Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1848-08-31
Deferrro articles.

nFSThe Coalition Convention at Middlebury
stated its objections to General Taylor in the
following resolution, and it may reasonably be
inferred that the strongest objections that could
be found are here embodied:
Resolved That Zachary Taylor having been nominated
s the Wing candidate for the Presidency by the influence
and yotes Of Southern Shareholders, W aud being supported
bv them on the ground that he is from BIRTH association
and COMPLETION iprrrirrD with the South her nsu.
ous, being of the most extensive slavehoders is
rosrp TO rHE WILNor rRovIso AND ~ FAVOR OF
cvRiro rms PRIVILEGE TO The SLAVES TO
rrMovE WITH THEM TO NEWLY ACQUIRED rERRirony. aud
S w NJ s'1 md haSos S.o hi. b. Co"Hss
Cincinnati, expressly declared tt he would not give his
opnon the question, shehet Slavery should not be
prohibited territory hsro does not exist aud mould
ehs her he I'D Uoad no! r coagrss wheh saond
having under his hand furnished the proof that the said
Zachary Taylor declared to Convention of the Mississp-
nj Legislature that rHr SourH SHOULD
WLMor PhvIso, and tina, the citizens should be ietfee
sbjeet ia unworthy of the support of Republican
eemen and we hereby pledged curovc, oppose his ce
walton the Presidency by all honorable aud u',ihabe
means."-(4)
~ The Free States controlled this Conven-
ton, having large majority both of delegates
and States represented.
(2) This is quoted as the opinion of the Aber-
deem (Aa.) Wing. Whether there is such
paper in existence we do not know; and ifthere
dence that it is the organ either Of Gen. Taylor,
or of the Southern members OF the Convention
On the other hand, there is the very strongest
evidence that it entirely and grossly MIsREPRE-
sENTs both Taylor aud the Convention-evi-
dence furnished by the PLEDGE of Taylor him
sell, and in the nomination of him by the Con-
vention on TINT pledge
(3) This is an unjuslifable use Of the Nc
Conkey letter, which amounts simply to refu.
sal to make any other declaration than that con-
tanned in the Allison letter. There Gen. Taylor
had plairly and explicitly stated his principles of
action upon all questions Of domestic policy, and
upon all constitutional questions, and that prn.
ciple is to icaire his indiriduol opinions In defer
ence TO the will of the people. Why, then,
should he be called upon to specify his opinions,
or what is TO be gained it he should specify
them? He must stand upon his avowed and
pledged principle Of submission TO the will Of the
people, or he is not an honest man. McConkey
presented him both The Northern and the South
ern side of the Slavery question. Gen. Taylor
refused both and stands firmly and fairly on his
original ground. His firm adherence to it, in
the face of both the North and the South is to us
pledge of his sagacy and integrity.
(4.) John NJ. Bolts does not stand as the su-
thor of such declaration. He used it for the
purpose of defeating Taylor and helping Clay
in the Convention, but at the same time acknowl-
edgng that it was done on the authority Of a
locofoco member of Congress from Mississippi
All that it purporis TO be is simply second
handed report of loco oco Committee, who had
undertaken TO draw out Gen. Taylor in con-
versation months before, and was commune ted
to Mr. Bolts evidently for the purpose of injurng
Gen. Taylor
Such, then, is the worst that can be raked up
against Gen. Taylor on this point, and it is to
be remembered that throughout the whole reso.
luton there is no sort Of recognition of GEN
TAYLoR's OWN POSITION on the subject! Now
did not the Mddebury Convention know that
General Taylor has distinctly, plainly and une.
quivocally declared his principles Of action IL
the Allison letter. thus:
"Ihe personal opinions of the individual, who
may happen to occupy the Executive chair, ougll
not to control the action Of Congress upon ques
tons of domestic policy nor ought his objec
tons to be interposed where questions of con
stitutional power have been settled by the var
GUS departments of government, and acquiescet
in by the people"
And did not this Convention also know tina
Gen. Taylor had plainly and pointedly repudiatet
the newspaper allegations, and the unauthorized
locofoco reports, which form the staple OF the
resolution ?-thus:
"Fhese 1.-THE principles of the Allison letter,
are my opinions upon the subjects referred to by
you, and ANY REPORTS or PUBLICATIONS, writ
ten or verbal from any source, differing in any
essential particular from what is here written
ARE UNAUTHORIZED AND UNTRUE"
We have only to add, that if these facts were
known TO the resolutions makers of the Coalition
Convention, as they are to intelligent men gen
orally, they have been guilty Of gross injustice
10 Gen. Taylor. Common honesty would require
them to give Gen. Taylor's own declarations
rather than patchwork of second handed asser
tons, and the silly surmises of men who neve
wore authorized to speak in his behalf.
c. The idea that nothing good can CONT