The Middlebury galaxy. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1848-1850, 1848-07-04

convention with the name OF Henry Clay
on my lips. but with all my energies pre-
determined to defeat him. On the con,
trary, was well assured, from all | knew
OF the composition of that body, that he
would In no event get a nomination.
was, IN fact, DESTROYS that he should re-
celve as large vote as possible, as an ex.
preston of the high appreciation of his
talents and public services which all good
Wings entertain, and as an alienation in
some degree OF result adverse to his
claims which l considered inevitable.
even now regret that the Kentucky dele
CATION did not feel it to be their duty to
cast unanimous vote in his favor. for
reasons that must be obvious. But call
my energies were predetermined to en-
sure the nomination of Gen. Taylor. as
between him and some other candidates.
not because l did not entertain the utmost
respect for such candidates, but Simply
because | thought we should best subserve
the interests ofthe country by putting for
ward, in the present conluncture, the name
Of Gen. Taylor. When l speak OF other
candidates, | must be understood to re>
ter to Mr.. Webster, of whom, permit me
to say, that the people of the Uuited States
would have honored themselves, and have
rendered our free institutions illustrious,
If they had made him President long ago.
1t is true the name of Henry Clay has Of
ten been on my lips, but it has ever been
IN accents praise and admiration such
was the fact in 1874, when l devoted al
most an entire year in cooperation with
friends TO rescuing our Commonwealth
from the hands of the opponent, and in
giving him the electoral vote of Connec-
tIcut. claim to be much truer friend
of Mr.. Clay than those who have so un-
advisedly urged him into the field when
there was little probability that he could
be nominated, and less that he could be
elected if nominated.
8. 1t is well known here, and l believe
throughout Connecticut, that having Civ
en- the entire subject full and most
anxious consideration, early in the pres
ent session cameto the conclusion that we
could with more certainty put down the
present Administration, and promote the
success Of the Wing cause, under the aus
pices of Gen. Taylor, than by using the
name of any other of the distinguished
men who have been brought before the
public In this connection. Nevertheless,
L have said on all occasions that l would
not. as delegate to the Convention, act
on my own private opinions, but would
cooperate with the other delegates from
Connecticut in an effort to obtain such
result as we might, on consultation, deem
to be best.
4. When the delegation assembled at
Philadelphia for consultation, in advance
OF the deliberations ofthe Convention. my
opinions favorable to General TAYLOR
and the grounds on which those opinions
are based were fully stated to my co-dele-
gates but, at the same time, | avowed
the purpose of abiding by the decision Of
my associates. We then determined IL
unanimously to vote for Mr.. Clay; and |
can assure Mr.. Blunt that we should not
have departed from that determination one
hair, if other delegates had been disposed
to cooperate with us, so as TO give Mr..
Clay a majority of the Convention in
such case he would have been the NOM
inee of the Wing party, and would have
exerted myself, as IN 1874, to make him
the Chief Magistrate of the American
people.
5. On the first ballot, Mr. Clay re-
ceived 81 votes, (fewer, by far, than an
ticipated, and on the second he receded
to Sc. The delegation assembled the
next morning for further consultation, and
knowing. as we did, that many delegates
who voted for Mr.. Clay on the first and
second ballot would vote for other candl-
dates on the third, and that therefore his
nomination was unattainable, we decided
unanimously that each delegate might
thereafter give such a vote as he should
be convinced the good of the country re-
CURED. | then REQUIRED, for the first time,
to my real opinions, and voted for Gene
raj Zachary Taylor, and found myself
supported BY two of my colleagues, Messrs.
Stuart and Trumbull, who acted OIL their
wnjudgment, wholly uninfiuenced by me,
directly or indirectly. presume | shall
not be guilty Of breach of confidence
if l say that General Taylor would have
received, if necessary to his nomination,
(Mr. Clay being out of the question: two
more votes from Connecticut. | believe
the same thing is true of some delegates
from other States who voted for Mr.. Clay
to the last
6. entertain the utmost respect for,
and confidence in, the Wings of the city
of New York but it must be recolIected
that / went into the Convention not as
their agent, but as the representative of
the Wings of Connecticut. l thought
myself free man, acting for the free
Wings of noble State. in a perfectly
free National Convention, with no obliga-
tons TO Mr. Blunt except those of court
esy and respect. In that character l did
not deem myself mere automaton, but
reasonable being, in duty bound to act
fairly and candidly towards all. but with