Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1848-08-10


presidential Office is (4) to rest in the discharge
ofthe erecutive functions" and let az the Ieg's-
lathe ciH oft people find utterancs ana enact
guent This ylntimeat of the Signal letter L re-
neat damandy \ surrender of the entire UetO POoc-
Or The reference to the ordinance OF 1857, is
nut as one Of the cases to illustrate the impor-
toncn Of this surrender "1He extension OUer
t5c continent beyond the Rio Grande Of the Ordi-
vonce of 1887 Is an object of too high and para
mount importancc to be bafled by Presidential
rptocs An noe can ask of the incumbent Of the
A;obest office undcr the Constitution is to hold
R;S hand 10 boV to the wW of the people as pro-
mulGatcd in Legislative forms, AND RESTRAIN
THE EXECUTIVE ACTION TO ITS APPROPRIATE
CHANNELS p Mark the dates-the Signal edit
oriaI, 18th of April, 1847, Gen Tayor's letter.
18th May, 1847. Mark also the second para
graph of his leter-laying ground for future re-
consideration.
Now admit that Gen. Taylors letter does
contain direct approval lat its date) OF the sem
timent-that theveto power should absolutely be
surrendered, and expressly including, as within
the general principle-the Wilmot proviso. Nor
will question Gen. Taylors sincerity at the time,
May lS47 in the avowa He might then
have supposed that the South would be willing
to accept the compromise profered by the North,
viz: that the battle should be fought an Congress,
and there cOnclusiUely decided. But it was not
so accepted by the South Witness the Georgia
Resolution, the four members of Virginia, and
the entire Southern Taylor press.
In the mean time, how was the Signal letter
received by the South. Their Loco papers de-
nounced it as an abandonment of Southern prin-
ciples, as a direct avowa that he would not veto
the Wilmot proviso The Taylor papers at the
South, resting on their confidence in the true
blue of Gen. Taylor, treated it as libel on Gen
Taylor, e. g. the Va pamphlet while the wings
opposed to him, treated it as an attempt to make
fair aoeather at the North This gave occasion
for the Alison Letter of 22d April, l848.
now ask your attention to that letter In
this letter Gen. Taylor takes his final ground on
the Veto 1t is his last will. In this he revokes
his approval of the absolute surrender of the veto
power;-he defines the cases in which he will
exercise the veto, and the principle he lays down
includes that of the Wilmot proviso.
Note |. AS to past pledges. 81 confess
whilst l have great cardinal principles which
will regulate my political life, am not sufficient
ly familiar with all the minute details of political
legislation to give solemn pledges to exert my in
fuence if were President to carry out this, OF
defeat that measure"
Note I'd. The principles upon which he viii
fU
Veto power-The power given by the Constitu
ton to the Executive to interpose his veto is
high conservative power but, in my opinion
should never be exercised except in cases o
clear 0iolation Of the Constitution or NANTES
haste and want of consideration by Congress-
"The personal opinions of the individual VIII
may happen to occupy the executive chair
ought not to control the action of Congress apo
questions Of domestic policy; nor ought his OF
jections to be interposed where questions of cor
stitutonal powers have been settled by the w
rious departments of the Government, and acqu
esced in by the people" Under the last, l tax
it for granted he intended to cover the acqus
ton of foreign territory by treaty
And Sd, he instances as questions of dome
tic policy and as thus settled and acquiesced il
the Tarif-the Currency-and Internal Impro
ments, (the Wilmot proviso is not among thos
excepted) which he will not Veto And he add
'"These are my opinions upon the subjects refe
red to by you; and any reports or publication
written or verbal, from any source, differing
any essential particular from what is here witte
are unauthorized and untrue" This is an abs
lutte revocation Of the Signal letter. This pa
agraph you will not see have not seen in Ia
Tor whig letters
81 do not know that shall again write on Il
subject Of national politics"
Here, then, is the final declaration of the We
powet. He wiU crercise 1t in cdSe0f clear vi
Zation Of the Constitution.
now ask, how is the Wilmot provso consde
ed by the entire South-ofal parties-as que
ton of domestic policy or as high constutio
al question: clear violation of the consttutio
Here is an answer of record
In Senate, on the 25th and 9th JAN, l84
Mr. Bagby of Alabama introduced the foowi
resolutions
e. ResoUed, That Congress has no constitution
power to abolish prohibit slavery in any state
territory in this Union"
SO. RESOLVED, That if any territory is hereafter
quired by the United States, either by treaty c.
quest it shall not be competent for the treaty max
power, or Congress to exclude slavery from such t
Titory, either by treaty stipulation by act of G.
gress but such territory shall be equally free
open 10 the citizens of all the United Sates with
any limitation, prohibition, restriction, in regard
slaves or any other description of property whatevt
AS constitutional question, then, the Win
provso comes within the veto power of G.
Taylor, under his sgn-manual, and bearing
subsequent to the 22d day of April last, gu!
to satisfy any Wilmot provso Wing
There is another view which wish to pres
to you Gen Taylor on the 22d of April, I8
well knew that one principle was attributed
MN ny th0 Ouu'HeIu 1dyloI Wnl8s-Whlle
the Northern Taylor Wings another and an
poste one was attributed to him to make t
aoeothe" for him at the North How easy it wo
have been for him to have dispelled every shad
of doubt, by saying directly, d" ,OiH, or
not UetO the Wilmot prOUiSo." Why leave
to construction? why stand by in silence, wi
opposite opinions are attributed to him? 7
object of conceament is always for decept
The North or South are to be deceived WI
do you think? Depend upon it, the North
be Tylerized-and the South Taylorzed.
This double dealing is strongly pushed in
Southern Loco papers against Gen Taylor
no Southern Taylor Wing is deceived by it.
then base my refusal to give in your at
sion on the ground that as the evidence st
on the 9th day of June, 184S,-and now sta
i did verify believe that General Taylor
in favor of the acquisition of more Mexican
ritnrv and that he nnuLd aetn thn LLiL,nnt n,