The Middlebury galaxy. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1848-1850, 1848-09-12
NUMBER 20.

NhfNi " a iICltdutuC y
preston, may now venture to say. that there
Is another side TO this account. The Impair
ualIty with which | propose 10 discharge my
duiy Today, leads me 10 consider Of that.
Ana IN the next place, il is TO be considered,
maj Gen. Taylor has been nominated by a
wing Convention, holden 10 conformity with
The usages Of the Wing party, and by The
party fairly nominated, so lar as know.
1t is 10 be considered, also, that he is the
only Wing before the people, as candidate
Tor the Presidency; and no citizen of the
country with anyeilect can vote for any other
Wing, let his preferences be what they might
or may be.
In Inc next place, it is proper 10 consider
The personal character of Gen. Taylor and
ms political opinions, relations, and connec<
lions, so far as they are known.
Now, gentlemen, in ADVANCING 10 n few
observations on This part Of the case, | wish
everybody 10 understand thatl have no per-
sonal acquaintance whatever with Gen. TavS
Tor. / never saw him but once, and that but
Tor a few moments in The Senate. The
sources OF Information are open 10 you, as
well as 10 me, from which | derive what I
know oil his character and OPTIONS. But |
have endeavored 10 obtain access 10 those
sources. l have underworld to inform and
instruct myself by communication with those
who have known him in his profession rs n
soldier, in his associations as a man. in his
conversations and opinions OF political cub
lecis; and will tell you frankly what | think
oi him, according 10 the best lights which I
have been able 10 obtain.
need not say, that he is u skillul. brave
and gallant soldier. That is admitted by
all. With me, all that goes but liuIe way 10
make out the proper qualifications for Presir
dent OF the United States. Bot what is more
important. | believe that he is an entirely
honest and upright man. | believe that he
Is modest, clear-headed, of indep 'ndent and
manly character, possessing IA mind trained
by proper discipline and self control. | be-
lieve that he is esrimable and amiabIe IN all
The relations Of private life. ] believe that
he possesses n reputation for equity and fair
judgment which gives him an influence over
those under his command, beyond what is
conferred by the authority Of station. | be-
ileve That he is a man possessing the conf
dence and attachment OF all who have been
near him and know him. So much Tor what
l think OF the personal character Of Gene
raj Tnylor.
will say, too, that so far as I rave OBJ
served, his &C uduc since he has been a cans
didate for the office of President has been IT.
reproachablr. | hear no intrigue in puted
10 him, no cuntumelious treatment Of rivals.
| do not find hin making promises or hold
ing out hopes to any men or any party. | do
not find him putting forth any pretensions Of
his own, and therefore | think OF him very
J much us he seems 10 think Of himseIi-lhaf
he Is an honest man, of an Independent. mind
; and Of upright intentions. Ard as 10 his
c qualifications for the Presidency, he is unwil-
D ling to have any more TO say about it.
81 Al -.. - - II
c with respectto his political opinions and reIa<
: lions, ] can say Al once, that | beIive him IN
, be a Wing; | believe him 10 hold TO the main
doctrines Of The Wing party. TO think 9TH
: erwise, would be 10 impuIe 10 him a degree
Of regeneration ond fraudulent deception Of
c which l believe him to be entirely ineapa@
tie.
3 Genilemen,i ii is worth our Willie 10 con-
slider in what manner General Taylor has
become a candidate for The Presidency orIhe
United States.
Ii would be n great mistake 10 SUPPOSE
that he was made such merely by the nomi-
nation OF The Philadelphia Con veniinn ; for
he had been nominated Tor the Presidency in
a grea, many States, by various Conventions
and meetings Of the people, Il year before the
Convention AT Philadelphia assembled.
Gentlemen. the whole history Of The world
shows. whether in the most civilized or tie
most barbarous ages, the affections and al
miratIon OF mankind are always and easily
carried away towards successful military a.
chievemenis; all history proves Ihls. And
we know in The case now before us, that so
soon rs brilliant success had attended Cen.
Taylor's operations on the Rio Grande, az
Palo Alto and other places spontaneous nom
inaiionS sprang up for him.
And here let me sag. thar Upupralfv fhpea
were Wing nomipaiions. Not universally,
but generally, these nominations, made al
various lines before The assemblage of the
Philadelphia COuvenIlOn-gencfaily these
were Wing nominations. Gen. Trylor was
esteemed, from the Moment that his military
achievements broughrhim into public notice,
az n Wing General
You all remember that when we were dis
cussing his merits in Congress, " on The
question Of giving thanks 10 the army under
his command, and to himself, among other
questions. the friends and supporters of Mr..
Folks administration denounced him as be-
ing. and because he was, a Wing General.
My friends near me, whom | am happy to
see, TOO, belonging TO The House Of Repre-
sentafives, will remember that n leading man
of the party Of the Administration declared
in his place in Congress, that the policy Of
III OAAiili uAhNA NCtAiAt - W tx llGN-
lean war would never prosper till The Presi-
dent recalled those Wing Generals, Scott
and Taylor. The policy was n Democratic
policy. The argument was, that the men 10
carry out this policy should be Democratic
men. The officers 10 fight the battles should
be Democratic officers, and on that ground,
the ordinary vote Of thanks was refused to
Gen. Taylor. on the part OF the friends OF The
administration
He was nominated, gentlemen, mainly
thus.
Ispeak Of these spontaneous nominations
by Wing assemblies, and Wing Conventions,
and Wing meetings.
Let me remark, in the bext place, that
there was no particular purpose connected
with he advancement Of Slavery entertain
ed, generally. by those who nominated lin.
As have said, they were Wing nominal
lions, more in The Middle and Norlhern,ihau
in The Southern States, and by persons who