Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1848-08-29
To the Editors of the Enquirer;
Easvx Il

Messrs. Editors We're General Taylor qua.
lifted 10 be the President of the United States,
and his own and repeated admissions are not ne.
ccssary to confirm this, yet his explicit avowal
not TO veto any law passed by Congress, unless
clearly unconstitutional, renders him the most
unwisc selection that be presented to the con-
sderation Of the American people; for he renders
this the more Objectionable, by further declaring
that he will not veto any law that the people
have ever recognized as being constitutional! :
Now such silly declaration as this, without ex.
PLANTATION or qualification, might saddle the
country with some Of the most obnoxious laws
that ever had been passed by Congress. If he
will say that he will revive no law that has
been condemned or rcpudaed by the people,
then we might have some understanding of the
course he designed TO pursue but if the will Of
Congress Isl in the event of his election, 10 be
the law, then "Old Whitley" would be just as
good as "Old Roush and Ready to fulfil the i'm
portant trust, designed by the founders OF our
Government for men OF consummate abilities,
varied experience, and stern independence Of
character.
To select man as President without civil
abilities, even of an inferior order, without ex-
perience-as rough in political science as ready
10 subdue the ignorant sayages--a nero auto
maton in the hands of Congress-perfectly pas
sive in regard to the important and oltentmes
momentous considerations, involving either the
prosperity or The downward fate Of a nation, $
10 defeat the ends aud purposes Of his constitu.
tional creation, and convert him into a rough
| and ready tool, TO countenance and give the
sanction Of law TO all the corrupt and intriguing
measures that may have been consummated by
Congress Could more stupendous folly be
more roughly or readily presented TO the Sc.
rious consideration of the American Republic
The Constitution wisely requires that the Pres-
dent shall not only recommend to Congress such
measures as he may deem salutary and useful,
but that he shall veto such as he may consider
| unconstitutional, unwise or inexpedent Now
II in the discharge of these high duties he should,
from ignorance or improper motives, arrest IN
its passage law obviously calculated 10 pro.
mote the public interests, such law would easily
command The two-thirds vote, rendering il COM
plete against the veto Of the President; SO that
we have wise and salutary check, oppo-
sed 10 the abuse Of Executive power; but
II ne is never 10 resist the action Of Congress by
sound and discriminating exercise OF his expe-
rienced and enlightened judgment, why would
not old NV hitey" be as Rough and as Ready as
his master In doing nothing 10 control he destiny
Of The naion2 A President should neither be
horse that has fortunately escaped the danger OF
bullets, nor rider who has been similarly ex-
posed and proven equally fortunate; neither is it
necessary that he should be an aulomaton, whose
| only merit consists in yielding 10 the action OF
Congress; neither is ii necessary that he should
be an Indian orr Mexican hero-for he who has
been to.tY years in command, and whose pro-
vince II has been 10 order men 10 be hanged or 10
be shot, no mailer how just the sentence, is apt,
hon IN t.x,I, ,kzr- h stFl
riofs and in The sequel 10 degenerate into "
| rant-ior, no mater now passive or yielding
consciousness Of The want OF qualification may
al first make him, yet, when in power, surround
ed by dalteIers unless truly Uiss, they will
soon induce him 10 believe that he has more
sense than his constitutional advisers, and
all The opposing editors OF The republic. And
| have our good citlZsns no fears OF this} Will
| they have no caution, no prudence, but be so
! lar unmlndIul OF prior attachments and OF
those sacred republican principles that they
| have so long and 20 successfully hefished-
principles OF the Constitution and Of civil liberty,
as in their enthusiastic transport for military
eclats, and the noise Of the hura boys, who can
only proclaim The mcri! oil their chief by reera-
| ing the marvellous expressions, CROUCH and
| Ready" Never surrender, IA little more grape" "
"Hurra Tor Old Whitley" &c, &c; SO far 10 stray
| from the path Of safety and honor as ingorious-
| ly 10 assist in line elevation of mere military
| cheitain, who promises 10 commence his career
| by sanclonng, without exception, all the mea-
sures OF the National Congress! I! Let US rather
in our sober, reasonable judgment, elect States
man whose constitutional province il is 10 weigh
public opinion and the advantages and disadvan-
| tages oil public measures, and 10 conform 10 them
when, in his opinion they would be santary and
| ex pedient and 10 oppose when in his MATURE en-
| Iioh cd wDul0 n
wise or disastrous 10 the public interests so To
| do. And sern disinleres!ed inhexibllity OF
| purpose in this respect, sustained by honest CO.
gent and substantial reasons, vii. enable him CT
fectuay 10 defeat improvdenl legislation and 10
comman nd the public confidence, which will be
| calculated To facilitate such measures as may be
| conducive 10 the public wea and enable him 10
| crown them with success. This is the manifest
design oilhe Constitution and The dictate OF treason
and Of common sense and we'll calculated tod dis
| pei that faniaronade Of Wing nonsense-"Roueh
and Ready never surrendeTs," "a lule more
grape, Capt Bragg, ""Hurrah for Old Whitley for
Vice!w What has all this idle clamor 10 do
with The science Of politics or the maXms OF good
| government II should be viewed and treated in
lis proper light as very shallow device OF Coon.
| cry To entrap The fools. A President should not
govern according 10 The caprlcous, violent or
corrupt inclinaiions Il The representative body,
who are generally consulting he Interest or The
improvement OF localities and o!leneg lhe advance.
| ment oil their own fortunes, bn!, agreeablY 10 ar
enlightened judgment, detailing a sound, wise
and Republican policy, calculated 10 command
| The approval 81 The constituent bndv enlisheu
and confirm their honest understandings and shed
lu>tre around his own cyi! ami poluca lame.
Bul old Rough aud Ready, in the conscious.
ness oi his ignorance and disqua LITIGATION, grnrciy
| proposes TO be The TAIL, and not III HEAD 81
Congress and expects support FIR conde.
scension deserving only Of contempt or pity.
pity old Rough and Ready, from my soul, who
clumsy and readily FAWNS Tor office. New
when the HEAD, conscious Of its own weak.
ness, consents % follow The tail, in blin.ly al
tempting 10 comply with caprcious, corrupt, o.
conflicting Interests. We may expect such disor
deIs as The Wings, when in power, are sure IL
engcnder, and which as surely the Democrats
viii be called upon to repair. The better policy
would be TO improve the present condition oi
things, and not put them entirely OUT OF jnn By
proposing remedies infinitely worse Than any dis
Ease with which The body polite is now afflicted.
Quacks are only employed in The last stages q
disease, and Old Fac, so lar from being quack
only proposes 10 swallow any medicine that ma J
be prepared-not 10 prescribe il.
OCCUPATIA.
PUBLIC SENTIMENT.
| Extracts from letters received by the Editors Of
the Enquirer:
I uRiCuMoND County Va