The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1848-07-30

To the Editor of the Un'on:

JULY 2Stn, 1915.
DEAR SIR Surprising that the Office would be under
taken by no one else have taken upon myself 10 give
YOU some account of the discussion last evening at Alex
andria, between the two political parties
The place selected the market house, and there
were about 800 persons present Alexandra is now
largely wing, as she federal fifty years ago The
high toned monarehical, but nevertheless saght-for-
ward black cockade gentry OF 9s, have given place TO
the sneaking, equivocatng, hypocrtica OF the
present day-men who have all the errors without the
manliness OF their progenors OF course the wings had
a majority OF those on the ground
Mr. Bayy of Virginia led off in the discussion He |
remarked that though the conduct of the present admin
sation not the main issue yet II ought not TO be
entirely thrown of view III the When il
into power the Oregon questionable settlement OF
which had baied every preceding administrator wing
and democratcwas then element of dscod with Great
Britain This had been adjusted in manner honorable
and satisfactory TO the country and upon terms which
Henry Clay had s,rven in vain to obtain The Mexican
queson-dlffcult account OF It's connexon with the
Oregon controversywas also pending Gen. Jackson had
declared that the injuries had received from Mexico
"would, in the eyes of all nations Justify immediate war
and Mr. Clay had assented to the declaration Tie MeXi
can minister had withdrawn declaring that the annexation
of Texas virtually declaration OF war lotwh'
standing all the injuries had suffered from Mexico
we forbore we minister 10 adjust all difficulties
who was rejected bubble, because tie popu-
lar sentiment eager tor a war upon this country
Gen. Taylor, although he had before advised the move
not ordered to march TO the RIO Grande until was
known in Washington that minister had been rejected
This fact could be proved from the records OF thu State
Department. Our army moved on the 2Sth OF March,
18th OF April following before the march of our troops
could be known at the city of Mexico-nine hundred
miles distanhe Mexican government gave the oder to
their general "to take the initiative that 49, to begin the
war; This order Obeyed; and the result wa, tina
" American blood split upon American soil.
The wings had said that we began the war by march
ing into "disputed territory" True we had occu-
pied it with troops but it was defensvey and pa
officially; while the Mexlcans occupied it ofennreiy
and even split the blood Of helpless women and children
upon the Sol Colorado. When the war broke out, our
army small; but from every quarter of the Union
volunteers ocked by thousands 10 the standard of their
country-men who would never have fought in an "un-
constitutional, unjust. and unholy war" The regular
soldier bound TO engage in every war, right or
wrong but with the volunteer it ''labor of bve "
believed their cause to be just Our army went gain
ing victory after victory, but no peace followed The
Mexicans held out with obsnacy, encouraged by the
sympathy of the whgs and stimulated by the hop that
they would gain everything they wanted when the wing
party should come into power.
Mr. Bayly then turned TO the domestic affairs Of the
country. When the administration came into power the
finances of the country were, to use the language Mr.
| Clay. 81 in lawess condon'-by the folly O the
wings, who had repealed the subreasy in order as he
believed, that they might force Mr. Tyler to sign their
bank bill The democratic party had restored the cons
tuonal treasury upon the statute and it had proved
so emnenty successful that the wings dared not to make
it issue. The democrats had repealed the tanf of
1912, and substituted the act OF !s6a measure which
taxed the people less, while it increased the revenue
of the country. The bill of lSl6 produced SIX or
seven millions year more than the act OF 1872 aud yet
the taxes were diminished. Was not the state OF the
country now prosperous beyond anything the annals
the pu And S nee OF 1s 10 they
tuted Was the bank to be revived' Was the doctrine
of protection TO be re-enacted In 1874, told
that these essential to the welbeing OF
the country Now, informed that they sob
solee ideas" Why not out and acknowledge, like
honest men, that they were wrong The wings dared
not present pledged to carry out their policy, bu,
had taken up General Taylor, a man who con-
fessed that he had not voted for forty years in Viz
gina, man who did not vote urds liable by lar to be
pay double iares. Now, as Gen. Taylor had shown him
self careful of his money, not paying 81 30 postage,
he had no doubt that, had he lived in Virginia, he
would have voted rather than pay double taxes. lie
(Gen Taylor would give principles in advance; and
all he conceded to the people the poor privilege of
choosing master. Had they the audence no opinions
an opinion about the bank the tariff which they
were ready to avow! They were told they must
take him, because he is can honest man. Were honest
men SO rare' Why, a large majority OF those pres
ent were honest men, And why should they not be
candidates as well General Taylor (By the way,
this fuss the wings are making about having an honest
man. is pretty good evidence that their candidates have
hitherto beer deficient in that PARTICULAR What was
Gen Taylors position on the Wilmot Proviso Daniel
p King Stewart, Ashmun, and Caleb b. Smith, all pro-
vso men, claimed him on the strength OF his written
declarations, as pledged to let the Wilmot Provso be-
come law. The southern wings claimed him just as
confidently because he is Shareholder Nobody knew
what he was in favor Of whom he would disappont.
The wing party should force him to out with his
opinions If the people did not possess themselves Of
/
reality the sovereigns of this land.
| The above is but brief and imperfect sketch of
speech which, for power OF argument and more than
senatorial dignity of delivery, ernphalically worthy
of Virginia gentleman addressing Virginia audience;
and contrased admirably with the ill taught and i'll bred
mounebank from Pennsylvania who followed him.
Nevertheless, have an objection TO the speech. 1t
was defence of the measures of the present admins
traton This work OF supererogatonthey indicate
themselves, and time spent in defending them is time
thrown away The true policy is dttack"carry the war
into Afrca"-expose the hypocrisy of the wings, the
baseness of their conduct the deormites of their prin
cples and the absurdites and inconsistencies OF their
champion.
| Mr. Hampton, of Pennsylvania, spoke next This
gentleman is truly to be ptied Casting aside everything
like decency of discussion and honest appeal to the
intelligence of his auditory he bent all his exertons TO
playing the character of circus cown--and failed an
| that. How miserable how inexpressbly contemplate
is that man. who, goryng in his shame exuting in his
infamy proud to be a demagogue, ambitious to be
| fool, assumes the character of buffoon, which he
has not the intellect to sustain Distortng his vlsage
into the most horrd contortlons probably with the in
tenton of frightening the and children who
presently the gentleman proceeded with strain of mis-
representation and fasehood which have neither time
nor inclination to follow suffice TO say, that he claimed
that the Swings the party OF Jefferson God
the mark !)-inomed the audience, to their great
PRISE that wing principles were well known'-and
announced that Gen Tayor's policy, while President,
would be to 'ride down the avenue on odd Whitley
and disgust in the breast OF Virgnian In conclusion,
he asked, with a uerdaney excessively ridiculous wheth
er General Taylor had ever deceived anybody" Had
he ever announced principle and then turned around
and jumped "Jim Crow" General Taylor has not only
done this but more lie has turned around three times,
and Jumped Jim Crow"
| Al parting, | have word Of advice for Mr. H. The
next time he tries io0 comedy let him make sure he is