Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1848-06-29

| the whole nation, and who can be supported by
Wing or Democrat, Abolitionist or Nativc'
without the sacrifice of a single political opinion.
This was substantially the course of Gen. HAIR
RisoN, and we approved it then.-the American
people approved it What if each Presidential
candidate were now to stand on this platform?
Evidently, in the choice of President, the people
would be left FREQ to choose according to their
Judgment of the fitness and character of the men,
unbiased by party prejudces, and uncontrolled
by party plans yet too, they would be perfect
ly free 10 carry om their political principles through
their representatives. Nay, more those rep;e-
sentatives themselves would be perfectly free
from Executive control. Freedom in the free
men, in the elections, in the representatives; re-
sponsbility-o Of the freeman to his country, of
the representative to his constituents, Of the
President to the nation. This was the original
theory of our government. Subverted by King
Caucus and the Veto, it has been left to Zachary
Taylor, military chieflain though he is, to pro-
claim the most feasible way in which it can be
restored.
But how stands Gen, Taylor on the all.impor-
tant and pressing questions of the day? He is n
STAKEHOLDER but like Washington, and Jefferson,
and Clay, represented to be opposed to the sys-
tenn and opposed 10 its extension. Of the lat.
ter we are assured by his own declaration:
"The principles OF our government, as
well as its true policy are opposed TO the subIu
CATION of other nations, and the dismemberment
of other countries by conquest In the language
of the great Washington, 'N ny should we quit
our own TO stand on foreign ground ="
His previous course and known opinions are
in harmony with this, for he was opposed to the
annexation of Texas. This extract was written
on the 22d of April, after the Mexican treaty
had been ratified by our Senate, but before the
ratification by Mexico. The Mexican territory
had not then been annexed Gen. Taylor was
doubtless opposed to its annexation, and if any
disposition of this territory can be made short of
annexation, such as permitting it to become a
new independent Yankeeized republic, between
ourselves and Mexico, it might meet his consent.
But upon this we have no right to count: this
territory is after a fashion annexed-it is ours,
:. we having not only sacrificed several thousa nd
of lives for it, but passed receipts with Mexico,
paid her fifteen millions to boot, and saddled our
, selves with debt of ONE HUNDRED AND EIGH-
rY.rIvE MILLIONS Wondrous fruit ofone Bal
, tmore caucus-but not the worst fruit: SHALL
, IT BE SLAVE TERRIroRY That is the drest
fruit of all-couse of woes we cannot count
How stands Gen. TAYLOR? We know not his
preferences or personal opinions distnc,y--h he
may have, and is likely 10 have, Southern views
r but this we DO know whatever are his preferen-
ces or opinions, he is piedged against The Ttfo
on his subject. We refer to the second head OF
+ Let MS be sure, though. Is not this " a clear
) case of violation of the constitution" which
Gen. Taylor may consistently enough veto? By
no means. On the contrary, any act of Congress
establishing or wnkng at the establishment of
slavery in this territory, where it did not exist at
the time of annexation, would be clearly without
, the authority of the Constitution, contrary to its
, spirit, contrary to the whole spirit of our gov
, ernnenl, and therefore case eminently worthy
, of the exercise Of the odious Veto. But does
, not Gen Taylor regard the WIlmot proviso, allas
, the ordinance Of ~, unconstitutional? Not
t at all: he is bound to assent to all questions
once settled by the decisions of the government
, with the acquiesence of the people. The princi-
, Pile of the Wilmo proviso has thus been settled,
, at sundry times. But we have still clearer evil
dence. In the spring Of 1917, the editor of the
, Cincinnati Sgnalchosc to shadow forth what
he presumed to be the Leading features in the
!, policy of no party President, and sent it to
u rNr t., IL