Iowa capitol reporter. [volume] (Iowa City, Iowa) 1841-1855, 1848-09-06
Gen. Buffers Acceptancc...POsi
ai0n Of the ssMum', Candidate.

III qtOu OF the I'M uun, C0nOlOatc.
In another column we presentto our read
ers the letter Of Gen. WIN. 0. BurLER--
fair, candid, open and explicit pting
his nomination to the Vice Presidency Of
the United States. How different are the
hiph-minded declarations Of Gems. CAss
and BurLEn, relative to the governmental
policy which, if elected, they promise in
good faith to pursue, when compared to
the disreputable-we had almost sad
fraudulent-concea practiced and
encouraged on the part Of our opponents.
We hold the important doctrine Of ''mea-
sures not men," not only as an important
element of the democratic creed, but as
one the acknowledgment and binding force
Of which, if not strictly carried out in prac-
tice, must inevitably result inthe destruc-
ton Of representation and democracy, and
substitute therefor the one-man power and
aristocracy. A free people-and espe-
cially people differing SO widely as ours
do, in their ideas of the good and evil eff
fleets Of prominent measures Of civil poll
CIV, which are before them for their ador-
lion or rejection-hav an undoubted right
not only to ask, but demand of those who
either solicit or receive their sufrages for
high stations, an exposition Of at least the
great outlines OF policy which they pro-
pose to adopt, if entrusted with the dis
charge Of the duties Of those Offices
Where such an open and honorable course
is adopted, it must secure at least public
respect; when it is avoided, it cannot on
the other hand, bereceived otherwise than
with suspicion, to use the mildest terms.
It conveys either, first, an indirect asser-
ton, to the effect that the people the
masses are incapable Of judging in rela-
ton to matters Of public policy; or Sec
ondly, virtual admission that certain po-
litical dogmas, professed and intended to
be carried out by these political aspirants,
are unpopular with the people at large
The assertion implied in the first horn Of
this dilemma, is too insulting to receive a
moment . countenance at the hands of a free
and self-respecting people, no matter by
whom it is directly or indirectly made;
the admission which the second horn of
this dilemma conveys is characteristic Of
the late wing, or minority prrty, and is no
less than we-would naturally be led to ex-
pect from body Of men who have repu-
dated party, for the sake Of availability"
and the prospect which they fondly ina
gined it afforded them of usurping official
stations.
Wemakenocharge of dishonesty against
Gen. Taylor; though far be it from us to
insult the good sense Of our readers by
calling his ridiculously vascillating and in
consistent declarations Of his position
by the name Of honesty. An intelli-
gent public will judge Of that; and it is
well for the future prosperity Of the coun-
try, that Gen. Taylor's position is SO shall
low that school boy, even, needs not the
advice Of his mother to set him right upon
81
it. But still, Gen. Taylor is doubtless UNI
fortunate, in being placed las he now is,
or as he surely would necessarily be, if
elected, to the Presidency-in the hands
of men compared with whom he is but
babe, both in intellect and in his -knowl-
edge ofthe affairs ofgovernment-so much
so, indeed, as to destroy all idea Of respon-
s,biliiy as relates to his agency in its adj
ministration.
How different in this respect is the
proud position occupied by our candidates.
They admit and insist upon the honesty
and intelligence Of the people, and ac-
knowledge their wisdom, as being fully
capable to judge in advance for themselves,
and not By proxy, as to matters of public
policy. They say to the people, :" We
cannot consent to win the good opinion Of
others BY Disgusting our own" To the
people Of Iowa We say, then, Choose ye
between them!''