Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1848-07-20
Gen, Taylor on the WilmOt PrOvlsO, and
the War;


of Congress from Virginia, and lately candidate for
the Speakership, published an address "to the whole
wing party of the United States" under date of Wash
ington, March &c. 1849 in which he furnishes the fol-
lowing evidence of Gen. Taylors real position rela-
tive to the Mexican War and the extension of slave
y:-
"A short time since, the Legislature of Mississippi
appointed committee to wait on Gen. Taylor and
invite him to Jackson 1.-THE seat of State Government
to partake of the Inequalities of the State. Rumors
of an extraordinary character reached my ears as
to the nature of the conversation reported by that
committee to have taken place with Gen. Taylor, on
the subject of the tariff and the war At my in
stance, member of Congress from Mississippi adj
dressed letter to the chairman of that committee to
ascertain precisely what was said Here is his an
swer:-
ain regard the conversation had with Cen Taylor have
ed himself IN FAVOR OF THE WAR he said he DECI
DEDLY IN FAVOR OF PROSECUTING IT VIGOROUSLY,
DEMSITY YG CERTAIN ND THAT TERRToRIAi; vas not
welded any line particularly but thought perhaps kind of
compromise with the Wmo Prov men, had better
the 32d degree, making the Rio Gande the western boundary
TO THE PROVISIONS OF THE WILMOT PROvIso. THE
CITIZENS SHOULD BE LEFT FREE ON, ON THAT SUBJECT
TO OUR GOVERNMENT BY DEGREES; THAT 1T CAN
NOT BE AVOIDED On the subject Of politics. he said he
ted his time and mind to that SERVICE and paid but little attention
to any thing else.'
The authenticity of these statements cannot be
questioned. They were copied from the original pam
phet of Mr. Bolts, who although southern man, new
ertheless opposed the nomination of Taylor, because
he knew him to be friendly to the war and the acqui-
siton of territory. This position of Mr.. Bolts has
heretofore been matter of special rejoicing on the
part of northern wings as an evidence that their breth
rem of the South were hostile to the war and the ac-
QUESTION of territory. This then is the real position
of Gen. Tayor-IN FAVOR Of a rigorous proSecu-
ton Of the Wor =; IN FAVOR Of territorial imdemni-
W; OPPOSED 10 the Wi,not PrOviSo and believing
in the ultimate acquisition Of the WHOLE OF MEX
ICO and he the candidate of party that stands sol
EMMY pledged before the world in utter opposition to
the tOGr against territorial acquisition and in fdUol
Of the Wiinot Pyouiso
AS german to this subject, we give the following
reasons why the South favor the election of Gen. Tay
lor In November last an immense meeting was hello
in Alabama in relation to the Presidency, without dis
tncton of party and the following is extracted from
an address unanimously adopted by the convention =
sit canno. longer be disguised that we are approach
ing fearful crisis in our National affairs We should
be nsensble to the preservation of our dearest rights
regardless of our solemn duty as citizens and as lovers
of the Republic, if we longer delay, whilst the dan
ger is SO impending upon great question, in the
decision Of which our most vital interests as South
ern men, and the perpetuty of the Union ITSELF arr
involved. The North, in the main, is united agains
us. This question is paramount to all others, ant
therefore we love the Union of the Statesas friends
Of our Republican system it behooves us to avert,
possible, the calamity we so much dread
"Ths calamity may be averted in the result of tn,
next Presidential election if the South is but true t
ITSELF If we divide amongst ourselves, while those
who oppose US are united as one man, our ener
gies will be frittered away in useless disputes
and our dearest rights under the Constitution may b.
irrctrlevaby lost In our union will be found on
strength and our safety as people. How can we eff
feet this union? We who have been divided here
tofore must be divided no longer We now have high
err objects, and holier purposes The South must b.
united in the next Presidential election, and our un
ion must be cordial and sincere This union canno
be effected in the support of any of our old potca
favorites-party feuds would present an msurmount
able barrier. The past must be forgotten for The sake
the future! Some man who has never mingled in thu
strife and turmoil of partisan warfare-some man a
the mention of whose name the whole nation will raj
| ly-must be selected to fill the chief place in thu
council of the nation
"Where can we find such an one? Need we poin
you to General Zachary Taylor? Though butrecent
ly he was but little known u.s. the world now knows
him. We recommend him, because
we honestly believe that he alone can break down thu
fearfully increasing spirit of facton--we recommend
him, because we honestly believe that he is the only
man upon whom the South can or will unto-we rec
ommend him, because we honestly believe that he alone
can afford us that unity and confidence which will
make us harmonize at home and respected abroad"
They also quote the following resolutions, passed
by the convention which appointed them;
90. That fearful crisis threatening TO involve tn
North and South in geographical antagonsm (headed
it is, by many of the master minds of the country
and aided by fierce faction, and boding evil for the f
ture) requires a republican Of the old school, fire.
from the schackles and acrimony of party-whos
overwhelming popularity can break down all the fac
tons that would destroy the Constitution or dsmem
Der the Union. Such man is odd Rough and Ready
In fine, he is the man for the South for the crisis an
for the nation.
"a. That the chair appoint committee of ten t.
prepare an address tie the friends of General Taylor
and invite them to assemble in mass meeting on tn
9Th of January next for the purpose of bringing ou
at proper time an electoral Taylor ticket for thi
State