Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1848-12-12


ect The nomination Of Mr.. Clay. took erounr
aeans! the position OF General Taylcr, both mil!
tary and political. | did not make any alega-
tions against Gen. Taylor ON oath; bur with as
firm a belief as if they had been so made |
know that ohers made allegations on oath, which
they afterward found it convenient TO take back
But they did not help themselves by it. am We
ry willing 10 occupy seal 10 Congress. There
are 230 members in The House, and 60 in The
Senate. would mol however, change my course
for The seats Of the whole 290. ("Hil him again,
Bolts" Cheers.)
A Convention was held here last February,
when The Geographic wires were SO worked as 10
electrify that mongrel assembly with some In
lerestins news from Kentucky and North Caro-
lina stating that Gen. Taylor had been nomi-
mated in those States. The electrified body i'm
medialey nominated him. | pronounced II
tfaut upon tie party. had offered Two re-
solutions. They were not adopted. | said
public opinion, will wash my hands OF
you; will oppose you. ('You did, BY G-d.~-
Yes, did. (Cheers.) said, nominate a Wing
and will let my blows fall as heavily upon the
Locos as they have fallen upon the Taylor poll
tcians. | have been misrepresened IN relation
10 This remark. did not, as charged inst me,
commit myself TO Gen. Taylcr's support. ("No.")
What right had that Conven'ion-composed Of
one-ihird Wings, one-third Conservatives and
the balance lille better than Locoiocos-to re.
quire pledges of mel Laughter and cheers J.
Some OF them declared they would moi be bound
by its action if any other man than Gen. Tay-
or should be nominated Yet | was 10 be bound
by these men so congregaedl | preferred Mr..
Clay 10 all others. | spoke four hours and a
half in his favor. Yet should not feel bound TO
support him week hence, should he change his
opinions.
said on one occasion that had read letter
from Gen'l Taylor TO MIR. Clay declaring that he
would support him cheerully if nominated A
letter writer TO the Philadelp hia North American
had given currency 10 this declaration. Alter
wards, on lhe 22d April Gen T. writes a letter
TO the Richmond Republican, in which he said
there was no authority Tor the statement in the
North American, and declaring that he would
MOI withdraw in the event OF Mr.. Clay's nomina.
lion. | know that differen! Interpretation from
this has been put upon that letter. Those who
framed that Interpretation OF il relied or his de-
claralion that he Twas in the hands OF his friends"
Who were his triends7 He had put himself in
the hands of the Nativisls OF Philadelphia, the
Independent party Of Maryland, and had accepted
nominations from Wing and Locofoco meetings
10 every section. | will not attempt 10 use Gen.
Taylor against himself l will not charge him
with wiully attempting TO deceive The public
But think he forgot when he wrote his last lei
tiers what he had said in his first [Lausherl
If General Taylor was not bound by the &C
ton of the Convention, what bound me, or any
body2 C"Good.") know that Judge Saunders
of Louisiana made certain declaration at Phi
ladelphia as TO tho acquescence Of General
Taylor in the choice of the Convention. ]
was there, and though the doors were closed on
mo, not being member. know the circumstan-
ces under which he made it. He only declared
that General Taylor's friends would withdraw
him and abide by the decision ofthe Convention,
when his nomination had become certain. Judge
Saunders did not make the declaration until the
nomination had been virtually secured Gene
raj Taylor wrote many letters and speak of
them not for the purpose of crticisng their style;
but why did he not write one for himself, instead
of using his friend Judge Saunders 10 speak for
hmi think, so far as l am able to judge, that
there was no more authority with Judge Saun
ders TO speak in General Taylor's behalf than
there was with me. believe that General
Taylor was indignant when he heard that the
declaration had been made.
MIR. Bolts then spoke of the card which
afterwards appeared at the instance of Bailie
Peyton and others, who chartered steamboat in
order TO approach General Taylor on the sub
ject at Baton Rouge. That card did not sane
ton the declaration of Saunders, as made by ou
thorty Of General Taylor but went so far as
not to repuGiate it, after had cnured 10 his be-
nef.l
Many political cheats have been perpetrated
upon the honest people OF this country, by
which their fayortes have been set aside and
their chosen measures defeated. Mr.. Clay was
cheated out Of nomination by the politicians
who met at Harrisburg in 1870 The people
rose up, and, in their indignation at the fraud,
determined there was but one voice upon the
subect-that he should be the candidate in 1874
He was again cheated at Philadelphia in 1913;
but the people will rise up in 1852 as they did
in 1874, and declare their appreciation of the
man. Loud cheering, and some voices, "Hell
be too old.") The delegates from three great
States New York, Ohio and Massachusetts =
were asked out of doors as TO the preferences of
the constituents who sent them to Philadelphia
They answered that large majority PREFER ed
Mr.. Clay TO any other man; and that all pre-
ferred either Scott or Webster to General Tay-
lor This was Of no avail with the politicians,
who were determined 10 have General Taylor
nominated; and he was forced upon the Whis
party BY the votes Of delegates from Locofoco
States. The masses Of the Wing party did not
want General Taylor, yet they determined to
take him in preference to Cass. His election
only shows the strength Of the Wing party in
the country at this time. To prove this fact
only look at the majority which Mr. Polk had
in the House of Representatives during the first
TWO years Of his Presidency-a majority OF II.
The people changed that large majority into a
Wing majority, and they did so because they
were tired of Locoloco misrule. The Wing
party grew stronger and stronger, till now they
have been able 10 elect General Taylor TO the
Presidency. They elected him by their own
strength.
! am charged with attempting to dictate to
the Wing party. If | had they would have
scorned my dictation. A JJec have attempted to
dictate 10 me, and scorn theirs.
Had Mr.. Clay been the nominee in 1910, we
should have had Wing administration instead
of John Tyler's, and no war with Mexico We
unfortunately had John Tyler on our ticket, and
afterwards had to rcpudiate him. He, however,
rcpudiated US first
1t has been said that should have been silent
after Taylors nomination. was silent. did
not 90 against bis election. voted for him as
an alternative. voted for him mot knowing
his principles in preference to Cass, whose
principles | knew TO be detrimental TO the int.
rests of the country, and because preferred the
possibility of good administration TO the GER
tainty of a bad one. Cat this point the alarm
bells sounded for fire, and loud cries of '.tire"
in the streets were heard. There was some stir
in the meeting at first. but the audience were
quiet again in an instant very few Of them,
mostly firemen leaving the Hail. Mr. Bolts re
sumed.) Fellow-citizeps, the house is not on
fire, and, if it were, there are plenty Of you
here 10 put it out. ("Go on.")
After The adjournment cl Congress, when !
nd come home, determined 10 take no part in
The discussions preceding The PIesid n'il cleo
ton, | received private letter from friend in
New York, saying that there was 10 be Clay
organization in The States Of New York, Ohio,
Rhode Island, &C., &c. | replied 10 coniien-
Iial despatch, by telegraph, "A rsh-go ahead"
This was seized upon by The Clay committee,
read at large mass meeting without authority,
and published. The Wing papers here were as
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