Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1848-07-14

GEN. TAYLOR AND THE WIrMor PRovIso.-I
The Federal party, in presenting candidate
to the country for the Presidency, has thought
proper to select one whose opinions, upon
most of the great questions that now agita1e
the public mind, are entirely unknown wei
have never been able to find the hrst ""'g
who could say what General TayloTs opln'
ions are with regard TO any one OF the ISSUES
which have divided the Republican and Fede-
raj parties during the last half century. "To
his Allison letter." says Mr.. Clayton, (Whig,)
a few days ago in the Senate chamber, "must
the people of the Union look for his most au-
thoritive and explicit avowal of political no.
tons" We defy any man to take this letter and
deduce from it the opinion which Gen. Taylor
holds on any one of the great questions which
have agitated the country, with the exception
of the Veto Power. On this point he has been
: more explicit than on any other Writing to
Capt Allison, he says: "The personal opin-
: ions of the individual who may happen to &C.
! cupy the executive chair, ought not to control
2 the action of Congress upon questions of do
+ mcstic policy; nor ought his objections TO be
s enforced where questions of constitutional
t power have been settled by the various de-
i partments of the government, and acquiesced
e in by the people" In the sequel, we shall
4 show that the Northern Wilmot Proviso
e Wings support Gen. Taylor upon the strength
= of this declaration. They say that he is bet
!, ter man for the North than his opponent, Gen.
!. Cass, upon this question; for he Gen. TaI
n lor) is pledged, say they, not to veto the Will
:, mot Proviso should it be passed by Congress,
d it being a domestic question which will not be
r. opposed "by the opinions of the individual
t, who may occupy the executive chair"
= Before we enter upon this branch of the
ot subject, however, we will prove beyond a
ar cavil, that Gen. Taylor, his oarn tcords are Il
y be believed, IS W1LMoT PRov1so MAN. This
may appear bold and out-of-the way asser'
id ton, and a somewhat hard one to make good
Or when it is considered that Gen. Taylor is, an(
4 has been for years, citizen OF slaveholdine
a. State, and an extensive STAKEHOLDER to boot
id truth, and if the Federal papers of North Ca
W rolina can refute what we are about to say
lie they will do so, we presume. Now to thu
a, proof
al On the 9th of April, 1s47, there appeared
IL an editorial article in the " Morning Signal
c. paper published by a namesake of the Gene
st rails, Jos. w. Taylor. Esq, in the civ OF Gin
ne cinnati, Ohio, headed "Gen. Taylor and tn
1e Presidency.' This article, the editor clipped
Id from his paper and enclosed in letter address
IN sed to General Taylor, at the same time ask
l. ing him (Gen. Taylor to reply, communica
Ia ting his sentiments with regard TO the view
~ and principles laid down in the editorial arti
is Gle alluded TO. We cannot find room for tn
~ whole of this article, but we will give tina
lr. portion which has relation to the matter WI
at are now discussing, and we ask for it a care
"a full perusal as it is, so far as the South is con
IN cerned, of the deepest importance. The Sig
o. nal " editor has laid down what he conceive
al TO be the proper course for the President t.
s. pursue, and thinks if his the editor's) view
In were carried out, the administration would re
II. dound to the interests of the whole people
nm and Immediately adds:
re- "Only OIL one condition, however. The Exc
lat cutive must no longer insist upon legislative nhu
ot ence. There questions approaching, which tn
people must be allowed to settle in their own way
Is without the interference of Executive patroEag
lie or prerogative. The old political issues may D
d, postponed under the pressure of circumstances
and as for the those coming events cast thei
W shadows before-let it be understood, that tn
at only path of safety for those who may hereafte
h. fill the Presidential Office, is to rest in the dis
a charge of Executive functions, and for the legsla
tive will of the people find utterance and enact
ment. The American people are about to assum
his the responsibility of framing the institutions
is the Pacific States. We have no fears for the i:
h sue if the arena of the high debate is the Assem-
~ bes of the people and their representative hail.
sy The extension over the continent beyond the Ri
Grande of the ordinance Of 1897. is an object TO
high and permanent to be bq0led by presidentio
uetoes. All that we ask of the incumbent of tn
in highest Office under the Constitution is to
:, HIS HAND to bow to the will of the people as pre-
e mugatcd in legislative forms, and restrain the e1
is ecutive action in its appropriate channels. Civ
a. an honest administration of the Government, an
NV an end to all cabals of cabinet-all the interfe
:" ence from the White House-designed TO sxa
10 or thwart the action of the American people.
en- such simplicity and integrity should guide the aC
mo ministration of General Taylor, the North an
West would yield to it warm support and
hearty approval"
ed -.
=. Here the reader will see that the editoris
~, article enclosed to Gen. Taylor takes decide
III grounds in favor of extending the ordinance c
:: 1887, the 9Th section of which is identica
- with the Wilmot Proviso, over the territor
IL which we may acquire "beyond the Ri
;. Grande.'' The article was written, recollec
:, in the Spring of 1S47, before any idea of
be Treaty of peace was dreamed of, and conse
he quenty before we had properly any territor
- beyond the Rio Grande." In a word tn
W editorial of the 6 Signar' takes high grorn
- in favor of the " Wimot Proviso" The Ed
10. itor says emphatically, GO The extension ore
49, the Continent beyond the Rio Grande Of til
:, Ordinance of 1887, is too high and perma
TO- nent to be baf1ed by Presidential vetoes." T
ho this communication Gen. Taylor replies, IN
81 der date, sc Camp near Monterey, May 18th
a,, l847." This reply is, indeed, brief, but w
think in the connection in which it was writ
. ten, it is all important. In it General Taylo