The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1848-10-26
CITY OF WASHINGTON.



fatal bio W on the whole theory of legislation embodied
in the cons tuition for the due protection OF the peoples
rights We have also exploded the miserable and fraud
ulent pretene of the wings that this their attack upon
the veto is designed TO curtail and limit the Executive
mower and we have shown that on the contrary, the
vicious legislation to which this pledged noner OF the
veto must open the door, VIII in fact operate most direct
" and formidasly to augment the Executive patronage
and strengthen the Executive arm.
Surely if anything more were needed TO put the coun-
,rv on its guard against this unprncped attack of the
wing leaders upon the constitutional Organisation Of the
Legislative authority Of the country. it may be found in
the agency which they have selected for the execution of
their corrupt purpose They have summoned nexpe-
rencet soldier from the camp, to go into the presidential
chair and hack the constitution with his sword They
have selected military ehettain, who that be
knows nothing of politics and has voted in his life,
and have put him forward TO hew down of the main
safeguards hich the constitution has erected against
hid legislation, Unable trust the overweening
influence over HIN which his total lack OF civil expert
.n,e and ouahca,i., of give them, they
have ,crten for hn, and made HIM sign formal and
nsd,s wholly O. abandon the use of the veto in
relation to all those very ao)ectS upon "hch mas been
used by our most usrous PRESIDENTS most frequently
and with the most cordial appro 'aoh OF The people
What can be worse than this Time was when the
whig party the conservative party Oh he country en-
er,aned holy horror of the elevation III military COM
mander to the presidency. What, in that day. would
they have said had they been told that in few short
years they themselves would have been led by selfish
and ambitious leaders to band together in order 10 confer
that high Office upon mere soldier, knowing nothing
of public life save the camp, who before his cleo
ton should be pledged to commence his admlniStra-
ton by puckng down main pillar of the constitution
Wond not indignant conservatism have cried out In the
words of Holy Writ, as thy servant a dog, that ne
should do ut,s hngr' What precedent can be imagined
more disastrous than such election OF such fresi
dent, What one element of our free institutions is
SAFE if the people will patiently stand by ana see Inc
selfish ambition of faction thus employ the mailed
hand OF warrior to cut down great conservative
ordinance of the constitution What fraud more shame
less than that this attempt should be made by the SELL
styled conservative party OF the country IN the name OF
conservatism and upon the empty pretenee OF limiting
the Executive power
All the political avowals of General Taylor's whole
series of eectoneerng letters show up in the strongest
light the fragrant outrage OF this assault, which bad adj
vice has made him pledge himself to Pepe;ate upon the
constitution He does not profess to have studied any
one OF the great subjects of legislation in reference to
which he thus prenaturely throws away his consttu-
tional power! He does not profess to know-at
least he refuses to any opnion-whether revenue
tariff or protective tariff be the better for the country
He was friend OF the old bank, but knows
from himself what financial system he prefers So, too,
in reference to internal improvements No man can tell
wha opinions he holds whether he holds any opinions
as to the limits of the constitutional authority OF Con-
gress this respect the expedency of lis exer
else Yet in the midst of his entire ignorance upon all
these subjects thing he has made up his mind.
He holds that the President should have official utg
men in these matters He holds-directly in the teeth OF
the express words of the constu,ion-tha all shall be
left the final arotramen Of accidental temporary
majority of Congress Should such majority, lasting
only gears charter monster bank of hundred mil
lions of capital to last ty years, matters not to him.
The bill is currency BILL and he is specifically pledged
10 sign it because il is a currency bill
What then, the election of such President but the
placing of helmsman the helm of the ship of State
who is pledged and bound, just the storm
rises to abandon his hold upon the rulder and leave the
vessel to drift and labor, best she may amid the shift
ing gales and surgng currents of sectional interest
personal aspiration in Congress Is it for the sake OF
placing such nudity in conspicuous and responsible
position that the constitution has ordained tn periodical
election of Chief Magistrate OF the American people
and then, besides investing him with executive functions
has solemny associated him in the complex and carefully
guarded organization of the public Legislative authority
| But how stands the as to General Taylors con-
sstency, this his formal unqualified pledge to abandon
and abrogae the veto in relation to the tariff, the
currency, and internal improvements What was his
position as a candidate before the people up to
the very day of the appearance OF the Allison letter.
unprecedented pledge! Up to that day he was
soemnly pledged to gtpe pledges arhateuer He had
deliberately nailed his public honor and his public for
tunes to that declaration Friends all parts of the land
/ had taken him at his word He nominated, he :
cepted nominations and the cry was, that he would
" be elected as the GREAT uNPLEDGE.
ABLE The next mornings rose, and he had signed
pledge to abandon and abrogate of his highest and
most cardinal constitutional duties and powers Is this
the way in which honest work is done Is further proof
wanting of the corrupt views in which the wing man.
ayers have persuaded their and inexperienced
didate first abandon his public pledges, for the
sake of afterwards pedging himself to abandon his
stituonal dues7 Can anything be needed to open
the eyes of the people the true character of the whole
selfish and progate conspiracy against the constitutional
safeguards of the people'
But again Gen. Taylor has never wearied of telling
the country that he would not be partisan President
Al tna, II