The Middlebury galaxy. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1848-1850, 1848-08-08

VrnprIa lua5 OUT cf lie !eaSury lot Hlt Tvs
provrmenI oil rivers and harb0rs. Rrasona-
hle appropriations for The latter purpose
wonld no doubt receive The sanction al Gen.
Cass and the Democratic party. but appro-
priafinns for vast and expensive system Ui
internal improvements. hope never vii re
ceise The sIuclien Of ckhcr.
MIR. CLAYTON. We see. from these
vague answers how difficult ii is ia ascer-
tain SHAT Zen. Cass does or does not mean
sibum these lines. know that hc has voted
IN favor of every internal improvement bill
and against every yeloni Them. Now. have
always heretofore looked TO mans acts III
order TO ascertain what he mean: 10 do: and
have hitherto regarded Gen. Cass as
hfEh ultra internal improvement man.
have always believed that he could 81 fur
ilIer on that subject than could myself, and
that there were some things besides Mexico
which found very !Iicult 10 ia.e, which he
swallowed with great ease. |: IS apparent
dat there are Two Senators WHO have very
different views OF Gen. Cass's opinions upon
the subject Of internal Improvement am
apprehensi,e that we arc to understand Gen
Cas- one way in Que part of The Union aud
differently in another part. lie was called
upon by one OF his friends at Cleveland (Mr.
Wond) 10 state his opinions Oh this subject.
hui we were informed that the noise and
confusion" were so great that he could not
make any reply, although he was able 10 tell
The audience, very audibly, much about his
early history, and how he had risen from
comparative ebscuriiy 10 become The candi-
date Of The great Democratic party. am
very much afraid, Mr. President, that he
''ncise and confusion" will continue through
out the campaign, and that we shall never
be able 10 ascertain the opinions Of Gen. Case
upon This important subject. He hns writ
ten letter approving Of the whole Baltimore
platform. Let me read portion Of that plat
form which was not expunged:
"R Solred, That the Constitution does rot con
fer upon the General Government the power TO
commence and carry on general system OF in
tcrnal improvement"
1t seems, then from the light before US. that
the Baltimore Convention held that the Govern
IneEt could no; Garry on general system OF III
icrnal improvements but the honorable member
from Illinois says it may carry on particular
system. such as that indicated hy the river and
hnrhor hill which met Mr.. Folks veto. That was
first reported bv a committee 10 the Convention
as a 'cOTTup:ing svslcin, and Nj Polk was, in
that report. cJmpinented for the veto upon it.
But, as Mr. Cess had voted for the corrupting sys
TEN. and against Mr.. Polk's veto. ard it was held
necessary, as Mr.. lancey proves, net TO condemn
the nominee the compliment was struck ont, and
b. the committee not approved. Then, 10 misti
fy this whole matter still further another resolu-
ton passed that the fruits of the great political
triumph of 1914, which elected James X. Polk,
have fulfilled the hopes OF the Democracy of The
Union But the most amusing part Of the whole
platform Is the distinction of the Senator from IL
hnois between general system of Improvement
md mere appropriations for rivers ard hnrbors.'
The Senator from Mississippi holds The rirer and
har5o- bill uncC nsiitu6onnl, lut still sustans Mr..
CasS, wlo he SAYS, is for liberal system. The
Scnat from illinois is for the river and harbor
bill. Mr. Polk is against that bill, and also a.
gainsi the liberal system, toto culo. Yet all arc
on th platform. Each is orthodox. Is it not
clear, therefore, that the platform TO which Gen.
CaSS g,.dyed himself 10y his letter OF acceptance
Of the Baltimore Imagination requires another ex-
p,ara,ion from himself
NJ. FOOgE. Gen. Cas-, in his letter accep-
ting The nomination Of the Baltimore Convcn-
non, stated thai hat letter closed lis profession
Of flih
Mr.. CLAYTON. I remember flat very well.
in III It letter, after endorsing this uniniegibe
platf IrrH of tho Democratic Convention, he adds,
that le will not say any more. lie closed the
dooc. becnne &c neral Murl and accordingly, in
10 throw any ;Iorc light ON the subject. 1t is
papaJ.e that ms POSITION Is equivocai, aid differ
emily understood in different sections CT the L.
MIN, sad that the platform i!aeT is mero hum
Ing.
The honorable gentleman asked ne what were
the sentiments Of Gen Taylor in regard TO The
ifcxican War. think hc will find an answer
Periec ~ satisfactory in the Allison letter. There
Cen laYlor announces u great principle OF vast
importance 80 this country. He ayows himself
opposed 10 the dociriue Of annexation by con
quest lie Is opposed to war, when the honor of
the country does not demand IT, and in favor Of
peace The genera! policy Of the nation. He
congra'ulates tho country UPON the successful toy
mination Of TIE Mexican War But he distinct
~ ann unces his Own principle, conservative and
glorious as il iS-cnc on which we will 90 into
she canvass this fall-that hc will oppose all war
far the purposes Of conquest
Mr.. FOOTE. Tic Senator seems TO have gil
ded past my intcrrogatorv. The question was,
dill Gci- Taylor apprl;c Of the conduct OF his
own country or, did he hold that Mexico was in
the right And, secondly. when HAL war had been
wigeI mp 10 the time Of the treaty Of peace, docs
he not know that General Taylor was in favor Of
that acqui,iti Of territory which has been made
l,y tlt treaty
Mr.. CLAYTON. The gentleman unin;cn-
tionaly assumes by his question. a knowledge OF
General Taylors opinions which his published
Declarations do not Justify and about which Meth
or he Nor | con have any knowledge. We know
thing Of General Taylor's opinions except from
The letters which have been published to The world
AMI in ihcm he has given no opinion upon The
subject to which tie gentleman refers, nor can
conceive that it is of the slightest Importance.
-iS soldier, his position marie it Improper to
gne5.n any command Of the Chief Magistrate,
and his duty was obedience. II is not necessary,
ia this connection, TO discuss the question wlcth-
a. tac Mexican war was ust and necessary or MT.
ii Mr. Polk were running as the candidate,
mgat have something to say on that subject and
when treating ofthe claims Of Gen. Cass, who APP
proved bE his speeches and votes in this chamber
every Act and saving of Mr.. Poll, On wars, itDiay
be taken up with propriety. But. so far as Gen.
TAYLOR is concerned, the question has passed a
way with the war in which he did las whole duty
II he announces himself distinctly opposed 10 &C
QUESTION by conquest hereafter the question TO
the justice Of The Mexican war far as he is
cerned ceases 10 have the least importance with
men Of any party IN the Presidential campaign.
General Taylor has done more 10 terminate the