Southport telegraph. [volume] (Southport, W.T. [i.e. Kenosha, Wis.]) 1840-1850, 1848-10-06

we make the following extract from Johr
Van Bnren's late speech at Reading, Pa.
The wings have nominated General Tav
Tor. Now, am a democrat, always have
been, and little more so than ever before
Laughter. With Gen. Taylor, the wings
will have enough to do in New York. Bu
he says if he is wing now, he does moi
know anything about wing principles. He
was nominated through the same influences
as Gen. Cass-ihe demands OF the south.
Why did they set aside such statesmen as
Clay, Mclean, Corwin, unless they knew
Taylor was to be trusted as the friend of
the shareholders, and that they were not to
be trusted. Gen. Taylor assemblies his
clans, marches them to Philadel phia, and
demands the Convention 10 surrender
Gen. Taylor never surrenders; they know
that well enough, they surrendered at dis
creton on the fourth fire. Renewed
cheering and laughter. He contended that
Gen. Taylor superseded Henry Clay, be-
cause although the latter was the idol of the
party, and eminently capable 10 fill the Of
flee of President, he had displeascd the
southern politicians in lavoring, to some ex-
tent, the doctrine of free soil in his Lexing-
ton speech. The wing convention repudi-
ated the Wilmot Pro ,iso, with something
Of distrust, as il was rPpudlated at SYRIA
cuse. The Secretary of State of Ohio, told
me that offering It to The whiy convention
he could only get hearing by quoting
some of Winters poetry, and that it was
Immediately afterwards suifocaled.
General Taylor was nominated on the
sole ground of availability. What is his
availability? 1t is now ninety days since
the nomination, and neither Mr.. Webster
nor Mr.. Clay have said they would vote for
him. Mr.. Webster has made great speech
upon the nomination, and if it pleases the
friends of Gen. Taylor, am satisfied. AZ
ter a close examination, he says the nomin-
alton was not fit to be made; and that it is
the first time that a mere military man has
been put in nomination for so high an office;
and that, if he discovers that the nomination
of Gen. Taylor was fairly madc-or if ii
shall appear that it would be the least
oftwo evils-or if it can be understood that
his election does not bring on a war-or if
1t appears to promise better results than that
not oppose him. LGreat laughter. Now
a man must be elected not by those who do
not oppose him, but by those who support
him. Here is the difficulty. If it takes
Mr.. Webster ninety days to come to the
conclusion that he will not oppose General
Taylor, how long will it take him to deter
mine to support him Availability consists
in the support of the great heads Of par
tv.
1t was the immediate assent of Mr.. Clay
and Mr.. Webster that made General Hair
rison available at once for the whole wing
party. 1t was the cordial assent of Mr.
Wright, Mr.. Benton, Mr.. Allen and others,
that gave availability to Mr.. Polk, and that
unity among the party which makes avail
ability. The enthusiasm for General lay
Tor has not yet begun, and the speaker re-
ferred to The elections in North Carolina,
Indiana. and Arkansas. But for or against
ii, Mr.. Webster declares that the nomlna-
ton of General Taylor was not fit to be
made These were the circumstances IN
ducing the Buffalo nomination. If the Pre-
sidency was a pension, or star, or gar
ter, or a New Years cake, then | grant You
that General Taylor would get more votes
than anv other man; but is the great office
of self government, the administration Of the
civil affairs of great empire. He has de-
clared no principles he has accepted as
many nominations as he can staggcr under
from all sorts of parties; and what can
we expect Of him! The orator next took
up the Buffalo platform, and cited lis doe
trines, one by one. We 60, too, for the alb
clifton of slavery wherever the constitution
will reach it. Cheers. No more slave
territory. Increased cheering. Uncom-
promising hostility to the extension OF sla-
cry to any territories now free. Three
cheers. Is not this platform broad and
strong enough for any man to stand upon
Yes yes yes regret that some dis
tinguished statesmen should doubt the sta
bility of this platform. Mr.. Webster states
that Tor thirty years he has stood IN steady
opposition to the Buffalo candidate. Does
not thatargue some steadiness on the Other
| side!