The daily national Whig. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1847-1849, 1849-05-14
MONDAY MORNING. MAY IA. is4s.
THE AUTHOR OF aJUv EMAIL"


Of this remarkable paper, we agree with the
writer, that Gen. TAYLOR entered the Ex-
ecutive mansion under circumstances wide
" different from those of his predecessors.
They were made Presidents by the cunning
arts Of few leading minds, operating BY
purely party machinery upon the public
will. Gen. TAYLOR was made President
by the force Of his extraordinary victories,
controlling the affections and gratitude Of
the nation. The means used to give effect
to the will Of the people in making him
President, were secondary; in former cases
they were primary. This is an important
distinction, in the estimate Of Gen. TAY-
LoR's true position. He is the President Of
the People and not Of Party, because he is
the creature Of the former and not Of the lat
ter. lie had opponents, before his election,
as he has now, but they were and are not
among the People, as Juvenal truly says,
They were and are among the Partisan
few
The character, which Juvenal gives Of
those who make Partisan Politics, a regular
pursuit, for the purposes of gain, is vivid
one, but not too highly colored. This class
of people are governed by no other motive,
but selfshness. 1t is their ruling spirit.
Seldom is there any other trait Of character
to relieve its desolation. This selfshness
dictated Wing opposition to Gen. TAYLOR,
before his selection by the Convention, as
the candidate Of the Wing party, and it was
only when overyulcd by the voice of the
People, rcpr scented in that Convention, that
it yielded to the pressure. 1t never did,
however, give a hearty support to the old
Hero, because It knew it could never con-
troll him. 1t is this same selfshness that is
now banded together, in Democratic oppo-
sition to the Administration, and well may
Juyenal liken such an opposition to an army
Of Santa Ana's. Their defeat is certain and
sure, because it is selfshness warning against
man who acts solely for justice and the
public good, in the execution Of his Office.
There is some severity Of language in this
portion Of the Address, that rhetorical taste
would, perhaps, condemn, but the subject is
one, that requires to be treated in strong
terms, and this consideration is a sufficient
plea for the writer's departure from the strict
rule Of propriety Of style.
Our author draws brilliant picture Of
official responsibility, which he would have
Gen. TAYLOR to execute. Less than three
months have elapsed, and that picture has
been more than realized The close scru-
tiny into the character and competency Of
the public employees, which Juvenal would
have the President to institute, in every
case, has been the law Of appointments, and
it is a matter Of no small surprise 10 the
country, at large, TO witness the general
success, with which this law has been ad-
ministered. In the matter Of the Cabinet,
Juvenal advises the old Chief, to take men
Of "middle age, moderate opinions, with
sound practical sense and integrity Of cha
racter." What a prophetic description Of
the men, whom Gen. TAYLOR did take /!
They come up fully to all the requirements,
which our writer would have in Cabinet
Of President TAYLOR. They have proved
themselves more than "equal to the occa-
sion" In regard to the exercise Of the APP
pointing power, generally, Juvenal must be
gratiied to perceive, that his views shad-
dowed forth 50 correctly the actual policy Of
the Administration. The political value Of
appointees is no longer the exclusive prin-
ciple, upon which appointments are made.
This "crying abuse" has been abolished,
and working men in Office have been pro-
NOTED to the highest Offices.
The remainder Of this valuable Address,
il devoted to the consideration Of the tariff,
currency, slavery, and other questions, and
statesmanlike course Of policy, in regard
to them, is suggested at some length; but
as the consideration Of these questions be-
longs, under the Constitution, exclusively
TO Congress, we are not disposed to enter
upon their discussion, at least, at this juno
ture. Gen. TAYLoR's Administration will
leave them where he says, in his letters and
his Inaugural, he will leave them--to the
supreme power and care Of Congress.
Without wishing to be understood as
passing any opinion upon the suggestions,
in relation to the legislative policy Of the
Government, which Juvcnal puts forth---for
we are prepared to yield to the will Of Con-
gress, in this particular-we unhesitatingly
pronounce his Address to be master State
paper, whose only defect is, an exuberant
style and. an occasional descent from the
dignity Of the subjects treated to common
place. Those portions Of it, whose ideas
we have not specially referred to,-and few
they are,--do not meet our entire APP
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