Washington telegraph., 1848-03-22
GEN, TAYLORs LETTER TO THE non
JOSEPH L. INGERsOLI4

JuaEEl H. lNGEfSOllA
HEApauARrea ARn GF OoeuPAuaS,
Camp HedT Monterey Msr!eu, AHg, ,. lsIi. (
Hon Joseph r lagersoll-
Dear Sir have the pleasure 10 acknowledge
the receipt oi Your esteemed letter Of the iih ut.
which has Just reached me, IA which you say,
"l had the honor el being called an Inst evening
10 address mass meeting Of the why's Of the city
aud county Of Philadelphia, At that meeting yoE
name was frequently mentioned IN connection
with tho oiliee Of Chief Mugisraey, stated to
thai meeting AZ had before stated in my place
IN the House ol Representatives at Washington
that youwcfea a wing mot indeed an ultra partisan
whg--hnt wlE IN principle Al al which IS
entirely soTeei; aud after the discussion which
occurred in hnlh houses of Cougrrss at the lasI
session, growing out OF tie oapilulatiou Vi Monte.
t rry, in which Discussion You thought proper to
defend my conduct IN fegurd to that transaction.
when assailed somewhat not entirely on patty
/ grounds, IN lhe House Of which You were a mem.
i bet=-lof which you have my lhanas-Whieh was
! done in such WY by those who dinnprove that
mrasufe, ! can hhftb imagine how any Que WIN
i was present aud heard the speeches on that ueca-
sion, or read thrm after they were Rablshed could
i well mistake the complexion of my politics
Vt line usi Presidential canYus, without inter
lerng Ia any way with the ,alnH Il was we'll
t known 10 all with whom | mixed, wings aud
j democrats, iuf bad no eoueaalmehis ia the mat
/ ter, that Was decidedly IN favor Of Mr. CIays
I election, and would nov prefer seeing him ia that
office 10 any individual IN tho luuns certainly
much mnfo 50 ai any TINT 10 myself lndsprn-
I dent ol his great talruls aud loua experience ia
e0vsnm#ui aiihirt | consider hiH Flrws aud those
Of the Wb.gs i4r ihr mnsl part afr morr NEARLY
asmllniad az regards political MATTERS 10 tboss
OF Nh isii,ean than their upp1aaBg==in whose
naIlielI efred " reared, and Rhuza opinions
in matters Of Stale have never lusI sight Of as
well as endeaYdftd 10 conform 10 thrm Is uaar rs
circumstances would permit, Ny commission Us
Lieutenant ia the Army was conferred By lam a
short time before he retired from public lite,
Although no one can appreciate more highly
/ than do the too favorable opinion fear you have
formed regards my finess for the int civil
office IN our country (which consider, should |
reach il, Is rather too much Of an experiment. as
well as duly grateful for your aid in bringing me
promptly before the nation for the office III
question: yet | cannot petmi, the present oppof
tuaily 10 pass by without repeating to You what |
have said TO athrr IN respect 10 the subject o the
Presidency which is that am no politician
Near forty year. Of my liic have been passed in
the military service % the republic, nearly the
whoe Of which in the field, the camp, on our
western frontier and in the Indian territory, may
well say constantly on duty; the two last IN
Mexico, or on is immediate border; during which
time have not passed one night under llt roof
Of a housa
Yon may, Therefore, very readily suppose, under
such circumstance have bad but little ims 10
devote to the consideration or investigation OF aisat
political questians OF snhs1ls Ct 10 Their discussion,
/ nor have | attempted 10 do "a, or 10 be mixed mp
/ with political men OF measures 10 any way, not
even having voted iof one Of ouf thial Magistrate
since joined tie Army, having iof the most paH
/ been serving OF Stationed beyond the limits Of the
I statss mus say have no wish for the ffs,i-
/ drney, aud cannot consent to be- exclusively the
+ candidate Of party. And u | ava Que al al, or
/ 10 be made 70 at the coming alcGlipn II mus b.
| borne in mind that have bss#t or will b. made
/ 50 by othen, without auY agency ul miue ia the
mlltaf
Independent Of my WISHES, greatly doubt my
want OF the necessary qualification to discharge
the duties properly, Of an office winch vas. filled
and adorned BY a Washington, jefferson. us weIl
I as several others Of the purcst, wists, aud most
accomplished Statesmen aud patriots Of lhis or any
other age OF country, ! almost ircmbe at the
thoughts Of the undertaking. Nci Il the good
/ people think proper to elevate me at the proper
time 10 the highest office in their gift will feel
bound to serve them, Il no, from inclination, from
principle Of duty, aud will do 30 honestly and
faithfully to the best Of my ability, ia Accordance
with lhr punepl Of the Constitution, as near as
! can DO 80, as u ras construed dHd acted on bg
our hTsi Presidents, two Of whom, at least, acted
70 conspicuous part IN aiding ia completing that
inslrtnent, as well as putting il IN operation.
But very many important changes NAV take
place al home and abroad, between now aud the
time for holding the election ior OUT next Chirf
Magistrate; 10 much 10 as 10 make i desirable iof
/ the genera. good, that some one with more oNpr.
firnce in STATE affairs, should be selected as a
candidate than myself, and could be- elected, will
not say would yield my prcionli0ns, for have
not the vanity 10 believe have any for that dis
ilngushcd station, but would acquIcsce, not only
with pleasure, ia such an arrangement, bot would
| rejoice that the Republic had one citizen more
worthy aud better qualified than am to discharge
the important duties uppcHaiuins TO that posliion
and no doubt there are thousands.
Be this as il may, II ever | occupy the White
/ House, il MUS, be by the spontaneous movement
Of the people, without any action uf mine 10 r-la.
ton to It; without pledges other than have pfcyi.
ously stated; strict adherence to the provisions
Of the Constitution 50 that roud enter on the
arduous aud responsible duties appertaning to said
Office unirammeed; so that could be the Presi.
dent Of the country and not Of a party.
With considerations Of great respect and esteem,
! remain your obedirnt servant
Signed Y. TAYLOR.