The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1848-07-15
From the Manchester American.
Gen. Taylor at Home.
BY A CLERGYMAN.

! We have recently conversed with Il very
intelligent gentleman, a clergyman well
known in this vicinity, who is personally ac-
quained with Gen. Taylor, having seen him
frequently during the past winter, at his res
idencc on the banks of the Mississippi, at
Baton Rouge, La. From his representation,
which we have good reason to believe TO be
| correct, we have quite different idea of the
Old Hero, from that which has generally been
entertained here.
The gentleman, of whom we obtained our
information, regards him as a man of superi
or natural abilities. refined in his feelings
aud, iudced,polite and easy in his manners
free, wholly free, from that course, rude de-
meanor which has been attributed to him.
and in consequence of which he has received
the title of Rough and Ready. He is plain
man, open in all his actions, speaking what
he thinks, without fear of giving offence. a
man of great selcrespect and possessing n
! high sense of honor, he would be guilty of
no mean net, himself nor allow meanness to
pass unrebuked III others.
| He possesses II good education, and is Il
reading man, perfectly conversant with the
history Of both ancient and modern nations,
aud of distinguished men of all ages. His
literary taste, though not refined, is good he
| is capable of wiring such dispatches and
! letters as purport TO come from him, and in
conversation, always uses good Saxon En-
glsh.
! He is strictly temperance man--although
in accordance with the universal custom at
the South. he causes wine to he served to his
guests, he never makes use of it himself
! preferring, always, glass of water. The
| charges made against him, of profanity and
| impemosity, are without foundation. Al
ways cool and collected, he seldom uses many
qualifying words to express his thoughts
| His temperament is not such as would lead
any ore to suppose he would ever use inn
petuous or pcoianc epthets.
He is an advocate peacc-and firmly he
Iieves and frankly says, that in his opinion
the War with Mexico might have been pre-
vented in honor to the American nation :;
and that ifhe could have had his own way in
regard 10 the matter, the money, agony, life,
which has been wasted in the prosecution
OF the war, might have been spared. lie is
opposed TO all wars, except those of defence.
War for conquest he considers as our coun-
try's greatest curse. His administration, in
the event Of his election, would be peculiarly
pacific in its nature.
The General expresses his high admirn-
ton ofnorthern character and northern in
situtiors-our free schools and religious in
fluences And as an evidence of his prefer
ence fol northern institutions, his son Rich
ard Taylor, Esq, was educated at Yale Col
lege. Mr. Webster is II iavorito with the
General, and WILL no doubt, in the event Of
Tnylor's success, have n seat in the Cabinet
Louisiana is Tariff State, and rs much
interested in protection as any of the north
ern States There, Gen. Taylor is regarded
as iavorirg the Tariff of'42. He is a Tariff
man, beyond question. There is no doubt
oft Henry Clay is not more so.
One word in regard to Gen. Tnylor's con-
necton with slavery. 1t is true, he owns a
plantation on which there is a number of
slaves. II was purchased a few years since
is held and occupied by his son, the General
himself having but little immediate connec-
ton with it. Having been removed, in
great degree, especially while on duty, from
the influences Of slavery, and not being par
ticularly interested in regard to 1.-THE Gener-
al has not made the institution an object of
any attention, but looked upon it as any south
ern man would under similar circumstances
That he regards slavery rs an eUI, is true
that he considers himself culpable for his
connection with it, is by no means probable.
| That he has given no assurance III It's favor is
certain. AMI there is no reason to believe that
he has fortified himself against the argu-
ments for free labor and free territory. lie
has expressed an opinion that slave labor
was not plp6table, but that the institution
being established there, il would he inpossi-
bic to carry on the business OF planter
without it. Ifa resolution should be passed
by Congress, prohibiting the extension OF
slavery ovef soil now free, there IS as Ihuch
reason to believe it would receive his sanctloii
asthere is that one would tor the improvements
ofRivers and Harbors, or any other measures
which he believed to be constitutional,o or in