Weekly national intelligencer., 1848-07-29
SPEECH OF Mr.. CLAYTON,
OF DELAWARE,
IN DEFENCE OF GENERAL TAYLOR.
In sInArE. JuLr 5, Is4s.

Senate against General Taylor and called upon the Wh
Senator'S and especially the Senator from Delaware expr
the principles upon which Gen. Taylor be sustained a
candidate for the Presidency a
Mr.. CLArTos rose to reply. Mr.. NILES, of Connecticut
called Mr. CLAYTON order, denying his right to reply
the whole subject introduced by Mr.. FooTE irrelevant
and Mr. DAuLAs the Vice President refusing hear any
debate upon the call to order decided the debate be
order But the Senate ON vote taken Immediately afe
this, leave MI CLAYTON to proceed notwithstanding
the decision Of the Vice President
Mr. CLAYTON then addressed the Senate as follows
The decision of the Chair indeed Unprecedented and
directly in opposition his solemn decision on case
precisely similar to this made by him only few weeks ago.
Neither nor my friends originated this political debate. We
content 10 leave General Cass and General Taylor in the
hands of the people, and the Senate will unanimously bear
witness that have introduced irrelevant topic
to any debate here The political friends Of the gentleman
who occupies the chair began this discussion They attacked
Gen. Taylor and his character and scoed at his claim to the
Presidency. They allowed 10 proceed ,chou inter-
yupfion from the Chair through debate which extended
through the greater part of two days. The Vice President
was by the rules Of the Senate bound TO cn his po
cal friends to ORDER il he thought the debate out Of order
But not word about order heard from his lips till took
the floor reply and then he arrested the debae and put
seal upon my lips The Senator from Mississippi had charged
upon me and friends that desired to eyade the discus
sionthat General Taylor had principles which dared
avowand said that he had, consultation with his friends
resolved provoke debate this subject and to see
that should dodge blows which in chvay and hon
esty bound to take" He even charged with
design pass the resolution for speedy adjournment of Con-
gress in odero avoid and dodge this very discussion He
went fuher sir. He called personally to meet him
in debate on these questions Yet aer he had been permit
ted indulge in this strain Of attack and my friends
his party associates seize the OCCASION the rise
take the glove he has thrown my feet dodge the
encounter These the circumstances under which
yone Democrat Senators have this day voted deny
the freedom of speech. They have large party majority
here, but such and gross the injustice Of this attempt
to sfe discussion which they themselves provoked that
majority of the Senate has overruled their purpose and to
that majority, and especially the chvaous Senator from
Mississippi, (Mr FoorE,) who has expressed his own deep
sense Of the injustice done, tender my thanks
have already stated to the Senate that have no means of
the opinions Of Gen. Taylor which in the
possession Of every member Of this body and every citizen Of
the country Honoring his character sincerely do Ihave
yet had the pleasure OF introduction to that dn
gushed mani have addressed letter to him in my
life received from him. have formed my opinions
Of the principles of the from his writings and actions and
from what any other may have in the public prints TO
these Of information all have equal access and all
form opinion well as the whole subject Of
debate
think it is also due to Gen. Taylor to say in the outset
that the position which he has assumed before the country
candidate Tor the Presidency has been entirely misappe
hended in the of this debate He has been held up
here merely Wing candidate, bound sustain every
Wing principle with which that party has been dcnti-
fed II has been alleged that he is bound carry all the
dictates and obey all the bebests OF payhat he
merely party man-ihat he is bound hand and foot by
patty pedgesand that he carry ou all hazards and
under all changes Of time and circumstance ancient
known proposed by the Wing party Now, undoubt-
edy Gen. Taylor is Wing, but do not understand him
occupying any such position that which have just descb
ed He himself has repudaed il in every letter having
ference this subject is that he has been nominated
by the Whg party but it is also true that be originally
nominated by meeting composed both of Wings and Demo-
Gratis Thousands Of Democrats had nominated him for the
Presidency before he nominated by the Whig party Ma
turazd citizens and Native Americans in all sections of the
county, had nominated him before he received the nomina
ton OF the Philadelphia Lvenon. And the great OBJ
lection urged against him is that the Whg party Of the Union
has confirmed the nomination which Gen. Taylor had pre-
viousy received He was nominated by the Wing Conven-
ton at Phadepha with the that he Whg.
In every letter that he wrote that subject he declared that
he Whig, but he uniformly took the bold and manly
ground that if elected President Of the United States he
should consider himself the eol OF par
M Of the party which he had been attached but
that he should be the President OF the American people Un
der these circumstances the honorable gentleman from Mis-
sisspp find difficulty in answering the questions which
be has propounded with regard TO the principles Of General
Taylor II he will examine the principal letter which Gen.
TAYLOR has with reference this subject the letter TO
Capt Alson he will the ground which he places him
self as candidate before the American people. Before
proceed further permit read the following from
that letter
"BATos RorGE APRIL %, 1s4s.
8 F9rst-I reerate what have often said am Wing,
but ultra Wing. IL elected would be the
President party. would eneavor independent OF
party domination should feel bound TO administer the Gov
ernment untrammelled By party schemes.
Second-The veto power. The power given BY the con
sttuon the Executive incrpose his veto, is high
servve power but in my opinion should be
csed except n Of clear violation Of the constitution,
manifest haste and Of consideration BY Congress In
deed have thought that for many years past the known
opnons and wishes OF the Executive have exercised undue
injurious influence upon the Legislative department OF the
Government and for this have thought system
danger OF undergoing great change from its true
theory The personal opinions Of the individual who may
happen occupy the Executive chair ought not to control
action OF Congress upon questions OF domestic policy
ought his objections to be nteposed where questions OF con-
stuonal have been settled by the various departments
Of Government, and acqucsced in BY the People.
Third Upon the ubect OF the tariff, the currency, the
Of our great highways rivers lakes and harbor
the will Of the People, expressed through their Representa-
ves Congress- ought be respected and carried out by
the Executive
Fourth The Mexican war. sincerely rejoice the
prospect OF peace. My life has been devoted arms yet
look upon at all times and under all circumsances as
national calamity be avoided IL compatible with national
honor The principles Of our Government well as its true
POLICY opposed TO the subugaon OF other nations and the
guage OF the great Washington, Why should quit
stand foreign ground In the Mexican war our
national honor has been yindcaed amply vndcated and
debating Of peace may we afford 10 be forbearng
and nsgnanmous to our fallen foe.
General Taylor them stands before the country not merely
as Wing, but as THE GREAT REPRESENTATIVE
AND CHAMPION OF THE PRINCIPLE OF THE
RIGHT OF MAN TO SELF-G0vERNMENT. He
maintains the principle that the majority have the right to
govern He stands precisely upon the ground on which
Thomas Jefferson originally made party difference with
John Adams. Let quote passage from the letter Of
Thomas jefferson TO John Adams stating the grounds ON
which the Republican party Of 1898 commenced is oppos
the encroachents OF Executive power, and TO which
II owed its origin In the 4h volume OF Jeffersons