Richmond palladium. [volume] (Richmond, IA [i.e. Ind.]) 1839-1854, 1848-05-10
o.. Taylor..The Presidency.
fgs Y Rarox ROUGE, April 90, 1913.

carr. J. s. ALLISON:
Dear Sir: My opinions have recently
Zen 50 often misconceived and misrcpre-
.ented, that deem it due to myself. II not
4 NV friends, to make brief exposition
"a Them upon the topics to which you nave
called my attention.
have consented to the use of my name
candidate forthe Presidency. have
x..kIy svowed my own distrust of my
1890 for that high station. but having. at
%. solicitation Of many Of my countrt..
..,c.. taken my position as u candidate,
n, not feel at liberty to surrender tn at posi-
.;oc until my friends manifest wish that
.heuh retire from it. ! will then most
n,.dIv do so. have no private purposes
q sccomplish-no party projects TO build
.o-no enemies 10 punlslI-nothinS TO
seryc, but my country.
Ihaye been very often addressed by let
.er and nv opinions have been asked up
an almost every question that might occur
N Inc writer's, as affecting the interest OF
,bcir country or their party. have not
.Iways responded to their inquiries, for
various reasons:
4 confess, whilst have great cardinal
PRINCIPLES, which will regulate my polti-
al lie. I am not suflici, ntly familiar witt.
ali the minute details Of political legisla-
,;on. TO give solemn pledges to exert my
influence. If were President 10 carry out
This or defeat that measure. ] have no
conceamcnt-I hold no opinion which !
would not readily proclaim 10 my assem-
bled countrymen, but crude impressions
upon matters Of policy, which may be
right to-day and wrong tomorrow, are
perhaps not the best test Of fitness tor
Office. One who canno. be trusted without
pledges, cannot be confidcd in, merely on
account Of them.
will proceed, however, now, TO respond
10 your inquiries.
Firsi-l rciteratc what ] have often
said--I am a Wing. but not an ultra Wing
II elected, would not be the mere Presi-
dent Of a party. would cndcavor to act
independent Of party domination ]
should feel bound to administer the Go
vcrnment, untrammellcd by party schemes
Secoud-Thc Veto Power The power
ciyen by the Constitution to the Executive
10 jnterpose his veto is high conservative
power, but in my opinion, should never be
exercised. except in cases of clear VIOLA
ton of the Constitution. or manifest haste
and want of consideration 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
Department Of the Government, and from
this cause have thought our system was
in danger Of undergoing great change
from its true theory. The personal opin-
ions Of the individual who may happen TO
occupy the Executive Chair. ought not TO
control the action of Congress upon qucs-
tons Of Domestic Policy. nor ought his
objections 10 be in;erposcd, when questions
of Constitutional power have been settled
BY the various Departments of Govern
mcnt, and acquiesced in by the People.
Mird-Cpon the subject of the tariff.
the currency, the improvement of our
great highways, rivers. lakes and harbors.
tho will Of the people. As expressed through
their representatives in Congress, Dug ut TO
be respected and carried out by the Execu-
tive
Fcurih-Thc Mexican war. sincere
Iy rejoice at the prospect of peace. My
life has been devoted to arms. vet look
upon war at all tunes and under all cir
cumsianccs. as Il national calamity. TO be
avoided il compatible with national honor
The princiPics OF our Government Us well
rs its true poIicy, are opposed 10 the sub
iu.ation of other nations and the dismcm
bcrmcnt Of other countries by conqncst.
In the language Of the great " AsniNGToN.
why should we quit our own. TO stand on
foreign ground"
In the Mexican war. our national honor
has been vindicatcd, amply vindicatcd
and in debating terms OF peace. we may
well afford to be iorbcarng aud even mag
Unanimous to our fallen foe
These are my opinions upon the sub
jccts referred to by you, and any reports OF
public atoms. written or verbal. from any
source. differing in any essential particu-
lars from what is here written, arc unan-
ihorized and untrue.
l do not know that shall again write
upon the subject of national politics. !
shall engage in no schemes. no combina-
ton. no intrigues. II the American peo-
pie have not confidence in me, they ought
not to give me their sulIragcs. If they do
not, you know me well enough to believe
me, when l declare that | shall be con-
tent. | am too old soldier to murmur
against such high authority.
T. TAYLOR