Iowa capitol reporter. [volume] (Iowa City, Iowa) 1841-1855, 1848-03-29
The Taylor Meeting in New York

On the evening OF the 18th inst, there
was great "Taylor Meeting at Militia
ry Hall, in the city Of New York. The
principal speakers were Wing members
Of Congress- Nm. Cost Johnson, of Ma
ryland, and Col. Baker, of Illinois. Itap-
pears that Mr.. Johnson has become salts
fled that the measures of the Wing party
are founded in error, and he goes for
something more in accordance with De-
mocracy, which he acknowledges has been
right on the great questions of political
policy. The following is an extract from
his speech, at the Taylor meeting, report
ed for the New York Herald: . @
Mr.. Johnson said that some thought
Gen. Taylor ought to come out hat-foot-
ed and take the whole of whigism upon
his shoulders; and if he does not do this,
why then we do not know whether he is
a wing or not Is this the issue? But
what issue is this? / myself am wing,
and l believe that Gen. Taylor is wing,
too, but not a uhig upon the old platform Of
utigism, though | have fought for those
principles till was whipped off every
button, and haze become acise enough TO drop
them. When / first started l went for
every question upon the old platform of
whigism. | was once in favor of bank
of the United States; for the whole beast,
with its seven heads and ten horns.-
Then, again, | was in favor of distribu-
ting the proceeds Of the United States
land Offices. Then, also, l was in favor
of abolishing the veto power of the Pres
ident.- Then, also, | was against remov-
ing from office by the Executive, unless
by bringing charges against the persons,
to be approved of by the Senate of the
United States. was also in favor of a
tariff, high or low, or any thing. This
was the old whig platform. But as
have grown older, trust l have grown
wiser. ] do not admire the man whose
head is like a pop-gun, which, when it
has one shot in it, as soon as that is out
he has no other idea in his brains. Now
let me for moment examine little the
bank question. A bank of the United
States was urged as being indis pensably
necessary, chiefly on the ground of ex-
changes. 1t was urged that the exchanges,
and the country, were going iniallibly to
be ruined without bank of the United
States. thought SO once, myself; but
the bank has gone to the tombs, and Dam
lei Webster preached its funeral Grafton,
when he pronounced such bank to be
an ''obsolete idea" (Applause.) And
now how is it with the exchanges? We
have found out that they are regulated
according,to the rules of commerce. New
York, this mighty, rich, and splendid en-
porium ofyours, a city which controls and
regulates all the commerce of America
she has taught us better and deeper lessons
III the principles of currency and bank
ing, than have ever been taught by all the
politicians Of the country. As we have
grown older, we have grown wiser; and |
believe there is not merchant, banker,
mechanic, or single individual doing
business in New York, who thinks that
bank is necessary for this purpose; but
taking a-step further in the sound prin-
ciples Of currency, they all believe that ii
is commerce itself which regulates the
exchanges, and not the bank, (cries Of
''good, good.") The exchanges have al
ways been in favor of New York, save,
perhaps, during the last year, or it may be
this year; when the Mexican war has
/ drawn the current Of business to New
Orleans, and has caused exchange to be
about one per cent. in favor of New Or
leans. But a bill of exchange is less va
liable than bale of cotton. We have
found out that the best bill of exchange
now between New York and Liverpool
is a bale Of cotton; and believe there is
| no man NOW who uan1s In dir LII from