Carroll free press. [volume] (Carrollton [Ohio]) 1834-1861, 1848-02-17
A POINTED DOCUMENT.
Letter from Mr.. BOttS OF Virginia.
House. OF REPRESENTATIVES,,
Jan. %, 1848.
To The Editors Of The Richmond Wig:

To The Editors Of the Richmond wing:
Gentemen-Your correspondent from this
City, who is a most worthy and estmab!c, but 4
sadly mistaken, gentleman, aud who, ! ap-
from the character Of his commune .
cations, is rather too credulous for the political
about Washington. has, perceive, /
in letter bearing date Of the 23l inst, and pub
lished in the Wing Of the eth, represented to
YOU, and through you to my constituents, that
MIR. Clingman, Of North Carolina, and myself,
are the only two representatives from the South,
together with few from the West, opposed TO
the nomination of General Taylor. Now, | do
not mean TO say who Mr.. Cllngman, or any bo-
dy else, is for or against-each gentleman can
answer for himself as he sees fit. But do
mean TO say that your correspondent has been
led into a most egregols error, If he supposes
the friends Of Mr. Clay in Congress, from the
South and West, q mean those who prefer hs
nomination as we'll as his election,) are limited
10 two or twenty-but it has oeen by such errors
of calculation that public opinion abroad has
been manufactured, as to the true condition Of
things in Washington.
That stand alone of the Virginia delega-
tion, in expressing my preference for Mr.
Clay, is true. That | regret not having the
support ofany my colleagues, is equally true.
They, no doubt, are honestly rejecting their
own views and what they believe TO be the
views and wishes of their consttuents--so am |.
But if | stood alone in Congress or the Nation
upon this question, alone would | continue 10
stand, unm0ued and mistaken.
am not only stern and inneXbe Wing
myself upon principle, but represent stern
and inhexiblo Wing district. Ineed no Loco
loco votes to retain me in place, and if did,
should not get them-nor shall | court their
support by any other means than by persuasion,
that represent faithfully what believe to be
( the true interests of the country. Other gen.
/ lIemen, who are representing decidedly Demo-
cratic, or doubtful, disticts, are bat lelecung
the true condition of those districts, perhaps by
supporting doubtful, or "no parity" Caldi-
date.
! have been aboring for twenty odd years in
the great Wing cause, for the triumph of my
principles, and the principles, of the party with
which have been assocated-with what zeal
and success let my own district and others an-
sw.r, cannot, lcth please or offend whom ii
mav1 IsriH not, be brought TO the confession
,hoi nv s,rn, 1les and efforts against the con-
tending parly have been tactous, aud slimulo-
ted only by desire to put the '"S and the
outs in, by giving in my HaeS'on 10 IA candl, ,
date whose principles are unknown 10 me ana
to you.
Political life has lost many of its charms for
me. The only gain have derived from it, has
been a name for honesty and devotion to prln-
cipIe; which am not yet prepared to sacrifice,
by yielding my principles to the custody of one,
whose policy, if elected, isveed in secrecy and
mystery.
If Gen. Taylor is "nO party candidate"
which is the only position he has yet assumed,
then am not Of his parly-tor am party
man, and that party is the Wing party. have
nothing to ask, and | want nothing,
of Mr.. Clay, or General Taylor, or
or any other Executive, and will not do, what
would regard as surrender Of my principles.
to make any man President; and therefore |
cannot advocate the nomination Of "a gentleman
who has never filled u political position, who
comes fresh from the tented field, heraIded only
by his military achievements, and whose politi-
cal views are carefully concealed as well from
his friends as his opponents.
While am not Indifferent to the domestic
policy Of our Government, look with a much
more anxious eye to our foreign policy: for
the present, q far more important question is
prcsented-one that overshadows and absorb S
all others; mean the Mexican war, and the
objects for which it is to be prosecuted.
am unalterably opposed TO the subugatlon
of Mexico, and to the annexation Of any part Of
the Mexican territory, and will support no man
for the Presidency who is in favor OF admitting
the Mexican race TO an equal participation IN
the administration of our free Institutions
Nay, more than that can support no man
who is not known to be opposed 1t. believe
that the subugation Of Mexico, and its annexa-
ton 10 the United States, (which is now the OBJ
ect avowed, will decide the fate Of this Union:
and think it matters litte how soon it shall be
dissolved, when that scheme of inlatuotlon and
madness shall have been accomplished: and am
! asked, at such time, and such crises oil
our fate, to discard wise, practical, eXpcren'
ced Statesman, who commands the confidence
and esteem of every true Wing throughout the
broad limits of the land, to take up a soldier
from the field, flushed with victory, and whose
trade is war-whose opinions upon this great
question are unknown to me and TO you-rom
whom we have not had the slightest intimarion
of purpose or wise--only because he comes
recommended as committed TO no principles
aud to no policy, beyond his own will and
Judgment
Throw physc to the dogs I'll none ofit.'
| have had enough of your no party men.
Let me ask one question; If Gen. Taylor is
eecled as a no party candidate, will he prove
a mo party President! If he should, then he
f will not suit me, or any other Wing. If not,
would he not dsappoint those who elected him!
= If majority of the people are so dissatisfied
l with the principles and measures of both the
great parties of this country as to elect Prosi'
dent belonging to neither, could he select
Wing Cabinet, and adopt Wing measures
without betrayal of the trust coniidcd to him
! by those who elected him!-or, in other words
he is elected upon the ground that he will not