Weekly national intelligencer., 1848-10-28

u mean, anu uidt suOslanuai meaning not the
no-mea,ling which they had when uttered by the
present occupant Of the chair that he is about to
fill. But General TAYLOR has also uttered the fol-
lowing memorable words: "Should majority of
: the good people Of our country think proper to
elevate me to the first Office in their gif-or may
: say the first in the world will feel bound to
them, and will do so honestly and faithfully,
to the best of my abilities, strictly in conformity
to the provisions Of the Constitutions as near as
possible, in the way IL 0aS acted on and construed
: by our first Presidents, two of whom, at least,
participated in creating and putting in operation
: that glorious instrument"
Now, one Of these first Presidents, we have seen,
adopted as one rule by which he " acted ON and
/" construed" the Constitution, that interterences
: wih elections, whether Of the State or General
Gouernments, By officers ofhie latter, SHOULD BE
DEEMED CAUSE OF REMOVAL" Such interferences
he proclaimed 10 be INCONSISTENT WITH THE
SPIRIT OF THE CONSTITUTION" The wisdom Of
this rule of President JEFFERSON, apparent on its
face, has been painfully illustrated by the proofs
which subsequent experience has accumulated. Let
then, the officeholders bear in mind that ZACHARY
Taylor, however generous in feeling, is no less firm
in duty and let them abstain from further efforts
to " SMOTHER" the freedom Of election " BY THE
ENORMOUS PATRONAGE OF THE GENERAL GOVERN
MENT." They may rely on it that, among the
Masses to right feeling men Of all parties, the evil
denounced by Presidents JEFFERSON and HARRISON
has become absolutely loathsome. We are assured
that, at political meeting held on the III instant
in Fairfax county, Virginia. one Of the speakers, on
being interrupted by an individual holding public
Office underthe General Government, appealed to the
audience, consisting of persons of both parties,
against the interference of Federal officers in cleo
ticns, and that the appeal was sustained by hearty
and repeated acclamt tions.
If any thing were wanting 10 complete the dis
gust Of the public mind at these official pollutions
of the elective franchise, it would be supplied by
Mr.. Secretary BUcHANAN's exhibition on last Fri
day evening, to which We adyerted yesterday. The
Court Journal Of Sunday, in publishing his speech,
with dutiful need Of applause, says it i" gives US
the strongest assurances that Pennsylvania will re-
deem itself" THAI, we think, Pennsylvania has
already done; though moi according to the venera-
BILE Editors notion of political redemption. His
present hopes, doubtless as strong as those
which the Secretary's recent telegraphic despatch
had before excited in his fond bosom, are probably
destined like them % sad disappointment. The
JOY which the honorable Secretary's performance
has afforded to him IS not, we apprehend, felt by
any American citizen whose sense Of right is not
merged in the sens,iltes of Office. In one re-
spect this proceeding Of the Secretary of State is,
far as we remember, without precedent and with
out parallel. @
Mr.. CAss, when Secretary of War to General
JACKSON, published, We have already remarked, an
eectioneering attack IN the Supreme Court for its
decision in the controversy between the State Of
Georgia and the Cherokee nation and Mr.. For
syTH, when Secretary Of State to Mr.. VAN BUREN,
moved from his propriety by the distressed condi-
ton Of his chief addressed an electioneerng letter
to the people OF Georgia. And other members Of
Mr. VAN BuREN's Cabinet interlered, as he him.
self did, by letters, with popular elections. 1t was
reserved for the present Secretary of State to go
step, rather stride, further, and to furnish in his
own example the first instance in which member
of the Cabinet has made speech in to The street,
expressly and merely on the general subject Of
Presidential election. His position must have
seemed picturesque at least to every spectator who
happened to recoect that, when member of the
House of Representatives. he had exclaimed
"Does not the gentleman know that ,rhen man
is once oppOated 10 office all the selfish passions
: Of his nature are enlisted for the purpose Of re-
toiniag IT,? The oBiee-hoiders are the ENLISTED
SOLDIERS of he administration by ,chich they
{ are sustained
Of the matter Of the speech we have but little to
say, in addition TO our remarks yesterday. Itpro-
poses 10 speak fairly of Gen. Taylor but in what
it says Of him. some al least of its readers may be
inclined to think there is less of cdndor than Of
)" Mrs. Candor." The declaration that Demo
Gratis can never coalesce with Native Americans,
Aboltionists actonists bearing any other name"
hardly does for flourish even, in the teeth Of some
exceedingly awkward historical facts. But we
pass from this, and other passages in the same
vein, to what is, incontestaby, the richest part of
the eloquent speech" and as such, in accordance
with the Ciceronan rule, is made the peroration.
The Secretary thus gives vent to the emotions that
agitate his patriotic breast:
I" In the mean time, General Taylors election will en-
courage spirit throughout the land hostile 10 The pursuits Of
peaceful industry and Our aspiring youth, find
ing that the path OF military glory is the road high civil