Herald of the times, and Rhode Islander. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1846-1849, 1848-09-21
6eralo Of the Gimes
RHODE ISL r.;
~~~~~~~~~~-~~~~~-~~~ ~-~~~~~~~~~~>>~>~~-~'
NEWPORT.
General TAYLOR.

The following letter has been prepared by
Gen. Taylor to correct any misconception
which might possibly be produced by the re-
cent publication of extracts from his private
correspondence, and the appearance over his
signature of replies TO single and detached
questions relative to his position before the
public. The letter is a connected narrative of
the series of circumstances which resulted in
his becoming candidate. II presents in IA
compact form all the matters bearing upon the
subject, and exhibits Gen. Taylor in his prop.
er character-true to himself, to his friends,
and to his country. If any man has doubted
Gen. Taylor's being Wing, we think those
doubts must be removed after reading the let.
ter.
East Pascogou'a, Spt. 4, 1913.
DEAR SiR-On the 22d day Of May last
addressed you 'ettcr explaining my views IN
regard to various matters Of public policy, lest
nv w.citizens might be misled by many
contradictory and conflicting statements in re-
spect to them which appeared IN the journals
of ihe day, and were circulated throughout the
country | now find myself Insrepresented
and misunderstood upon another point, otsuch
country at large, as to claim from me candid
and connected exposition of my relations to
the public in regard to the pending Preslden.
tal canvass.
The utmost ingenuity has been expended
un,p several letters and detached sentences If
letters, vhCh have recently appeared over my
signature, to show that occupy an equlvocal
attitude toward the various parties into which
the people are divided, AMI especially toward
i'm t,H ht,f fhn nt
al Convention which assembled in Philad"l-
min in June last. Had these letters and scraps
Of letters been published or construed IN con
nection with what have heretofore said upon
this subject, | should not now have to com
plain Of the speed with which my answers TO
isolated questions have been given up to The
captious criticism of those who have been made
my enemies by nomination winch has been
rendered to me without solicitation or arrange
ment of mine or Of the manner IN which Sc
lectcd passages IN some of my letters, written
in the freedom and carelessness of a confden-
tial correspondence, have been communI Gated
to the public press. But rlvcn from the con.
text and separated from series OF cNplana-
tory facts and circumstances which are, IN so
far as this canvass is concerned, historical,
they are as deceptive as though they were
positive fabrcations. address you tins letter
TO correct the in ustice that has been done me,
and the public to the extent that ! am an OBJ
icct Of interest to them, by this illIbcral pro-
cess.
shall not weary you by an elaborate recital
Of eyery incident connected with the first
presentation Of my name as candidate for the
Presidency | was then at the head of the
American Army in the valley of the Rio
Grande. | was surrounded by Wings and
Democrats, who had stood by me IN the trying
hours of my life, and whom It was my destiny
TO conduct through scenes OF still greater trial
NV duty TO that army, and to the Republic
whose battles we were waging, forbade my as.
sumng a position of seeming hostility to any
norton of the brave men under my command
all of whom knew | was a Wing in principle,
for made no concealmcnt Of my political SEN
timents or predictions.
Such had been the violence of party strug.
ples during our late Presidential elections,
that the &C ceptance OF nomination, under the
various interpretations given to the obligations
of candidate presented to the public with a
formuary Of political principles, was equlva-
lent almost to declaration OF uncompromis-
inc enmity TO all who did not subscribe TO its
tenets i was unwilling to hazard the effect
of such relationship toward any OF the soldiers
under nv command, when in front OF an enc
NV common TO us all. II would have been
uniust in itself, and it was as repugnant to my
own feelings as II was to my duty. wanted
unity i'm the army, ana 1orOore any act lhat
might SOW the seeds Of dlstrust and dlscord in
its ranks. have not my letters written at
the time before me, but they are all OF one I'M
port, and in conformity with the views herein
expressed.
Meanwhile was solicited by my personal
friends and by strangers, by Wings and Dem
ocrats. 10 consent to become candidate. u
was nominated by the people IN primary as
sembles-by Wings, Democrats and by Ma
tives, in separate aud mixed meetings. re.
sisted them all, and continued to do 50 TILL led
to believe that my opposition was assuming
the aspect Of a defiance of the popular wishes.
Welded only when il looked liSe presumption
Pei TO resist longer, and even then should not
have done so had not the nomination been
presented TO me in n form unlikely to awaken
acrimony or reproduce the bitterness OF feeling
which attends popular elections. say Il in
sincerity and truth, that part Of the induce
mcnt 10 my consent was the hope that by going
into the canvass II would be conducted with
candor ir not with kindness. N has been no
fault Of mine that this anticipation has proved
a vain one.
Aler permitted myself 10 be- announced
Cor the Presidency, under the circumstances
above noticed, I accepted nomination after
nomination, in the spirit IN which they were
rendered. They were made irrespective of
psrties, and 80 acknowledged No one who
,o,ned m those nominations could have heen
d,cei,td as to NY political views. From the