The Middlebury galaxy. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1848-1850, 1848-08-29
FOR CONGRESS,
Our Platform"

1t has been again and again asserted by our OPP
ponents, that Gen. Taylor stands committed to
not one solitary principle that in nominating
him without setting forth a platform of princi-
pies, TO which he is pledged, the Wings have a.
bandoned their principles, and therefore, by nee
essary inference, are now only striving to elect
man who will break down and annihilate the pre-
sent Administration and its measures, regardless
of what may be substituted in their stead. We
acknowledge our great anxiety TO see an end of
that course ofpolicy, whose aim has been rather
to build up party and strengthen party ties, than
wise, patriotic, constitutional discharge of the
functions of the Presidential Office, with view
solely to the welfare and prosperity of the whole
country; and could this mad career of conquest,
blood, and partizan aggrandizement be stopped
in no other way, we would gladly lend our inhu-
ence to the elevation of an honest patriotic and
deserving citizen, ofvlaerer political creed rather
than suffer such state Of things TO continue.
But We are driven to no such necessity. We are
to accomplish this first and all-important pur-
pose without the slightest abandonment Of the
sound, conservative Wing principles for which
we have always commended, alike in success and in
defeat. Some of the great issues heretofore con-
tended for, have long since gone by-new ones
have arisen-but not one has been foTsaken.
Wings have never been accustomed to expect
of men sent into a National Convention for the
purpose ofnominating candidates for the Presi-
dency and Vice Presidency, that they will also
act the part of a political council, and dictate
creed to the party and to the candidates, to which
the latter shall pledge themselves; nor will they,
we trust ever borrow this absurd custom from
their political opponents, who complain so bitter
" that their example is not followed. 1t is I'M
reasonable, therefore, 10 find fault with the late
Philadelphia Convention for Eot doing what neith-
er the Baltimore Wing Convention of "A, northe
Harrisburg Convention Of 40, ever thought ofdo-
ing With Wings, it is enough, so far as COM
initial to their principles is concerned, that the
candidate is known Wing, is nominated by
Wing Convention, and accepts hat nomination,
knowing it to have been made with the distinct
understanding that he is Wing.
But, in respect to Gen. Taylor we are not COM
PEELED to rely simply on-the frank and honest old
veterans declaration, Il am a Wing, dndshdH erer
be deroted individual opinion to the principles Of
that pdrtg' letter to W. E. Russell, ESQ., July
81, 1876 4; or on his assertion AT the last Presi-
dental canvass, it was well known to all with
whom mixed, Wings and Democrats-for had
no concealments in the matter-that l ,1as decid-
edy in fdrOr Of Mr. CLAWS election, and ,oould VOW
prefer seeing him in that office to any individual an
tie Union; Letter to Hon. j. R. Ingersoll, Aug.
3, ls47 j for we have an open and extended a.
vowal of the position Gen. Taylor occupies-of his
principles and of the policy by whichf elected his
Administration will be governed. This is our
'platform-not creed thrust upon us by Nom
mating Convention, but an unequivocal avowal OF
the opinions and principles of our candidate him
self, before his nomination, and without which ne
would not have received the nomination. OF
course, we allude to the letter of Gen. Taylor to
Capt Allison, dated April 22d, ls4s. This letter