met In June, and selected me as their candidate
accepted the nomination with o,,t;t,Jo n,'I -,
pTide. was proud ofthc confidence Of s,,ch = bnd
OF men, representing such Constituency &c ,ho
wing party OF the United States n maniecs,o,;o,
The more grateful because il was not cunobcrd ;,
eXactons incompatible with the dignity of the Pro-.
Sluehual ONCE, and the responsibilities gifts incum
o1u' 10 !he whole people of the nation And NAV
add that these emotions were increased h., ,sson;.y
ting my name with that THE DISTINGUISHED c;,;1o
Oh New York, whose acknowledged obilities and
sou"o conservative opinions might have Justly emit
ucu MN 10 the FIRST place on the ticket
i ne convention adopted me as il f,nnd mo 4,
wing; decided but not ultra in my opinions and
SHOULD be without excuse if were To shift, the.
relationships which subsistcd at the time. J'bev
TOOK me with the declaration of principles 7 had
published TO the world, and should be without dc.
fence were to say or do any thing to impair the
force Of that declaration. VIC
nave said that would accept a nomination from
Democrats; but. in so doing, / would not ,batc
one lot or TITLE of my opinions as written down
ouch nomination, as indicating coincidence If
opinion on The part of those making it. should mot
oc regarded WIN dlslavor by those who think viii,
me as compliment personal TO myself il sb",,IJ