Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1848-10-19

alton of that pledge he published there also! 10
what honest end did Gen Taylor desire to hold
one language oPcaly to the people of the North,
and another language, secretly to the editors of
the South! The south never required pledge
from Gen. Taylor, They were satisfied with his
position-as was resolved at great meeting of
shareholders Of South Carolina, " we knOw IN
this great, paramount, leading question Of the
rights of the South, the WiImot Proviso, HE IS
OF US, He IS WITH US, HE IS FOR US" Ifthe cd.
itors were satisfied, the people of the South would
be satisfied say editors: tho but one letter has
been published, and that too by the ndlscretion
Of the editor yet is. it not fair to presume, that
similar letters were sent to the Southern editors
generally, and also to his leading friends there {?
Nor is the presumption without corroboratIon-
In the Nno Orleans Delta of July 81, 1917, is
the following;
We understand there is a letter from Gen. Taylor
in this city, which puts forever at rest all doubts
this subject, and shows that he is true to Southern
rights and principesin other words, that he is oppo
sed to the Wilmot Proviso."
This is the first Snd last that has been heard of
that letter. 1t was probably hardly mecesSmy'
to caution the person to whom it was addressed,
" that it was not intended for the public prints"
In another letter from Gen. Taylor to Rough
and Ready club of Va, (recently published, but
of which have not the date, )-rclcrring to the
Signal letter he says;
"My appreciation Of the general spirit which
pervaded his views has been greatly distorted in
its application to his particular views and opin-
ions, which it was never my intention to express.
of this am confident MY FRIENDS ARE WELL AS
sURED." Mr. Mangum, in the Senate on the 22d
June last, said 1t is argued from the Signal let
ter that Gen. Taylor must be a Winot Proviso
man. | do not understand 1t SO. Tho MIR. Man
gum disclaims any correspondence with Gen IT,,
yet he is elul not to give his authority for mot
understanding it So And as this was before the
publication Of the Monitor letter, it may not have
been prudent to have then published such author
ily; but Mr.. Mgngum was sure that " the ques-
ton was safe in his handS"-and from, no doubt,
good authority, he expressed the opinion of the
South, that they were nell assured of Gen. Tay-
lor's fidelity to their interests " The 1Ch0ie South
wW PIT their trust IN him acithom any miSgiU-
mgs"
The object of the conceament of Gen. Tav
Ions Southern opinions is well set forth in a dia-
logue which Mr.. Bowdon has given as having
passed between him and Gov. Gayle, of Alabama,
both members of the present Congress-. Mr..
Bowdon is supporter of Gen. Cass, and Gov.
Gayle of Gen. Taylor
Mr.. Bowdon.-We governor, you 60 for Gen.
Taylor.
Governor.-O yes. If we elect him we can
take our niggers everywhere-all over New Mex
leo and California
Bowdon How do you know that Gen Taylor
is in favor of permitting the extension of slavery?
Governor Why, he owns three hundred mig
gers himself
Bowdon. But sir, the Northern wings think
that Gen L. is in favor of the restriction Of sa-
very.
Governor. Very we'll.
Bowdon. If Gen. Taylor sanctions the exten.
sion of slavery, the Northern wings will be chea-
ted
Governor. Earnestly On EN-, let them be
cheated; they deserve it, any how, for their past
sins. Laughter
Bowdon. Would it not be we'll to get Cen Tay.
lor to say what he is in favor of with regard to the
question? If he is in favor of slavery extension
let the North know it.
Governor. That would never do there are
Webster, Davis, Corwin and others, who possess
a great deal of influence at the North, and il
would never do.
Bowden. Governor, you and differ. | think
it better to know the sentiments of a candidate, SC
that neither the South or the North may be de.
ceived and cheated.
Governor. Taylor will take care of the South
the North ought to be punished for former trans
gressons. Laughter.
The letter to the editor of the Monitor, under
the direction of Gen. Taylor, given in the letter
itself, remained secret and unpublished from its
date Nov. 5, l847, for seven months and a half
until about the Goth June, when an extract from
it was published, and that without the authority Of
Gen. Taylor, but through the indiscreet zeal ofthe
editor. The whole letter, with its injunction on
the press, has been since published. In the mean
time, the Signal letter was insisted on by the
Taylor press in the free states, (and some still
use it to that end) as containing a subssting
binding pledge on Gen. Taylor not to veto the
Wilnot Provso;-and this use of that letter being
all the time known to Gen. Taylor, and not con-
tradicted or rebuked where it was thus used.
During the time that this letter was thus con.
cealed, on the 18th Feb. 1e48, in reply to the
question, "Should you become President of the
United States, would you veto an Act of Con
gress which should prohibit slavery or invoIun
tary servitude forever, except for crime, in al
the territories of the U. S., where it does no
now exist" Gen Taylor replied, "IhaUe laid Il
dOaCa as a principle not to give my opinions upor
or PREJUDICE, in any way, the various questions o
policy now at issue between political parties o
the country" and in the cases presented il
your letter, regret to add, see no necessity fo
departing from this principle" On the 25th o
March, 1913, in his letter to Mr. King, he re
affirms the same principle; and yet, in the Allison
letter, of the 22nd April, he says: Il HAVE M
coNcEALMENT. IhOd no opinion which I woud
not readily proclaim to my assembled country
men,"
From the date of the Allison letter, to thi
time, contradictory interpretations are given c
his meaning in that letter, which have beeI
brought to his notice, not only by the newsps
per publications of the day, but also by specia
enquiries, post paid, as am informed He re
mains silent, adherng, I suppose, to his ''princ
pie" not to give his opininion on any question &
issue.
Such is the case on which Gen. Taylor's claiI