The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1848-10-17

,Ibsd by us few days since, our readers VIII re-
a.. ,he remarkable words-words TO be for
words that will never cease TO meet the indig
-, rebuke of every intelligent American; MY opn-
,r>n If were President of the United States, are
n,ther important nor necessary
Can Jackson the hero, the statesman, the sage thus
m wrote to his friends this very point, so strange
,un, forth by the wing candidate for the presidency;
- - agan felloyv-citizens, remember the fate of
, Rome and vote for no candidate who will not tell
with the frankness Of an independent freeman, the
pes upon which, if elected, he will administer your
"'r Can Tree
ho vsues his rights vote for such a man. who
% nj, opinions are asked for, insults you with The re-
a., a will answer questions, coming either from friend
a. answer FOR YOU, that none, worthy to be Free
can do So"
What contrast between these two distinguished men
od Tack" by OF his deluded advocates and iol-
,o,s has been likened to ''Old Hickory;" but how
kugly dissimar is the comparison The one, holding
oon;ons of his own and considering it quite unm-
ao and unnecessary that he should have any, seven
he President of the United States while the other,
the generous frankness of his nature, with the honest
,obenes of heart that disdaned all deception, thus adj
,onished the people TO 'voe Tor no candidate who will
oo fell YOU, with the frankness of an independent free
nan the principles upon which, if elected, he will admin
10, your government" Democrats-Jackson men--yc
,ose principles are open TO the light of day. who stand
committed to the measures and policy of the veneraed
chief whose memory you still so fondly cherish look
the striking difference and mark well the words of him
who now seeks your sufrages-" My opinions, even if
we're President of the United States. are neither i'm
noant nor necessary" And will you you, be made
the deuded instruments for sending such into
be executive chair of nation founded, is upon
he very rock of public opinion itself Surprising Gen.
TAYLOR now the Presidentor that is the very position
according to his own doctrine, in which he is to exercise
no opinions if successusupposing him actually seated
in the White House, and when asked to sign any bill
passed by Congress, SAY to make appontmentsto
fill vacances--to do any executive act, indeed-he
should turn round and reply, haze opinions mtch
are "unporant necessary on these subjects If
asked for proclamation for public sae-for the con-
s,ruction of any executive trust power-would he
repeat his emphatic declaration and say My opinions
81, are neither important nor neeessary7"
To whom would we appeal for directon' II, as
President he would hold to opinions, who would hold
them for him. Who would then become the Premier of
the throne2 Who his executive Mentor If he is to
have no opinions of his own, would respectfully in
qure of the wings whether it would be anything but fair
and right for them to tell who is to become the keeper
of the Generals opinions in the event of his success
Who will deny this, that the country may be enabled
TO vote for somebody in whom the Executive opinions
and powers may be directly concentrated
is true that the creation OF new governmental
department. particular department OF OPINION, might
infringe little upon our present constitutions but as it
is an axiom of the British law that "the king do
no urong," so it may even be with Dur new American
President if elected There certainly will be little dan
ger to himself in exercising opinions at a and il he is
have why not cast an iron President at some OF our
Yankee oundres, and set him up close by the Execu-
tive table, Perhaps the statue of Jefferson, in front
OF the Presidential mansion, might be conveniently trans
erred to the Executive chamber The only seeming obec-
ton the way of such arrangement would be, the open
insult it might by some be considered Offering to the
memory of that great apostle OF democracy. who never
lodged responsibility, and who had no opinions hidden
from the open light of day. and the suggestion is merely
limited here this day of the advancement OF the arts
as not altogether mpractcabe out OF place. should
dmerican satuary become so popular an ingredient in
the wing creed enable them to cast to order and on
short notice, good federal President of the United
States They might thus be spared wonderful deal OF
trouble and place themselves, in all matters OF opinions
on perfectly reliable and Independent ground
We are at loss to say whether the position taken by
Gen. Taylor is most exceponable in point OF principle.
most ridiculous in respect to form. General Taylor
avows in this extraordinary letter. that he intends to
have no opinions Of his own, for they 'neher i'm
poant nor necessary" What is this but to avow his
purpose of leaving everything, far as possible, in the
hands of the Senate Qor our foreign relations, or OF
Congress for general legislation of his own executive
departments for appointments to office? The effect will
to merge the presidential powers in those OF Congress
or all of domestic or of foreign polcyn other
Words to sink into automaton, into an insignificant
CIPHER and to register the edcts of Congress without rec
any to their consideration, or without
examining their acts sanctonng such he may approve
veong those which he may strongly disapprove
And has this Is the first step which General
Taylor has to take TO strike down the constitution itself
Is this be his great recommendation to his frends Is
his principal qualification to consist in sacrificing all
his opinions to the party which elects him, rather to
hose leaders by whom he will be surrounded Is his
election TO repeal the constitution itself! That insru-
nent defines the powers of the President in letters of
gh He swears in the presence of the people, on the
Iih Of March, that he evil faithfully execute the Office
OF President Of the United States and will to the best of
his) ability protect and defend the constitution OF the
United States" Among these duties which the const
luton enoins upon him is "to i've to the Congress in
formation OF the state of the Union, and recommend TO
her consideration such he shall Judge
ary and erpedent" Now, the very first step which he
axes to declare that he will responsibility,
rnprp j.