The Lancaster gazette. (Lancaster, Ohio) 1846-1852, 1848-07-21
Loc0focO Testimony.


We call the attention Of our readers TO
the letter published below We do moi
wish to disguise the fact that testimony
from such source gives us great satisfac-
tion-and it will have the stronger weight
upon the minds of the people when they
recollect that the author is one Of the firm
est Locofocos ofthe land. Our own opin-
ion of the distinguished individuals is con-
frmed and strengthened by evidence,
which savors not of prejudice. General
PERsIFER +. SMITH, of Louisiana, is well
and favorably known to the country. And
from the positions he has occupied is well
prepared to speak Of the characters of
Gems. Taylor and Scott. He won laurels
with Taylor in Florida and afterwards
at the storming of Monterey. But the
crowning act of his military career was
his splendid and successful assault upon
the enemy at Contreras He is gentle
man as we'll as soldier and would scorn
to speak i'll of men, simply because they
fell under the displeasure of an admins
tration, whose principles he supported
After testimony such as this, the vilest
Locofoco in the land dare not attack the
the character of either of these distinguish
ed individuals with any hope of success.
And the most ultra Wing, fhe wishes an
honest administration, dare not say that
it will not be obtained by the election of
Gen. Taylor, who. as the writer says, s,could
never be induced to do "mean or wrong
action"
Cry OF MEXICO, April Sth, 1S4S.
Any one who has visited this
country must have horror Of bad govern
ment, for here is seen the spot on earth
most favored by nature, stripped ofal its
advantages and converted into hell by
the vices and corruptions its rulers.
| have great faith in our own people,
however; they show their high sense of
honesty and nobleness whenever the oc-
casion offers.
General Taylor's military exploits are
J. not the causes ofhis popularity; they are
J. only the occasions for the display of his
sound judgement, energy of character,
l. lofty and pure sense of justice and incor-
ruptible honesty. He has as much rep
!, utation for what he has written as for what
at he has done, because even where the
te composition is not his own, the sentiments
h. motives, and feelings are; and everything
az al he does, is marked by the purity and lofti
" ness of his own character
ou have never heard of any one, how
or ever corrupt or base himself, that, atte
'u FIVE minutes conversation with Gen. lay
lor. has dared TO propose or even hint a
anything dishonest or mean. And III
intercourse in the ordinary events of com
~, ,e mon life can give the true idea of The
al loftiness of his character. remember yol
asking me at the time he was put in com
mand at Corpus Christi, whether he wa
equal to the circumstances. l told yol
of his sound judgment and inexhauSti
BILE energy as ! had learned them ii
ex- Florida, but did not then estimate prop
raj erly the other and higher points of hi
it character. In the campaign on the Ri
of Grande, | saw him tried under all CT,
cit cumstances and he always came out pur
uld gold
ns' His profession that lie will be the car
in dida,e of no party will, if he bo elected
be carried out in his practice-not tla
pt- his opinions on matters of policy may nc
lct be those of one or the other party;-O
at most Of these he is a Wig, and he is nc
an the man to act adverse to his own opr
Tvs ions; but no party management or powe
his can ever lead him to do a mean, Or wht
IN he thinks wrong. thing.
hat As soon as Gen. Taylor was furnishe
eat by events with the opportunity to display
his his character, you see that it was estim'
rul ted properly OF once, and come back
rb- the truth of the proposition | started witt
ief that believe the people will always prol
an erly measure great men.
Ter do not say that they will always r.
,eH ward them properly, for they cannot a
We ways give a direct expression to the
Isu feelings, and the least worthy may ha,
IE. the cote without having the wish.
"a. A great error has been committed
a. relation to Gen. Scott; no military oper
Es. tions in history have displayed mo
military qualities or been more uniforr
in " successful in their results. Nor ha
NO they been in any case the result ofchanc
ms every thing has been done in conformi
T with plan, and the event in all cas-
-, has been almost predicted. That su
~, y" cessful General should be degradedin Il
nM ,nd very scene of success, for complain
'nu ~ made not Of him but By him. is excee
W. VI ing strange, and most unfortunate. E
0n on cry one In the army feels it as a disgra
'S~'
10 Your sincere friend,
o"- PERSlFER f. SMlTI