Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1848-09-14

portance, and more easily to be answered
III | may venture to use mercantile express
sion, am now to say that there is another
side to this account. The impartiality with
which Propose to discharge my duty to-day
leads me to consider that.
In the first place, il is to be considered
that Gen. Taylor has been nominated by a
Wing Convention, holden in conformity
and fairly nominated, so far as know. II
is to be considered, also, that he is the only
Wing before the people as candidate for
the Presidency; and no citizen Of the coun-
try, with any effect, can vote for any other
Wing, let his preferences be what they may.
In the next place it is proper to consider
the personal character of Gen. Taylor, and
his political opinions, relations, and conf
munications, so far AS they are known
Now, gentlemen, in advancing but few OBJ
servations upon this part of the case, wish
every body to understand that / have no
personal acquaintance whatever with Gen.
Taylor. | never saw him but once, and
that but for a few moments in the Senate
The sources of information are open to you,
as well as to me, from which derive what
learn of his character and opinions. |
have endeavored to obtain access to those
sources | have endeavored to inform and
instruct myself by communication with
those who have known him in his profession
as a soldier, in his associations as a man, in
his positions and opinions on political sub
jects; and will tell you frankly what |
think of him, according to the best lights
that | have been able to obtain.
] need not say that he is skiful brave
and gallant soldier. That is admitted by
all. With me all that goes very little way
to make out the proper qualifications for a
President of the United States but what
is more important, | believe that lie is an
entirely honest and upright man. | believe
chat he is modest, clear-headed, of indepen-
dent and manly character, possessing mind
trained by proper discipline and seli-con-
troll; | believe that he is estimable and a.
mlable in all the relations of private life |
believe that he possesses a reputation for
equity and fair judgment, which gives him
All influence over those under his command,
beyond what is conferred by the authority
of station believe that he is a man pos
sesslng the confidence and attachment Of all
who have been near him and know him.
So much for what | think of the personal
character Of Gen. Taylor.
l will say, too, that SO far as have OBJ
served, his conduct since he has been a can
dldate for the office of President has been
irreprDachabe. hear no intrigue imputed
to him, no Contumelious treatment of rivals
i do not find him making promises, or
holding out hopes to ai.y men of any party
do not find him putting forth any preten-
sions of his own; and therefore think OF
him very much as he seems to think of him
sell, that he is an honest man, of an iIIde-
pendent mind, and with upright purposes
and as to his qualifications for the Preslden.
cy, he has nothing more to say about it.
Now, friends and fellow townsmen, witt
respect to his political opinions and iela
tons, | can say at once, that | believe hin
to be a Wing, and believe him to hold to
the main doctrines of the Wing party. 7,
think otherwise, would be to inpuie to hin
degree of tergiversation and fraudulen
deception of which suppose him to ne u
terly incapable. Gentlemen it is worth on
while to consider in what mann'r Gen
Taylor has become candidate for the Pres
idency of the United States. 1t would be
great mistake to suppose that he was made
such, merely by the nomination of the Phi
ladelphia Convention; for he had been nom
mated for the Presidency in great man
of the States, by various conventions ant
meetings of the people, year before tn
Convention at Philadelphia assembled
Gentlemen, the whole history of the worl
shows that, whether in the most civilized O
in the most barbarOus ages, the attt ctlon
and admiration of mankind are always an
J easily carried away towards successful mil
tary ACHIEVEMENTS. All history proves this
, and we know, in the case now before us
! that so soon as brilliant success had attend
, ed General Taylor's operation on the Ri
, Grande, at Palo Alto, and other places, spor
taneous nominations Of him for the Pres
dency sPrang up in various parts Of the Uu
7 ion.
7 And herel LET me say that in general, thes
= were Wing nominations: not universalll
t but generally, these nominations in yariot
S parts of the country, made at various time
J before The assembling of the Convention
5 Philadelphia, were Wing nominations
: General Taylor was esteemed, from the IN
r ment that his military ACHIEVEMENTS brougI
n him into public notice, as Wing Genera
i You all remember that when we were di
y cussng his merits in Congress, upon Il
g question of giving thanks to the army u
e der his command, aud to himself, and Il
= other generals, the friends and supporters
C MIR. Folks administration denounced hi
as being, and because he was Wing gel
II eral. My friends near me here, whom a
n happy to see. belonging to the House
I. Representatives, will remember that lea
:, ing man on the part of the AdministratiC
e declared, in his place in Congress, that Il
is policy of the administration connected wi
" the Mexican war would never prosper t
al the President recalled those Wing general
= Scott and Taylor. The policy was Der
sr ocratic policy, and the men to carry it o
a should be Democratic men; the officers
ID fight the battles should be Democratic OF
I'd GERS. That was the language; and on tn
er ground, an ordinary vote of thanks was
at fused to Gen. Taylor, on the part of t
lie friends of the administration, in the Hou
he of Representatives. He was nominate
er gentlemen, mainly thus; and speak
as those spontaneous nominations, without re
Of uarity or system, made in the country
es Wing assemblies, Wing conventions, a