The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1848-03-02
From the Richmond Examiner
The Two Letters. 81

The 1.-TWO letters of General Taylor-the to Mr.
lngerso in answer TO a communication which Mr..
ngerso never wrote which we published in our last,
the other to Peter Sken Smith, which publish in our
present number, are like to one another in but one
hlng-he great confusion of ideas which they leave in
the mind OF the readers In this particular. and this
alone, they as like as the "Two Dromos" We do
not recolect when have felt completely mystfed
as on peruslng these interesting documents In both he
informs us that he is "no politician" his profession
has lncapacilated him from examining political subjects
that he is unacquanted with the great questions which
are now engrossing the attention OF governments Yet
hs ase Says sd he be dos decided h
could possibly mistake the complexion of his poll
tics He refuses to go into office the candidate
of any party, ''whg, democratic, or native" He sis
not mixed up with Political measures in any way"
Yet, at the last canvass he "made concealment that
he was decidedly in favor of Mr. Clays election and
he ''would prefer seeing him in that office TO any
views of the wing party in general, and of Mr. Clay in
particular, because he educated in the Jeesonian
Mr. Clay .more nearly assimlated, as regards political
matters to those of Mr. Jefferson, than their opponents"
II any man can now understand what the complexion"
OF General Tayors politics is, must say "lo, greater
than Edipus is here"
MI. Henry Clay and Jefferson " assimiated" Why
they political anhpodes Mr.. Jefferson spoke of
most deadly hostility both to the principles and form of
ton Of the republic MI Jefferson, in the last thing he
and expressed his opinion that it was the cause Of the de-
cline OF the south and of the agricultural interests every
where; the protective tariff has become identified with the
name of Henry Clay. Mr.. Jefferson for constru-
ing the constitution strictly as the churchman does
his creed; Mr. Clay has treated it rope OF sand
Where did these two statesmen agree' They never
agreed in any particular. Mr. Clay and his friends
have regarded Jefferson the father of American
democracy, and hated him accordingly Before the peo-
pie nsy b" 6a up nd his
among themselves, they speak of him invariably a
who introduced into the United States the principles
of anarchy and of the French revolution While, on
the other hand, the late Gov Thomas Randolph says in
his letter of 1927, that towards Mr. Clay Mr.. Jefferson
always manifested the most :" constant repugnance,
looking upon him mere orator, without useful in
formation, derived either from hooks experience "
Gen. Taylor has repeatedly assured Of his total igno-
rance upon the subject of politics; and if anything could
make that douby sure, this notion TO the
identity of Jeaersons and Clas political principles must
be that thing.
Now, then, what Gen. Taylor, fish or fowl, wing or
democrat, Jefersonan Clayite-for to be both is a
contradiction 1t to be difficult for him to
this important question it is for any else.
Yet the wings would call him to the Office where more
knowledge OF State affairs is required than all the other
Offices in the country put together.