Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1848-09-21
GENERAL TAYLOR's PASCA-
GOULA LETTER.

sequence of the unkind and Unfair manner with
which hIs previous letters and declarations have
been treated by the Cass and Van Buren, papers
and speech makers. The glorious old soldier,
who has lived but to serve his country for the
las forty years, knew little of the baseness with
which political and purity hacks would pursue
him, when once no was fairly in the field, a can
ddate for the Presidency. lie had been used TO
fair and honorable combat. The enemies whom
he has had to meet, were the enemies of his
country. lie has met them face to face, and al
ways at the peril Of his own life hut the demn-
gogues aud political gamblers arc class of
whose warfare he knew little. They stab at rep
utation-they assassnate character they strive
to deceive and profit by lying. At the North
they have held him up as the slavery propogan-
dist--a man without principles. At the South
they have held him to be an aholitionist and an
ultra Wing. For these and other reasons Gen
eral Taylor has thought proper to write the let
ter which we publish below. It puts at rest a
host Cf SANDERS and will establish him more
firmly than ever in the affections of the Amerl-
can people. No one, we think, after this, will
have the hardihood to call in question the poli,-
ical character of General Taylor
The letter is as acceptable IN tone and style,
as the sentiments which 1t expresses are wise,
liberal and naturalization .htas.
From the New Orleans Picayuue.
GEN. TAYLOR following letter has been
prepared by Gen. Taylor, to correct any miscon-
cepton which might possibly be produced by the
recent publication Of extracts from his private
correspondence, and the appearance over his sig
nature OF replies to single and detached ques-
tons relative to his position before the public
The letter is connected narrative of the series
of circumstances which resulted in his becoming
IA candidate. 1t presents in compact form, all
the matters bearing npon the subject, and exhib-
lis Gen. Taylor in his proper choracler-true to
HIMSELF 20 his friends, and to his country
EAST PAscAGoULA, Sept d, 1913.
DEAR STA: On the 22d day of May last,
addressed yona letter, explaining you my views
IN regard TO various matters of public policy,
lest my fellow citizens might be misled by the
many contradictory and conflicting statements
in respect TO them which appeared in the jour
nails OF the day, and we're circulated throughout
the country. ! now find myself msrepresented
and misunderstood upon another point, of such
importance to myself personally, if not to the
country at large, as to claim from me a candid
and connected exposition of my relations TO the
public in regard to the pending Presidential can
vass.
The utmost ingenuity has been expended up
on several letters and detached sentences of let
} Iers, which have recently appeared over my sig
nature, TO show that | occupy an equivocal atti-
tude towards the various parties into which the
people are divided, aud especially toward the
, Wing party, as represented by the National Com
venllon winch assembled in Philadelphia, in
June last. Had these letters and scraps of let
ters been published or construed in connection
with what ! huve heretofore said upon this sub
ec,, should not now have to complain OF the
speed with which my answers TO isolated Ques-
, tons have been given up to the captious crit-
= cIsm of those who have been made my enemies
by nomination which has been rendered to me
without solicitation or arrangement of mine; or
OF the manner in which selected passages in
: some Of my letters, written in the freedom and
careessncss of confidential correspondence,
have been communicated to the public press.
But rlven from the context, and separated from a
series of explanatory f,cts and circumstances
which are, in so far as this canvass is concerned
: historical, they are as deceptive as though they
; were positive fabrications. | address YOU this
letter 10 correct the injustice that has been done
:, me, and the public, to the extent that am an
object of interest TO them, by this Liberal pro-
A cess
!, shall not weary you by an elaborate recital
~ of every incident connected with the first pre-
> sentaton OF my name as a candidate for the
I Presidency. | was then at the head of the
h American army in the valley of the Rio Grande
a was surrounded by Wings and Democrats who
had stood by me in the trying hours of my life
and whom It was my duty to conduct through
scenes of still greater trial. My duty to that
army, and to the Republic whose battles we were
: waging, forbade my assuming position of SEEM
J ing hostility TO any portion of the brave mer
l. unler my command of whom knew was a
: Wing in principle, for made no concealnent Of
q my political sentiments or predictions.
/ Such had been the violence of party struggles
during our late Presidential elections, that the
acceptance OF nomination, under the varou.
1t interpretations given to the obligations of can
diiate, presented 10 the public with ii formulary
OF political principles, was equivalent almost Il
= a declaration of Incorporating enmy 10 al
j. who did not subscribe To its tenels | was un
1t willing to hazard the effects of such relationship
!, toward any of the soldiers under my command
o when in front OF an enemy common To US all. Il
l. would have been unjust IN ITSELF and it was AZ
= repugnant to my own feelings as 1t was to my
$ duty. ! wanted unity in the army, and forebort
g any act that might the seeds of distrusl an,
e dscord in lis ranks have not my letters writ,
G zen at the time before me, but they are all .
e one import, and IN conformity with the views
u herein expressed.
7 Meanwhile was solicited by personal friends
o and by strangers by Wings and Democrats, t,
It consent to become candidate. ! was nominal
e ed by the people in primary asSemblies-by
: Wings, Democrats and Natives, in separate and
II mixed meetings. | resisted them all, Ind con
e tnued to do so till led to believe that my oppo
, sIlion was assuming the aspect OF defiance %
d the popular wishes yielded only when it look
l. ed like presumption to resist longer, and ever
then should not have done SO, had not the nomi
e nation been presented TO me in form unlikely
o awaken acrimony or reproduce the bitterness
= OF feeling which attends popular elections.
n say it in sincerity and truth, that part of the in
Al ducement 70 my consent was the hope that BY
j. going into the canvass it would be conducted
N with candor if not with kindness. 1t has beef
e. no fault Of mine that this anticipation has prove,
& a vain one.
e After permitted myself to be announced TO
e the Presidency, under the circumstances ab0y
10 noticed, | accepted nomination after nomination
e in the spirit in which they were rendered. The
were made irrespective OF parties, and so ac
knowledged. No one who joined in those nom
|. nations could have been deceived 0s to my pc
r. lllcal views. Frm the beginning till now
have declared myself 10 be Wing on all prope
y, occasions. With this distinct avowal pubshe
10 To the world, did not think that had right L
m repel nominations from political opponents, an
~ more than had right to refuse the vote OF
re Democrat at the polls and proclaimed it abroa
NJ that should not neglect the proered support q
j. any body Of NV fellow citizens. This was IN.
position when IN November last returned to tn
" United States; long before either OF the grea
l,..,., al. Ia haI hall