The Lancaster gazette. (Lancaster, Ohio) 1846-1852, 1848-10-13
Letter from James Johnson,


for publication. The author JAMES JouN
SON, Esq, is al brother of w. f. johnson
the present Governor, and son of the vener
able Alexander johnson, of Kingston West
morland county, and in ls42 and 1874, was
editor of the Pennsylvania Argus, and ha,
always been known as one of the most de
voted Democrats in the State, both as a
politician and an editor. He supported
Polk and Dallas, in 1874, and il is only
within year that he has ceased to be a
warm supporter Of the Polk administration
He filed the Office of Quarter Master Ser
geant, in the Second Regiment of Penn
sylvania volunteers in NJ Mexico.- Pittsburgh
GazeHe.
YoUNGsTowN PosT OFFICE, July Goth, 1S48.
MR. SAMUEL B. LAUFFER-Dear Sir:
received yours of the Oath instant, and take
pleasure in replying TO it as soon as possi-
BILE. You inquire whether it 1t is true that
l intend to vote for Gen. Taylor. l GER
tainly will give him my suffrage, though
this is not my recent determination. Some
time last winter General Taylor was NOM
mated for the Presidency, by an Indepen.
dent Party of Democrats, composed of such
men as Cameron, Ellis Lewis, Colonel
Wright, Hon. N. b. EIdled, Judge Bucher,
Israel Painter, young Muhlenberg, and
others. / think that "Monseur Tonson has
come again"-that Colonel Salisbury was
among them. They, in their address, a.
vowed their intention to support him prIn-
clpy on account of his brilliant military
services, but, at the same time, they made
a declaration of what they alleged were
his principles. | read it, and was convinc-
ed that he deserved the highest honors
Of the Republic. The laurel wrealhs of
The veteran are still Verdant as the eternal
hills, s,-his principles announced in his let
ters, are the same as those in the address
of the Taylor Democrats. When the
warrior and the statesman are unchanged, +,
shall the fact that very large, and highly
respectable portion Of his felow-clizens,
who are known as the whig party) intend
to vote for him, induce me to alter my reso-
luton! If others, like some of the west
ern volunteers al Buena Vista, chooses to
desert General Taylor in the contest, can
not SO vigorously abandon him. Iregret
that / cannot SO command more than my
vote. Had thousand, instead of one,
they should be given to him as freely as he
offered his life for his country
On the military services of Gen. Taylor
It is useless to expatiate. His defence OF
Fort Harrison, and other exploits during
the late war,--his conduct in the Black
Hawk War at the battle of Bad Axc,--
his victory over the fierce and martial Sem
mole Indians at Oke Chobec, in the swamps
oil Florida, are part Of the history of our
country. Palo Alto, Resaca de la Palma,
Montery, and buena Vista, are familiar as
household words On these battles eulo
gy from wings and democrats has been ex-
haus,ed. General Jesup, one Of the best
military authorities in America, has said
that so extraordinary were the Mexican
campaigns that to poslerity their history
would appear fabulous The highest mill
tary authority in Europe--the Iron Duke
hlmSet--has given his ipse dixt, that the
6atlle OF Buena Vista was fought with con-
summate skill, as well as undaunted vaor.
On that bloody field, in the first Mexican
campaign, Taylor first broke the power of
the Mexican Nation. With far inferior
forces some 4074 to 10000, he defeated the
finest army and put to flight their best
General. After that battle, euccess was
comparatively easy, for the best discip.
lined army had been scattered, and the
prestige Of victory surrounded the Ameri-
can arms.
A Comparison between the military ser.
vices of Gen. Taylor and those of Lewis
Cass would indeed be an 'odious' one. 1t
would be like a parallel instituted betwee
New Orleans and Bladensburg. The
friends of Cass should spare him this in
suit.
Gen. Tay lor is said to have no principles.
The people ought to be tired of this cant l.
bout 'principles.' A fine writer in the
Lights and Shadows of American Life,
makes this observation, when discussing
the character Of politicians: "A close cx-
animation of the history of the world in
every age, will go far to convince US that u
vast portion of tho crimes, mseries, and
expressions Of mankind has originated in a
difference, not in morals, but in abstract
ideas, not in Fundamental principles but
in udgue, indefinite abstraction, lncom pre-
hensible to the great mass, and having not
the remOtest COnnexiOn with our moral and
social duties. Whatever is essentially nec-
essary to ihe conduct Of our lives, tho per-
tormance Of our duties to our families,
neIghbors, and COUNTRY, is easy OF COM
prchension' Gen. Taylor has declared that
he will be guided by the administration Of
the early Presidents. .t.....
BY this implication, his fundamental
principles are sound. Equal and exact
justice to all men, religious toleration, no
political prescription, freedom Of speech,
and of the press, the rights of personal lib
erty, security and property, are The great
principles in the establishment and p.eser-
vation OF which he will follow the example
of the fathers OF the Republic. The veto
power will be used only when the constitu-
ton is clearly violated. On the Tariff, In
ternal Improvements, and minor subject of
legislation, the will of the people, as ex-
pressed through their representatives in
Con gress, will be respected and carried out
by the Executive. This is liberal and prop
er doctrine. No indefinite abstraction shift
ing every day and every hour--changing
from National Bank to State Bank, from
State Bank to Treasury system, from Gold
and Silver to treasury notes, for revenue
should keep the people from voting for a
man of undou6ted patriotism, who is sound
and right on fundamental principles. Mil
ilary men, SO far, have made our best and
sefest rulers. This is proven by the uni
versal popularity of Washington 8 admins
istration aad by The great popularity OF
that Of Jackson. These administrations
should teach us to rcpose generous con