The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1848-10-11
S P e E G n
ABINGDON, MASS, OCTOBER 9, 1913.


upon matters in regard which meet here this day
to confer If could have foreseen that by asserting
to como TO this convention delegate from Marsh
field should have plac. myself in condition to be
called upon for public address, ! should have felt
obliged to decline that invitation because not
my purpose further or other occasions than had
already occurred to take part in political discussion
before the people Fellow citizens my opinions upon
the great national question depending, the cleo
ton Of President and Vice President of the nted
States have been heretofore expressed by in the
hearing Of some Of you do not propose now to dwell
1t any length upon that neral question. presented
IL then and present 1t to-day question with two
sides to iton the side, the election Of Gen. Tay-
dent Of the United states If there be any third part
Of this question: cannot discern it, Cheers Gem
tlemsn, 1t well known from my own declaration
we'll - from other sources that general principles
was not advising recomme nding the nomination
Of General Taylor to the wings their candidate for
ON the cont SO far s Is
1t upon general principles, of course not In any way
indicating want Of respect for his services as mill
1t would be idle now, and improper, to enter into
statement Of for that opinion because the
t%s for considsrDs the question has passed and the
have nominated General Taylor He is the only whig
candidate before the people, and the only whig cand
date who receive any vote for the office Of Pres
dent and therefore, it becomes question for the
consideration of al those who attached to the whg
cause believing to be the cause Of the country,
whether there any other for them to pursue
but to acquiesce in the decision of the majority of
their brethren, and to sustain the nomination And,
meeting and every whg Of Massachusetts will agree
with me- that If it be proper to support General Tay
make that support generous, manly elcent efectual
heatatng, faltering hating support would do
harm than good. Now gentlemen, having been, as /
have said from principle, opposed to the nomlnation
of military man, l am the more desirous of doing
justice complete justice to all lhe personal and pro-
fessona qualities and merits Of neral Taylor and,
too, that degree Of fitness which may enable him to
discharge the high duties of the office which he
proposed, honorably to himself and usefally to his
pess Tat believe him to be man of and es
cellent sense, man of undoubted integrity of solid
ty and sobriety Of character and Of the honor
able and patriotic purposes and intentions believe
him ito be q whg. (Applau-e-" That is to the pur.
pose") Thank you strand think he has made as
good . platform for himself other people, else:
where, have made for themselves. daughter y
And here let me say that | think the objections
which have sometimes been stated against Gen. Tay-
willing to receive support from quarters not vhg are
entirely unreasonable. Why it is known that he was
parties Of various sorts and descriptions he was
nominated by the wing convention, and he had ac-
cepted such nominations. And if he has laid down,
principes and upon the statement CT these princ
pies any portion Of his fellow citizens willing to
fuse Their support Would il not be Ridiculous in
Gen. Taylor to say, gentlemen, learn you have
minated me, and rendered me your support for the
! am whg. Pray withhold your support, md 20 and
vote for somebody else (Laughter( Again, it has
oee0 6a10 tnat ne mas declared that elected Pres-
dent, he would be the President Of the country and
not of party; and If did net think he would |, for
one, would not vote for him The eface to which he
once Of the President of the United States 1t is the
duties Of that Office Of President of the United States
which ne VIII be sworn to maintain and execute, &C
cordng to his best abilities. Why, gentlemen, Presi
dents Of the United States may and ordinarily are
chosen BY party; but when they are chosen they be-
degraded himself by saying, after he chosen
that he President not Of the United States but of
the particular party which elected him. We have had
no President since the days of Washington, who has
not been chosen by party, and party vote. But
who ever heard that John Adams or James Madison,
or the younger Adams, set themselves up, when cho
sen to be Presidents Of party and not Of the nted
States according to the provisions Of the constitution!
Why, what figure would Gen. Taysr have made, il
he had stated the Of what he has stated. IL
he had stated that instead Of being President Of the
United States he would be the President Of party
what honorable man would nave supported tea MIN Tor
tions which have been made in certain quar-
tiers to this declaration Of General Taylor, are
,unfounded, and | AM happy to have an op.
portunty of expressing my opinions to that effect.
.asntlemen there has been reason to suppose, and.
there are those who still suppose, that Gen. Taylor by
the popularity Of his name and the estimate of his
services, may receive support from States not whg
hope these wishes and anticpations may be realized
Perhaps there is prospect that to some extent
they may be but still, in my opinion relia
should be that this gentleman the nominee of the
States ana do not think tits safe for us to caouate
upon any other ground of success. There are wings
enough in the nion II they will unite to choose Cen
Taylor there is no doubt OF that. applause More
or less doubt is supposed to be entertained
quencc of recent events ana the rising OF new party
as to the result in some of these whig States hope
that doubt IL not well founded. In regard to own
state no supposes that there Is any doubt that
in the end Gen Taylor will receive the vote of Massa
chusetts There great States, great middle States
some of them whig, New York. Ohio, Pennsylva dia
the two rst of these States important and
hope reliable for whis vote in this critical state n
where, there is probably regret among some
that other candidates, or another candidate had net
been selected In the central States and especially in
these whg States, have the honor Of knowing nfsny
good and in public life and in private life
know their devotion to the caus, OF their country and
as subservient to the bert interests of their country
their devotion TO the wing cause And II could draw
them around me to. day. rs you are around me and
I'll could speak in these central States, VIII gs
as now can speak to you think might enture &c
of them the language OF long
tapce and established friendship And should say t.
them, overcome your dssatisfaction relinqush your
prefere forget your disappontments and strife
one united strong blow tor the maintenance 9th
whig cause and for the good Of the country sheers
Gentlemen, we have had twenty years controversy
with the great party of our oppone nts upon certain
gr, at principles, constitutional and practical These
principles have not changed the opinions OF oppo
uents lave not changed in regard them, and trus
we have altered our opinions in respect to them
The construction TO be given 10 the constitution Of
United States stands, perhaps, ut the head Of these
We hold that the constitution Is to be received under
stood and administered according to that oonstruc
ton which has received from the foundation o
the government, by Congress, by the judicaturcs o
the country, and by the neral sense of the
nifty" And by Daniel Webster, the great expound
er'Dvery poor authority, as compared with Others
They hold that every man called to take part unde
the government may construe the constitution TO
himself be his interpreter and Disregard the prac
tice Of t. government and the authority Of the
sole mn judicial decisions n other words, take Gu
notions of constitutional Interpretation from Gen
Washington, and the practice of the government 70
half century; and they take theirs from the opinio
of Cen. Jackson. (Lsughter) In the next place
tn. re that vital practical question under system
h.. tor tn ~ ex ecu
tive power by a more aud more reckless exercise
every year, OF the power Of removal from office TO
the sale of patronage; and by freer use than eve
Of the veto power lodged in the hands Of the Pres
dent. Our adversares think that removal OF the bes
men from Office for party purposes Is Just and sau
tary jut in principle II is to award the spoil
to the victor and salutary in practice, because
keeps alive the hopes and aspirations Of party The
think that these frequent exercises OF the veto powe
are all salutary that the President holds but prope
check the legislation Of Congress, and that 1t Il
at and proper for him to exercise that power upoI