The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1849-07-13
Gen. Taylor no. equal to hi. Fortunes.

LOT men 10 De
to which their mental and moral faculties are unequal
and to which adventurous circumstance has ele-
waited them. general may win great victory without
any peculiar merit of his own, his success being attrbu-
table perhaps to the nerority Of the enemy with whom
he contends, perhaps to the skill OF the officers by
whom he is surrounded the bravery of the men of
whom his army is composed. And in civil life, promo
ton to high station is often attained without qualfca
ton merit the part of the successful aspirant the
true of his elevation being perhaps, the aid of
powerful friends the rigid adherence to party organza
lion and discipline, the temporary within or caprice
OF the people By such accidents often raised to
high positions both in military and civil life. But the
accidents that have given them their and popu
ay which, from the nature of its cause, must be tempo
rary and ephemera them in their positions
and they must fall, at least in public estimation, if they
have not within themselves the necessary moral and in
telectua elements to sustain them. No man who has
been raised to high position in life can maintain it, if
he have not the intellectual power comprehend clearly
all its relations and duties, and the moral energy to adopt
the OF conduct which those relations and duties
Indicate
General Taylor to be now in this very difficult
and trying position If he has not already passed it. We,
however, in commenting upon his present position and
conduct do not to be understood as assailng his
capacity military man. nor as attrbutng the victories
which army have gained under his command to &C.
cdent, to the nferiony of the enemy to the skill of
the officers by whom he was surrounded, nor to the gal
lantry Of his troops We raise question with regard
to these circumstances but admit the fact without ques
toning the causes that General Taylor was successful
military commander and that for the victories which were
ha
his counymen, and that account was elevated to the
first Office within their gift, viz the presidency of the
United States.
He is now in position which must test his intel
lectual faculties and his moral constitution and
ergy of character, and prove to the world whether
not he possesses the qualities of truly great has
been made great temporarily by the circumstances
in which he has, by the fortunes Of life, been placed He
has been in the high and responsible Office of Pres
dent more than four months. and his intellectual and
moral capacities have been partially tested and sufficient
results have been disclosed satisfy that he is
equal to the exalted and dgn6ed station to which he has
been raised He has failed comprehend the true nature
OF his position and to take that course OF action which
alone could preserve the reputation which he attained in
another and different sphere OF duty few considera-
tons will show the grounds on which we base this
opinion.
II cannot be denied, that at the close OF the Mexican
war, no man had stronger hold upon the admiration
and ofecons of the American people than General Tay.
lor This attachment him was felt by all men and all
parties He had secured the and true regard OF the
democrats by fighting in their cause by serving his
country faithfully and well in a war which they be.
ieved unavoidable and honorable, and which they
cordially supported and carried spite of the treason.
able opposition OF their opponents the wing party at
home. Their hearts, therefore, warmed towards every
man who had noby sustained their policy the field Of
battle Nor was this sentiment OF gratitude and regard
much checked when General Taylor avowed himself ga
whig, but not an ultra whig" That avowal or the as.
surance from other that he was whg secured
10 him also the friendship OF the wing party notwith.
standing their opposition TO the war; and their general
hatred and hostility to all those who had participated in il
md who were suspected OF being democrats And il may
therefore be safely said that when General TAYLOR re-
turned from the batefeds Of Mexico he possessed the
true friendship regard, and admiration OF the whole
American people Let see how Gen. Taylor has con.
luced himself under these suspicious circumstances
There was a natural sympathy and affinity between
him and the democratic masses, because he had fought
in their cause, and thus endeared himself to them !;
enemies because he had announced himself Of them.
although in moderate degree. Now, truly great man
would have conducted himself in such manner as TO
preserve this universal esteem Of his countrymen Gen.
Taylor has not retained that universal friendship OF his
elow-czens but, the contrary, he has forever for
feited and lost the regard and confidence OF majority OF
the American people. We will now trace the causes OF
this great and undenable change in public sentiment
wards him. and II they not finally to be found in
his mental inability to comprehend his true position, and
want Of moral courage necessary enable him pursue
the course Of conduct which il dictated.
When in Mexico, he was aware that his countrymen
were divided in opinion with regard TO the principles upon
which the government should be administered and the
which had been adopted by the democratic party
then in power, one OF which was the Mexican war in
which he was engaged On his return, he also found
hem engaged in the preliminary arrangements for the
presidential election which was then approaching lie
applied TO by all parties 10 consent TO be candidate
for that high Office, and accepted the nomination Of all
wings and native Americans and
all he pledged himself not to be the President OF
party, but Of the people, in the event OF his election
This circumstance proved clearly that he even then pos
sessed the friendship and confidence Of the masses Of all
parties Time rolled on and his avowals that he was
wing, but not an ultra one, alarmed the democratic
party and prevented his getting its regular nomination
He was then taken up by the wing party, but still with
out any pledges and after his nomination by the Pha-
n n Il