Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1848-09-23

So much for what think of Gen Taylors personal cha
racer And will say, too that far have observed,
his conduct his nomination has been eproachabe
There has been intrigue bis part contumeous treat
ment of any rivals promises hopes any any
party We do not find him putting forward any pretensions
Of his own. And believe Of him, he believes Of himself
that he honest man, of upright purposes and TO his
other qualifications for the Presidency he has nothing
to say.
Now friends and with respect his po-
tica preferences will say that believe him to be Wing
TO hold the main doctrines and uphold the great principles Of
the Wing party To believe otherwise would be to mpute
him degree Of erg,ersaton and fraudulent preenon OF
which suppose him utterly incapable
Gentlemen il is worth while to consider in what
ner Gen. Taylor became candidate 1t is great mistake
to suppose that he the selection merely Of the Philadelphia
Convention, for he nominated In various States by
meous popular conventions year before the Philadelphia
Convention assembled.
Gentlemen the whole history Of the world shows that,
whether in the civilized the most babarous ages the
affections and admiration Of the people easily and always
carried away by successful military talents and achievements
And in the before Gen. Taylor by his own
brilliant operations the Rio Grande, Palo Alto and else
where secured spontaneous nominations from portions of the
people of all the States And let say too, that they
mostly Wing nominations they were nominations by Wings
always, is true, but generally they Wing nomi
nations.
Gen. TAYLOR has been esteemed from the moment his mill
tay achievements brought him into public notice, Wing
general You all remember that when discussing
in Congress the merits Of the generals the question of pre-
senng thanks the army, the supporters Of the Admnista
ton and the friends Of Mr. Polk denounced Gen. Taylor be-
cause he was Wing. My friend, whom | am happy to
here the representative in Congress from this district
Hon. ARENAS Hale will remember that leading. of
the party and prominent friend Of the Administration, in
his place in Congress, declared that it the policy Of the
Administration prosecute the Mexican war; and that that
policy could prosper till the recall OF those Wing gene
rails Scott and Taylor. That the policy of the Demo-
cracyhat the should be carried out by the Democracy
was Democratic merit and glory and that ground the
hIp
Gen. Taylor nominated mainly thus by Wing conven-
tons and Wing meetings numerous quarters OF the country
remark gentlemen, in the next place, that there was
particular purpose concerning the advancement Of slavery
tertaned by those who nominated him. As have said the
nomination made by Wing meetings and conventions
in the Northern and Middle States than at the South
and the who did nominate him entertained any
desire extend the of slavery through his administration
by his influence The Quaker city of Philadelphia the
great State Of Pennsylvania certainly nominated him with
such views We remember that large convention in the
city Of New York. composed of highly respectable many
Of whom personally well known to nominated him, and
certainly they had such views. And the nomination
hailed very extensively but by enthusiastic and
very seeing politicians here in Massachusetts, amongst
who raised the notes of exultaon their anticipated tn
umph, certainly Early enough, perhaps little too eary for
sound judgment and discretion They might better have
waited little.
But gentlemen, the truth is, and avoid seeing
-unless sometimes the case the object brought
near the eye lie disceed-ha these Whg meetings and
this Phadelphs Convention proceeded exactly according
this that, believing General Taylor to be Wing,
they thought he could be elected easily than any other
Wing. That the whole OF it, That sagacioIs, ciss,
rseeing doctrine Of availability lies at the bottom Of the
whole matter. "
So far them from impung any motive desire for the
promotion extension of slavery operating upon these
conventions throughout the country on that at Phade
phia-at least regards the majority OF their membersn
the nomination and election of General Taylor, do not be-
lieve word OF it.
But that part of what is called the Buffalo plat
form snys that the nomination Philadelphia made
under the dictaion of the slave power do not believe
word Of that either For there very great majority Of
members from the free States in that body who might have
nominated any body else they chose whom they could
agree And heD there great many Of his
advocates, some from New England, who would
of their right hands than submit to any such dctaon
such case. may admire their discretion policy but
acquit them of all such base motives have been
charged upon them. think understand their motives
Their reasoning just this: Gen. Taylor is Wing an
eminent manno indeed in civil life but circumstances have
given him ecla with the people if he elected, with him
shall have increase of the Wing strength in Congress- and
therefore il is best sustain him. That the object and
move-however wise unwise-of large majority Of the
| convention.
In my opinion it wholly unwise policy II was not
suited to the Wing character. Ii was short-sighted.
But acqut the members of tie convention OF any of the
motives ascrbed to hem especially this set forth in the
Buffalo platform.
Such, gentlemen the circumstances connected with the
nomination Of Gen. Tay And will only repeat that those
who had the most agency originally bringing him before
the people Wing conventions and meetings in several
States-ee Statcs-and great majority Of the Philadelphia
Convention from the free States. They might have rejected
him if they had 50 chosen and wanted any body else.
This, them the presented to the Wings, far
respects the personal fitness and character Of Gen. Taylor
Now, citizens, IL weighing the propney of
nominating such person candidate for the Chief Mags
racythat is thing IT. considering the expedency, or
may say the necessity to minds Of supporting him
ne is nomnatcdthat is quite another thing. And this
leads the consideration Of what the Wings of Massachusetts,
ought TO do. Such OF them not willing TO support
Gen. Taylor must il is clear, vote for Mr. Cas Mr. Van
Buren, omit to vote al all agree that there in
which, if we do not know in what direction move we
should stand still until do; in which, If do not
know what to DO is better 10 do nothing than do
know not what
popular election Of the Chief Magistrate under Govern
ment whose very constitutional forms render impossible that
every mans private opinion should preyahe inquiry
sss in just this What il best for us to do the whole
And this again leads TO examination Of the question
before US.
Under the practical operation of the constitution Of the
United States there cannot be great range the choice be-
candidates for high national Offices. To render their
votes effective must necessarily give them one of the
prominent candidates. That is the result Of our form Of
Government and therefore does sometimes bring US TO the
necessity OF choosing from among candidates. neither Of
whom would be personal choice. What, then, is
the contingency, the alternative presented TO us In my
Judgment there Is merely one question: and between the
election Of Gen. Taylor Of Gen. Cass That is the whole
Of IT, am more skilled TO foresee political events than
others Judge for myself aone-and for myself Unjust say
that possible chance for any body except either Mr.