The North-Carolina standard., 1848-09-20

best might, and to obtain my information from
those who have known his services and character as
soldier and man, and from his conversations with
his friends upon political subjects. And will tell
you frankly what think of him.
That he is skilful brave, and valiant soldier, is
admitted by all. No one denies it. But that goes
with me but a very little ways. What is more i'm
portant, / believe him to be an honest man. an up-
right man, modest, clear-headed man, man of in
dependent character, possessing mind properly
disciplined and controlled believe him to be esti-
Bile and amable in all the relations of private life.
believe he possesses reputation for equity and for
Judgment which gives him influence over those
under his command, beyond that conferred by au-
thority or station. / believe that he possesses the
entire confidence and attachment of all who have
been near him, or have known him.
So much, then, for what think of General Tay-
lor's personal character. And will say, too, that
so far as have Observed his conduct since his
lnatlon has been irreproachable. There has been
intrigue on his part, contumelous treatment of
any rivals, no promises nor hopes to any men or any
party. We do do not find him putting forward any
pretnnsions of his own. And believe of him, as he
believes OF HIMSELF that he is honest man, of up
right purposes-and his other qualifications for
the Presidency, he has nothing more to say.
Now. friends and fellow-townsmen, with respect
to his political preferences. W i'll say that be-
lleve him to be whig-to hold to the main doctrines
and uphold the great principles of the whig party
TO believe otherwise would be to impute to him a
degree of tergversaon and fraudulent pretenson of
which suppose him utterly incapable.
Gentlemen,-It is worth our while to consider in
what manner General Taylor became candidate. 1t
is great mistake to suppose that he is the selection
merely of the Philadelphia Convention, for he was
nominated in various States by numerous popular
ventions, year before the Philadelphia Convention
assembled.
Gentlemen,-The whole history of the world shows
US that whether in the most civilized the most
barbarous ages, the affections and admiration of the
people are easily, and always, carried away by great
and successful military talents and achievements.
And in the now before US, Gen. Taylor, by his
brilliant operations the Rio Grande, at Ialo Alto
and elsewhere, secured spontaneous nominations from
portions OF the people In all the States And let me
say, too, that they were mostly whig nominations
they were nominations by wings. Not always, it is
true; but generally they were whig nominations.
Gen. Tay ylor has been esteemed from the moment
his military achievements brought him into public
notice, a whig General You all remember that
when we were discussing In Congress the merits OF
the Generals, the question of presenting thanks to
the army, the supporters of the administration and
the friends of Mr.. Polk denounced Gen. Taylor be-
cause he a whig. My friend, whom am hap
py to meet here, the Representative in Congress
from this district, (Hon Artemas HALEY will remeH-
Der that leading of the party, and prominent
friend of the administration in his place In Congress,
declared that it the policy of the administration
to prosecute the Mexican war; and that that policy
could prosper till the recall of those whg Gen.
erals, Scott and Taylor. That was the policy of the
Democracy-that the should be carried out by
the Democracy-it was Democratic merit and glory
and that ground the Democrats would refuse
vote of thanks to a whig General.
Gen. Taylor was nominated mainly thus by Whlg
conventions and Whig meetings in numerous quar-
tiers of the country.
l remark, gentlemen in the next place, that there
was no particular purpose concerning the advance
ment of slavery entertained by those who nominated
him. AS have said, the nomination made by
whig meetings and conventions-more in the North
ern and Middle States than at the Southland the
men who did nominate him never entertained any
desire to extend the of slavery, through his ad
ministraton or by his influence. The Quaker city
of Philadelphia, the great State of Pennsylvania, GER
tainly nominated him with such views. We re-
member that large convention in the city of New
York, composed of highly respectable men, many OF
whom are personally well known to me- nominated
him, and certainly they had such views. And the
nomination was hailed, not very extensively, but by
enthusiastic and not very farseeing politicians
here in Massachusetts, amongst US, who raised the
notes of exutaon their anticipated triumph GER
tainly early enough-perhaps little too early for
sound iud gment and discretion. They might better
have waited little.
But gentlemen, the truth is, and no one avoid
seeing t-unless as is sometimes the case, the object
is brought too near the eye to be dlscerned-that
these whig meetings and this Philadelphia Conven-
ton proceeded exactly according to this reason mat
believing Gen. Taylor to be whig, they thought he
could be elected easily than any other wing.
That was the whole of it. That sagacfous, 1cise far
seeing doctrine of availability lies at the bottom of the
whole matter. [Cheers.]
SO far, then, from imputing any motive or desire
for the promotion extension of slavery operating
upon these Conventions throughout the country, or
on that at Phadelpha-at least, as regards the ma
iority of their members-n the nomination and cleo
ton of Gen. Taylor, don't believe word of 1t.
don't believe one word of it.
But see that one part of what is called the But-
fao platform, that the nomination at Phlladel-
pha was made uuder the dctation of the slavepower
don't believe word of that either. For there was
very great majority of members from the free States
in that body, who might have nominated any body
else they chose, on whom they could agree And,
advocates, some from New England, who would |
sooner cut off their hands than submit to any such
dctation in any such case. may not admire their
discretion or policy, but must acquit them of all
such base motives as have been charged upon them
think understand their motives. Their reasoning
was lust this-ss Gen. Taylor is whig; an eminent
annot indeed in civil life, but circumstances have
pyen him eclat with the people; if he is elected,
with him we shall have increase of the whlg
strength in Congress, and therefore 1t is the best to
sustain him. That was the OBJ bject and motive-how-
ever wise or unwse-of large majority of the Con-
vention.
In nv opinion it wholly unwlse policy. 1t
was not suited to the whig character. 1t was short
sighted But acquit the members of the Conven-
ion of any of the motives ascrlped to them, espe-
.iaIv this one set forth in the Buffalo platform.
SHch gentlemen, are the circumstances connected
with the nomination of General Taylor. And VIII
,Iv reneat that those who had the most agency OIL
,inally. in bringing him before the people, were
who conventions and meetings in several States
rec States-and great majority of the Philadelphia
Convention from the free States. They might have
elected him if they had so chosen, and wanted any
'ody else. r-.----..1 .. a. ,,h;cs so
-.~,o.oo,s the ,ersonaI fitness end character OF