Evansville weekly journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ind.) 184?-18??, 1848-05-04
HIGHLY IMPoRrteT LETTER FROM
~RAL TAYLOR.
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We sd in the New Orleans Picaynne of the
e,en ut. the following highly interesting and
important letter from GENERAL TAYLOR, in
which he frankly avows his opinions inrelation
to the several great matters connected with the
Presidency, and the course be will pursue il
elected to that station. Wedo not know when
we have enjoyed more pleasure than we have
in laying this letter before our readers this
morning. The Picayune in introducing it to
the public says: THE numerous misrepresen-
tations of Gen. Taylors opinions upon ques-
tious. of public policy, which have been put in
circulation by persons who assumed to speak
from authority, have induced him to address a
letter to Capt. Allison, his brother-n-law, in
which he takes occasion tospeak more at large
of political topics than he has hitherto done
This letter has been handed us for publication,
and it defines, once for all, the Generals posi-
ton in regard to the Presidency. and the
issues which lie at the base of party organiza-
ton.
twill be seen that Gen. Taylor reiterates,
what has so often before been declared, that he
is whig, but not an ultra one. He rejects, III
the sternest terms, the idea of President of
the United States being the mere instrument
of party. He will not consent to take Office as
propagandist. He is for taking the constitu-
ton as guide rather than the creeds of con
ventions or the dicta of political clubs He Is
for leaving to Congress the things which be-
long to the legislative department, and confin-
ing the Executive to the matters entrusted to
him by the constitution. He refuses to change
his attitude towards the Presidency in any gar
ticular-leaving it to those who obtained his
consent to be candidate for that Office to do
in the premises what shall seem to them
best.
We regard this document as not only inter
esting TO Gen. Taylors friends, but important
to the public at large, as embodying sound po-
litical truths. The most momentuous topic
embracedin it is the relative positions and du-
tiesof the legislative & executive departments.
1t must be conceded that the increasing defer
ence paid by Congress TO the will of the Exec
utive has been regarded by many of our wisest
statesmen with alarm, and the implied obliga-
ton OF the President TO carry out the views of
a nominating convention has at times serious
ly interfered with his independence and i'm
paired his ability to do good. 1t was never
contemf lated by the trainers of the constitu-
ton that President should be tr1mmelled by
pledges or bound down to a party manifesto
which is generally drawn up with reference to
accidental states of public feeling Or topics Of
transient excitement; much less did it enter
the mind of our revolutionary patriots that
Congress should in any wise be subservient to
the Executive or controlled by the opinions of
his Cabinet. In SO far as the National Legisa-
ture is warped by the influence or the persua-
sion of power, does Congress fall from the dig
nihed position assigned it by the constitu-
ton.
But we shall not detain The reader with COM
ment upon paper which wilIattrac universal
attention.