The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1848-09-03

udlnlDR III CIVIL aIIalrS; ne mas performed n
functions OF evil character under the constltu
ton OF his country he has been known. and onl
known, by his brilliant achievements at the hea
of the army. Now, the wings Of Massachusetts
and among them, are of opinion that it was no
wise or discreet to go to the army for the selec
ton of candidate for the Presidency OF tn
United States. 1t is the first instance in our his
tory In which any man of mere military charsc
ter has been proposed for hat high Office Wash
lnneton had great military, but by far create
councils ct his county from the earliest dawn o
the revolution. He had been in the Contnenta
Congress. He had established great characte
Tor wisdom and Judgment in civil affairs. Ate
the war. as you all know, he was elected mem
Der of that convtn rlon which framed the constltu
ton OF the United States and II was one of tn,
most honorable tributes ever paid to him, thar, BY
that assembly Of great ard wise men, he was Sc
ected I. preside over their debo ratIons, and hat
his name first attached to the constitution unde
which we live. President Harrison was a brave
soldier, and, at different periods Of his life, rem
dered important military services but he. never
fheless, for the much greater part OF his life, wai
more employed in civil than in military affairs
For twenty years he was either Governor of 8
Territory, member of Congress, or Minister
abroad and he discharged all the duties apper
tanning to those offices to the satisfaction of the
county. This case, therefore-the nomination oil
General Taylor-stands by itself without prece-
dent and without justification from any thing in
our previous history. II is on this account, NAV
well imagine, that the wings of. Massachusetts
feel dissatisfied with his nomination. There
perhaps of less importance, more easily to be
answered If | may venture to use mer.
camille expression, may say there is another side
to the account; The impartiality 18th which
propose to discharge my duty to. day, leads me to
consideration of that and, in the first place, It
Is to he considered that General Taylor was nomi-
mated by wing convention, held in conformity
with the usages of the wing party for years past
fairly dominated, as far as we know Il is to be
considered, also, that he is the only wing before
the people as a candidate for the Presidency, and
no citizen of country, with any effect can, vote
for any other candidate, let his preferences be
what they may. In the next place, it is proper to
consider the rsonal character of General Taylor,
and his political opinions, relations and connec-
lions, as far as they are known. Now, gentlemen,
IN advancing few observations on this part
OF the case, / wish every body to understand
that l have no personal acquaintance what
but once, and that but for few moments, In the
Senate The sources of information are open to
you, as well as to me, for the ascertainment If
what know of his character and opinions; but
endeavored to inform and instruct myself, by COM
muDicatDg with those who have known him in
his profession as a soldier, in his relations as
man, in his conversation and opinions on political
subjects, and will tell you fairly and truly what
think Of him. | need not say he is sklful,
brave, and gallant solder that is admitted by\all
With me, all that goes but little way to make up
the proper qualifications in President of the
United States; but, what is OF more Importance, l
believe he is an honest and upright man. be-
lleve he is modest and cool-headed of an in
dependent and manly character. possessing a
mind trained by proper discipline and self
control; l believe he is estlmabe and amiable
all the relations of private life believe that
he possesses reputation for equity and for judg-
ment, which gives him an influence over those
under his command. beyond what is conferred
by the authority of his situation; b. lieve he is
a man who possesses The confidence apd attach
ment OF all who have been near HIM, and know
him. So much for what think Of the personal
character Of General Taylor; will say, too, that
as far as have observed his conduct since he has
been a candidate for the Presidency, 1t has been
lrreproacbable. hear OF no lntrIgues attributed
TO him-no contumelious treatment of rivals.
hear not OF his holding out hopes, or making
promises, to any man or set OF men, or to any
party. do not hnd hun putting forth any preten::
sions of his own; and l therefore think of
him very much as he seems to think of HIM
self-that he is an honest man, with an inde-
pendent mind and an upright heart; but as to
qualifications for the Presidency, he has little
more TO say about It, Uaughter) Now, friends
and fellow townsmen, with respect to his political
opinions and relations, can say at once that
believe him to be whig-to hold TO the main doc
trines of the wing party. To think otherwise,
would be to lmpute to him degree OF tergiver-
sauon and fraudulent disposition of which sup
pose him to be utterly incapable. Gentlemen, it
is worth our while to consider In what manner
General Taylor became a candidate for President
OF the United States. 1t would be a great mis-
take TO suppose that he was made such merely by
for he had been nominated tor that office in great
many of the States, by variods conventions and
meetings of the people, ayear beforethe convention
at Philadelphia assembled: The whole history of
the world shows, that whether in the most civilized
or the most barbarous ages, the affections and
admiration of mankind are always easily carried
away towards successful military achievements.
All history proves this and we know, In the case
cess es on the Rio Grsnde, at Palo Alto, Resaca de
la Palma, and other places, were achieved, spon-
tame Gus nominations OF hun for the Presidency
sprung upln various parts OF the Union And here let
me say, that In general these nominations, not uni
versal1y, but generally-these nominations, IN
various parts OF the country, and made at various
times before the assembling OF the convention at
Philadelphia, were wing nominations. General
Taylor was esteemed from the moment when his
military achievements brought him into public
notice as a whIg eenerel. You all remember that
when we were discussing his merits IN Congress
on the question of giving thanks TO the army
under his command. as wei! as to himself,
asd other matters, the friends and supporters
Of MIR. Polk's administration and because
he was wing genaral, nay friend near me
here whom 1 am hapY. to see (alludlng
TO Hon. Mr.. Asbmun. of Massachusetts,
will remember that .ading man in the party of
The administration declared in his place in Con-
gress, that the policy Of the administration con-
nected with the Mexican war, would never pros
per till the President recalled those wing generals,
Taylor and Scott; that the policy OF that war was
democratic policy, and that the men to carry 1t
out should be democrats; that the officers to fight
the battles should be democratic officers; and on
that ground vote of thanks was refused to Gen.
Taylor on the part of the friends OF the admins
uailon Up The Hosne of representatives. He was
nominated thus by these spontaneous conventions,
without relation or system, and by wing assem-
blies and wing meetings. And let me. remark
to you, that there was no particular pur-.
pose connected with the advancement OF
slavery enter tanned by those who nomi-
mated HIM. AS have said, they were wing
nominations, and were made by persons
who never entertained the idea, by them or
by any other means, the slightest desire to extend
the area of slavery of the human race or to In
crease the influence of the slaveholding States IN
the councils of The nation The Quaker city of
Pbiladelp hia--the wings all over Pennsylvania
nominated General Taylor, certainly, with no
st,rh object A great convention of highly re-