The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1848-10-26
THE UNION.
Une~rthinx that letter.

One Is puzzled TO determine who is the greatest letter
writer of the age. Gen Zachary Taylor or his squire
Truman Smith, esq the elect of the United States
from the State of Connectieut-the great chairman OF
the wing national commtee-the manager behind the
scenes; or, in the cant language of English low-life
"chief cook and bole-washer" We have no question,
however that Mr. Smith has proved the most active If
not the most accomplished, author What a world of
secrets could his pigeon-hoes furnish How MANY
mysteries enseonsed in his por-foo The following
amusing letter from Mass achusetis correspond
ent refers another letter, with which the name OF
Mr. Truman Smith has become Intimately connected We
pursued the hunt ourselves after the aforesaid letter
I'll satisfied OF the existence OF the pledge; but
we could not force the letter out We are happy to see
from the following communication that Mr. Hallett has
taken up the game and traced to It's hiding place And
now, as Mr.. Truman Smith is here would he be COM
muncave and kind enough tell us all about this let
ter at the same time that he informs of the true secret
of the composition of the Allison letter. Gve us light
we pray the honorable manager:
| PrrsFELD, (Alass.0 Oct 90, Is4s.
| 10 the Editor Of the Union;
Wehad two animated meetings of the democracy here
on Saturday last, which addressed by Gen Cush-
ing, our candidate for governor, and Mr. Haett of os
ton. This Is in the neghborhood Of the Hon VIM G.
Bates who, II is understood, carries about his pocket
ddae 10 the Wilmot Proviso This real or pretended
pledge OF the old General 10 the aboonists is largely
though secretly used IN this State TO- in the free
SOIL wings, without whose aid the Taylor men must
lose even Massachusetts, in the popular vote As
you have faithfully followed up Mr. Truman
Smith, TO rnearth him In his cover, it may not be
unlmportant to you facts which Mr. Hallett
brought out in his speech here He said that he left
Boston on Thursday morning, tour TO address the
people IN The western counties, with his friend General
Gushing, and he determined TO hunt Up MIR Bates,
and down that letter SO he went directly TO West
heId where Mr. Bales resides. The people toge-
thera mass meeting, in large numbers, and he put
them the inquiry for Mr. Bates and the private pocket
edition OF that letter. The former had left on an
elecuoneerng circuit and the latter had of course gone
with HIN. All seemed 10 understand and believe that
there was such letter: and wing, il
SAID, had shown some jealousy that General Taylor
should write TO Mr. Bates and not TO himself 1t was
obvious that by means OF some private letter pledges,
The designed impression had been made here that Gen.
Taylor was Proyiso man. From Westfeld Mr.. II.
SAID he returned Springfield whittier it was understood
Mr., Bates had gone by railroad. That evening an i'm
nense meeting held, at which Gen Gushing and
himself spoke and he there put the inquiry for Mr. Bates
prevailed as to the letter Mr. Bates was reported to
have gone north. The next day Messrs Gushing and
Halleit met mass meeting at Greenfield. forty miles
from springhe d, In witch nearly all the towns in Frank
I'm county were represented Mr. Halett there pub
icy called for the letter and its keeper Neither could
be tound but the effect of its supposed real exist
ehce was visible. The same evening MIR. Halett came
down to Cabotsvllle, manufacturing village four miles
from Springfield. He made the same inquiry there OF
large meeting IN his speech, and learned that the
table MT Bates had addressed the wings in that spot the
night before. Mr. Hallett asked if any persons in the
hall were present the night before, and whether Mr..
Bates said anything of General Taylor being in avor OF
The Wilmot Proyiso' gentleman present replied that
he did Did he exhibit any letter The reply was, that
he dad exhibit paper as letter; but no one the
the genuine letters but whether directly from General
Taylor some friend him. left in doubt
From this place Mr.. Bates had gone off with
ms letter, but no one knew whittier.
The next morning, Messrs. Gushing and Hallet pro-
ceeded to this place P,tsheid) to meet meeting
and the cars passing through Westield, Mr. Bates
himself entered them, on his way to make political
speech to the mountaneers at Banord, this vicinity.
The game was now run down, and the Question TO
bag the letter Mr.. n. applied TO Mr. b, related the his
tory OF his pursuit of knowledge under difficulties"
and desired both paytuy and seriously to be informed if
he had such letter from General Taylor, from any
one assuming TO pledge the General to the Wimot Pro-
viso He stated that concerned the public; that ii
could not fairly be made private transaction, and thai
he desired an explicit answer. The reply was, that the
he gave an answer and this old witticisn upon Cen
Casss speech at Cleveland was the only satisfactory
left was, either that Mr.. B. assumed to have such let
ter from Gen Taylor, from who spoke auhoTita
lively for hun and with this they parted
Now, SAID MIR. H., give you the facts as they oc-
Cured You know that every wing who addresses you
here airms that General Taylor is Wlmo Proviso
man, and tina, he is pledged TO the free soil men that
point AT the North they refer TO private letters for the
Proviso-at the South against it. have too much re-
spect for General Taylor TO believe that he is playing this
double game North and South regard his Integrity too
highly TO TO that conclusion. But can he as an
honorable man, be silent while these double preiences
put forth to catch votes What shall say of the
relations OF candidate 10 the people whose
thus represented by his friends the North way
and his friends at the South directly opposiei Whether
this secret letter exists not the effect upon the public
mind is the here, by the use made of this supposed
private correspondence and thus the North are be
operated upon TO vote for Gen Tay lor Proviso
while the South appealed to, TO vote for him
anti Proviso man! Can honest wings North South
suffer their understandings thus TO be played upon or
can General Taylor permit If, and remain silent, and
tain the character for integrity which his political
opponents have been willing award him Upon this
absorbing topic of the presidential canvass the Will
mot Provlso the wings of both sections have entered into
conspiracy against truth Can Gen. Taylor be silent
party to that conspiracy Every wing in Massachu
sets for General Taylor, from Mr.. Webster down, will
be given under either the pretended real belief that he
is in favor of the Wilmot Poviso Is he, is he not
that is the question.
Mr.. H. here left this subject and went on with his
speech, showing that the democrats stood on the same
platform North and South-tha they insisted upon with
drawing this question from Congress and leaving to the
South all their rights under the constitution and claiming
for the North no more.
New Publications.
The Sketch Book and Knickbocer York By Wash
ingfon Bping.
We have received from Mr.. George p Putnam, New
York. new edition of these two works, which have en-