Herald of the times, and Rhode Islander. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1846-1849, 1848-05-11
From He Ne,c Orleans Picayune, AprHs5.
1 General Taylor.

]
sons who assumed TO speak from authority
4 have induced him TO address letter to Capt
/ A llison, his brother-in-law, in which he takes
| occasion to speak more at large OF political to-
pics than he has hitherto done. This letter has
been handed us for publication, and il defines
once fol all, the Generals position III regard tc
the Presidency, and the issues which lie at the
base ofparty organization.
\ BAToN RoUGE, April 20, 1918.
II Dear Sir-My opinions have recently been
so often msconceiyed and misrepresented, that
! deem il due to myself, ifnot to my friends, 10
make brief exposition ofthem upon the topics
to which you have called my attention.
have consented to the use of my name as
candidate for the Presidency. / have frank
ly avowed my own distrust of my fitness for
that high station but having, at the solicita-
ton of many of my conntrymen, taken my
position as candidate, do not feel at liber-
" to surrender that position until my friends
manifest wish that | should retire from it,
will then most gladly do so. have no private
purposes to accomplish, no party projects to
build up, no enemies to punsh-nothlng TO
serve but my country.
/ have been very often addressed by letter,
and my opinions have been asked upon almost
every question that might occur to the writers
as affecting the interests of their country or
their party. have not always responded to
these inquiries, for various reasons.
I | confess, while have great cardinal prn-
ciples which will regulate my political life,
am not sufficiently familiar with all the minute
details of political legislation to give solemn
pledges to exert my influence, if were Pres-
dent, to carry out this or defeat that measure.
| have no concealmcnt. ] hold no opinion
which would not readily proclaim 10 my as
scmbled countrymcn but crude impressions
upon matters ofpolicy, which may be right to-
day and wrong tomorrow, are, perhaps, not
the best test Of fitness for office. One who
cannot be trusted without pledges cannot be
confdcd in merely on account OF them.
| will proceed, however, now to respond to
/ your inquiries.
| First reiteratc what have so often said
i am Wing, but not an ultra Wing: If
elected would not be the mere President of a
party. j would endcavor to act Independent
of party domination. shouldj feel bound to
administer the Government ufframnlelled by
party schemes.
SecoRd.-The veto power. The power
given by the constitution to the Executive, to
interposc his veto, Isl high conservative power,
but in my opinion should never be exercised
except in cases ofclear violation OF the constiu-
ton, or manifest haste and want a considera-
ton by Congress. Indeed, have thought that
for many years past, the known opinions and
wishes Of the Executive have exercised undue
and injurious influence upon the legislative de-
partment of the Government and for this cause
! have thought our system was in danger of
undergoing Il great change from its true theory
The personal opinions of the individual who
may happen to occupy the Executive chair
ought not To control the action OF Congress upon
questions of domestic policy, nor ought his OBJ
jectlons to be interposed where questions Of
constitutional power have been settled by the
various departments Of Government and ac-
quiesced in by the people.
Third.-Upon the subjects Of the tariff the
currency, the improvement Of our great high
ways, rivers, lakes, and haIbors, The will of the
people, as expressed through their Representa-
lives in Congress, ought TO be respected and
carried out by the Executive
Fourh. The Mexican war. ! sincerely
rejoice at the prospect of peace. My life has
been devoted to arms, yet | look upon war at
all times and under all circumstances as ma
tional calamity, to be avoided Incompatible with
national honor, 7 he principle Of our Govern
mcnt as well as It's true policy is opposed TO the
subjugation of other nations and the dlsnem-
bcrment of other countries by conquest. In the
language of the great Washington, Why
should we quit our own to stand on foreign
ground Z" In the Mexican war our national
honor has been yindicatcd, amply ymdlcated,
and in debating terms of peace we may well
afford to be forbearng and cyea magnanlmous
to our fallen foe. II
These are my opinions upon the subjects
referred to by YOU and any reports or publica-
tons, written or verbal, from any source, diff
cring in any essential particular from what is
here written, are unauthorized and untrue.
do not know that ! shall again write upon
the subject of national politics. shall engage
in no schemes, no combinations, no inirgues.
If the American people have not confidence IN
me they ought not to give Inc their snifrages.
If they do not, you know me well enough 10
believe me when declare ] shall be content.
am too old a soldier TO murmur against such
high authority Il. TAYLOR.
To Capt. ]. $. ALLISON.
FRoM THE RIO GRANDE.-An arrival at
brings intelligence from Mata-
moros to sth ult, and from Monterey TO March
30, but it is not important Gen. Wool had
ordered all the dogs in Monterey to be killed
Three Virginia volunteers had been murdered
at Parras, and the perpetrators had been arrest
I'd. The news of the ratification Of the treaty /
by our Congress was received by Gen. Wool
II Monterey, March 20.
MURDER AT SrA.-The brig Col. Taylor, Of I
Beverly, brings home, in irons, the mate, Ed
ward G.. Greenwood, charged with the murder
# one of the men, William Caibyle, of Phila-
lelphia, on the 18th ult. II is said that he
,illcd him with blow Of tho ships aNe, aud
brew him overheard Ii is also alleged that
he prisoner tired to induce Caibyle and the
toward to aid him in killing the captain, and /
unning away with the vessel. II,
FIRE N FALL RlyFR.-The dwelling house 4