Carroll free press. [volume] (Carrollton [Ohio]) 1834-1861, 1848-09-01
The Taylor Platform.
BATON ROUGE, Apr! 90, !

DAWN INoCGE, hpIl ZZ' io4O.
Dear STR My opinions have so often been
misconceived and misrepresented that deem
it due to myself ifnot TO my friends, TO make a
brief exposition of them upon the topics to
which you have called my attention.
| have consented to the use Of nv name as
a candidate for the Presidency. have frankly
avowed my own dstrust of my fitness for this
high station; but having, at the solicitation of
my counlrymen, taken my position as a candi.
date, do not feel at liberty TO surrender that
position until my friends manifest wish that
should retire from it. | will then most gladly
do so. have no private purposes to accom-.
pIish. no party projects 10 build up, no enemies
TO puuish-nothng to serve but my county.
! have been very often addressed by letter,
and my opinions have been asked upon almost
every question that might occur to the writer's,
as affecting the interests of their party. have
not always responded to these inquiries for va.
rious reasons.
confess, while have great cardinal princi.
pies which will regulate my political life, am
not sufficiently familiar with pledges to exert
myself TO carry out this or defeat that measure.
have no concealment. | hold no opoon
which | would not readily proclaim to my as.
scmbled countrymen; but crude impressions
upon matters Of policy, which may be right to-.
day and wrong tomorrow, are perhaps not the
best tests Of fitness for Office One who cannot
be trusted without pledges, cannot be confded
in merely on account of them.
will proceed, however, now TO respond TO
your inquiries:
FirSl: reiterate what have so often said
| am Wing. If elected would not be the
mere President of party. | would endeavor
to act independent party domination. should
feel bound to administer The Government un-
trammelcd by any party schemes.
Second: The veto power. The power given
by the constitution TO the Executive to interpose
his veto, is high conservative power; but in
my opinion should never be exercised except
in cases Of clear violation Of the constitution, or
manifest haste and want of consideration by
Congress. Indeed, have thought that for ma
ny years past the known opinions and wishes
of the Executive have exercised an undue and
injurious influence upon the Legislative depart
ment of the Government: and for this cause
have thought our system was in dGnger Of un-
dergoing a great change from its true theory.
The personal opinions Of the individual who
may happen to occupy the Executive chair,
ought not to control the action Of Congress upon
questions of domestic policy; nor ought his OBJ
jections to be interposed where questions of con.
slitutonal power have been settled by the va
rious departments of Government, ard acquies-
ced in by the people.
Third: Upon the subject Of the tariff, the cur
rency, the improvement Of our great highways,
rivers, lakes, and harbors, the will oGthe people,
as expressed through their representatives in
Congress, ought to be respected and carried out
by the Executive.
Fourth: The Mexican. war. sincerely re-
joce at the prospect of peace My life has
been devoted TO arms, yet look upon war at
all times and under all circumstances, as a ma
tiona calamity, to be avoided if compatible
with the national honor. The principles Of our
Government, as well as its true policy, are op-
posed to the subjugaIion of other nations and the
dsmemberment Of other countries by conquest.
In the language of the great Washington
"Why should 1--we quit our own standon foreign
ground?" In the Mexican war our national
honor has been indicated; and, in debating
terms of peace, we may well afford to be for
bearing and magnanimous TO fallen foe.
These are my opinions on the subjects refer
red to by you, and any reports or publications,
written or verbal, from any source, differing in
any essential particular from what is here writ
ten are Unauthorized and untrue.
do not know that shall again write upon
the subject of national politics. | shall engage
in no schemes, no combinations, no lnrlgues.
| Ifthe American people have no confidence in
me, they ought not 10 give me their suftrages.
If they do not, you know me well enough to
believe me, when declare shall be content.
am too old soldier to murmlr against such
high authority.
z. TAYLOR.
To- Cant J. s. ALLISON.