The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1848-05-03
General Tay l0r.
from the New Orleans plcsvune, April a7


Ths NUMEROUS INTERPRETATIONS Of Gen. Tsylor's
OPTIONS upon questions Of public policy, which have
been put ia circulation by persons who assumed to
speak fiom authority, bavs induced him to address
letter TO Capt Allison, his brother n-law, In which he
takes occasion to speak more at large of political topics
than he has hitherto DONE This letter has been handed
for publication and It defines for al the Gem
erals position In regard to the Presidency and the Is
It viii ho seen that G.nsrai Taylor reitsratss what
has 20 often before been declared that he whg but
not an ultra ono He rejects in the sternest terms tho
instrument Of party. He will not consent to take office
proPagandat Hs Is for taking the constitution as
dicta of political clubs He 10 for leaving to Congress
TIE things which belong to the legislative deIatmept
and confnng the Eyecuva to the matters entrusted to
him by the constitution He refuses to change his at
uae towards the Presidency In Notwithstanding
to those who obtained his consent TO DO candidate
for that Office to do in the premissa what shall seem to
Thorn best.
weresard this document ss only interesting to Gen.
Tsyorc friends but important to the public at large as
emoodying sound political truths The momcDtous
topic IN il the relative positions and duties
OF the Legislative and executive departments. must
be that the increasing Difference paid by Con-
to the will Of the executive has been regarded by
many of our wisest statc.. with alaru nnd the I'm.
piled obligation of the President to carry out tho views
OF nominating convention has at times seriously In
terfered with his Independents and impaired his ability
to do good IL was contemplated by the trainers
OF the constitution that Prcsacnt should be tram
meled By pledges or bound down to party manfesto
which Is generally drawn up with reference to acsi-
dental states OF public asing topcs Of transient OK
ctenent much less did 1t enter the mind OF our revo
iut10Q0ry
subservient to the executive or controlled by the OPT
Mons of his cabinet. In 80 far as the national lcgis
lauro Is warped by the influence or the persuasion of
power, does Congress fall from the dguidod position
assigned il BY the constitution.
But We shall not detain the reader with comment
upon paper which will attract universal attention.
BATON ROGUE, April -, 1913.
DEAR SIn-My opinions lave recently besn so often
msconceved and msrepresented that deem II due to
myself II not to my friends to make brief exposition
Of them upon the topics to which you have called my
attention.
have consented to the use Of my name as candidate
for the Presidency. have frankly svowed my dis
trust of my fitness for that high station but having at
the solicitation OF many OF my country men, taken my
po'toaas candidate, do not feel at liberty to surren
der that position untl my friends manifest wish that
saouid retire from It, will then most gladly do 60.
have no private purposes to accomplish no party pro-
jscts to build up enemies to punshnohngt to eorve
but my country.
have been very often addressed by letter, and my
that might the writers affecting the Interests
OF their country or their party have not always re-
'p9ndsa to hsss Inquiries for various rsa,ons
will regulate my political life am not sufficiently "a
miar with all the minute details Of political legislation
to givc soeun pledges to exert my influence, II were
President to carry out this defeat that measure
have conceslaient. hold no opinion which would
not readily proclaim to my assembled couutrymen; but
crude impressions upon matters of policy which may be
r<ht to day and wrong Tomorrow perhaps not the
without pledges cannot be conadcd in merely on sc-
count OF Thorn.
will proceed, however, now to respond to your in
quirics.
FIRsr-I re,teree what have often ssid-I am whg,
but not al ultra wg. Ii elected, would not be the
| mere President Of party. ] would endeavor to oct
| independent of party domination. should feel bound
to ado,inster tbs government uutrammeled by party
| schemes.
| srcosD-Ths veto power. The power given by the
consuion to the Executive interpose his veto,
high conservative power, but In my opinion should
never be exercsed except In cases OF clear vioson Of
the constitution manifest haste and want OF consi
dera'ion by Congress Indeed, have thought that for
many years past the known opinions and wishes OF the
Executive exercised undue and I'M uriOus influence
upon the legislative department of tine Government
and for this cause have thought our system was In
| danger of undergoing great change from It's true
theory. The personal opinions Of the individual who
may happen to occupy tho Executive chair. ought not
TO control the action OF Congress questions OF do
mosc policy ought hio objections TO be interposed
where Questions of constitutional power have been set
tied by the various departm snts OF government and
acquesced in by the people.
THIaD-Upon the subject OF tbs tariff, tbs currency
and harso, will OF the people, expressed through
their representatives in Congress- ought to BIO respected
| and carried out by the Executive
FoURTu-Tho Mexican war. ! sincerely rejoice at
the prospect Of peace My life has been devoted to
srms yet look upon at all times and under all cir
cumstanccs national calamity, to be avoided II
compatible with national honor. The principles Of
well its true policy opposed to the
subjugson of other nations and the dismemb,rment Of
other countries by conquest In the lapgu &c OF the
great Washington, why should VIC quit our own to
stand on foreign ground.n In the Mexican our
onal honor has been vindicated amply vndicated and
in debating forms Of peace We may well afford to be
forbearing aud msgnauimous, 10 our fallen foe
These my opinions upon the subscts referred to
by you ana any reports or publications. written or YER
bal from source, differing In any essential particu-
lar fscm what hero written are unauthorized and I'M
true.
do not know that shall agein write upon the sub
ject of national politics. shall engage in no schemes
have not confidence in mo they ought not to give
their suffrages. IL they do not, you know mo well
am too old soldier to murnur against such high
thority. u. TAYLOR.
TO Capt j. S ALLISON.