Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1848-07-27
Letter from Hon. Daniel p. King,
of Mass.

JOHN QUINCY ADAMS WAS FOR TAYLOR.
The following letter cannot fail to be
deeply interesting to every reader for the
testimony which it contains that the late
JOHN Quincy ADAMS was in favor of the
election of Gen. TAYLOR. Mr.. Kings opin-
ions are also entitled to great respect. He
was one of the fourteen members of Con:
gress who voted against the war, and has
always ranked himself with the unfinching
opponents of slavery.
WASHINGTON, July 10, IS4S.
DEAR SIR Your letter of the 9Th is this
day received. With you, am deeply i'm
pressed with the Importance of the coming
political crisis. | have not obtruded my o.
pinion of the duties of the Wings but
when so earnestly asked by you, courtesy
and sense of duty oblige me to answer.
1t is known to my friends, that, up to the
time of the Philadelphia Convention, 1 was
opposed to the nomination of Southern
man. The Wings of the North demanded,
and had right to expect, Northern can
didate; but the delegates from the free
States did not unite on Northern man,
and the South preferred candidate of their
own.
The friends of Gen. Taylor said he was
fairly before the country, and they opposed
a National Convention. The Wings in
Congress compelled them to submit the
nomination to National Convention. By
sending delegate, the Wings of our Dis
trict became aparty in the Convention aud,
if it was fairly conducted, by all rule and
usage were bound by its results 1t has not
been shown that Gen. Taylor was not recu-
larly nominated. l should have greatly pre-
ferred another candidate; but now, to me
it appears that the only choice is between
Gen. Taylor and Gen. Cass the one or the
other must be President If the people fail
to elect, the choice devolves upon the pres
ent House. The party character of its
members is known as represented in the
House, the States stand thirteen Democrat
lc, thirteen Wing, and two divided Send
the election to the House, and there is not
a doubt of the election of Cass. But Van
Buren, is in nomination. Does any one be-
leve he can receive the votes of majority
of the people or can any one, with his past
administration fresh in his memory, with a
,, knowledge Of his present opinions and
pledges, and the obsequiousness of his whole
life, trust him Van Buren, cannot be cho-
sen; Taylor or Cass must be President
Whom should the Wings prefer!
We know who Gen. Cass is; his life, COLI
duct, opinions and pledges are before the
world; he has been the champion for annex
3 ation for war with Mexico, for war with
2 England, for all Executive usurpation; he
wanted the whole of Oregon he wanted to
prepare the heart Of the nation for war, and
the stomach of the nation to swallow the
: whole of Mexico; the rash, ruthless, bloody
t hand of the present Administration has been
: nerved and directed by the cunning of Cass
II At Buffalo, on the 18th of June, he SAYS
!, "Our triumph will be an approval by the
+ country of the present Administration, ant
: will give direction to the one which shall
! succeed it." Are the people ready to re.
G cord their approval? Not satisfied with the
= waste of blood and treasure, do they want
+ war with England Tor with Cass, war i:
d inevitable" Do the friends of free sol
, want more territory, if, as Cass says, there
y is no constitutional right to exclude SLAYER,
therefrom Wearied and disguised with
= misrule and corruption, the people demand
i change and reform. In the election of Gen
Taylor, there would be certainty of change
= and confident hope of reform. He has de
e clared himself opposed to war and extension
q to Executive usurpation and dictation. A
lover of the country and the constitution he
is pledged not to interfere with the will O
the people, expressed by their represents
o tiyes l have met many gentlemen whl
t. personally know Gen. Taylor, and all men
e of all parties concur in calling him an hon
e est, true man he does not wear two faces
y nor as yet have his friends found it necessa
y ry to circulate for the North one biography
and for the South different one.
In this great emergency have felt strong
" opposed TO the election of Presiden
with Southern principles. AS much as ev
er-more than ever, am | opposed to wa
a. and extension of slavery. abhor the doc
4. trine of availability; but in this fearful cri
e sis, must vote for Taylor and l vote TO
l. him not because he is warrior, but because
e with him there is the better, if not the only
n prospect for continued peace. vote fol
g him, not because he is the owner Of slaves
but because with him for President, (oppo
Is sed as he is to the abuse of the veto power,
e and with the Independent representative:
ST whom, if true to themselves, the people will
lie choose, there is the best and the only chanc'
at of restricting slavery, and curbing the slave
y power.
At will Judge no man and condemn M
e. man. Others, just as honest and perhaps
more intelligent, may come to difieren
re conclusion. | have deliberated long ant
Of anxously. have inquired, not which !
IN the least evil but which is the greatest good
10 When l cannot accomplish all the good