The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1849-06-12

for their And such, we are confident are the
feelings of every American patriot who has faith in the
people, and believes in the possibility of republican gov
eminent In other countries besides his own
The editor OF the Fredericksburg News describes the
impression which the President of the United States made
upon him a recent visit TO Washington. The portrait
is evidently drawn by the pencil of partial riend 1t
differs, indeed. from almost every other account which
have heard from the lips of his other friends. The
editor himself coniesses that his character of General
Taylors mind is complimentary than is usually
ascfibed TO him ale displays (says the News much
greater strength OF mind, and more intimate knowledge
of the subjects which he conveses than had heard
asertbed 10 him, or which had supposed from his pur
suits In life he possessed But the painter does stop
here. "He descaned with Freedom and often wth elo
quence, upon the principles which should govern his
administration" What misfortune it is that no other
person has heard similar strains of eloquence from
his lips and still more that else has ever heard
him develop the principles which he to conduct his
"On such occasions (says his fusome
panegyrisD he seemed perfectly familiar with the
history of preceding administrations, particularly Mr.
Jeersons, oil which he several times spoke in approving
and appropriate terms His mind was pfeg-
nant with rich and valuable thought which is always
expressed in the pures English" We venture TO say
that there is impartial person acquainted with the
President who will in this opinion. The current
runs exactly the other way. An officer of the army
could scarcely have been selected who inexpe-
rienced and ignorant of civil affairs-ess acquainted
with preceding admnistrations-less capable of con-
Quoting the complicated of government-and
less endowed with rich and valuable reflections the
politics of his of other countries.
We speak with disposition to disparage the quai
cations of General Taylor We have no personal resent
men,s towards him. We would ''speak as kindly" OF
him the Fredericksburg News says he speaks of those
who have 'most traluced and msrepresented him" We
venture to say that the senior editor OF this paper has
liberal of what is due to General Taylor he is
pleased to express about the editor
"Of the editor of the Unon particularly, word
ped his lips in somewhat protraced conversation in
the slightest degree dsparagng to his character
lie said he had read copy Of the paper since he
had been President and felt curiosity hear what
said of him That occasionally friend In his pres
would repeat the anmadversons of that print, but
they made no impression him. or Mr. Richie, he
spoke in rather complimentary The administration
all knew he would condemn before Ii into power
1t only the fu6lment of made with his party
it the by which he gained his bread and he
would be the last who would wish deprive him of it, If
brought him qualification secured him
potency he should certainly object any he
ght pursue Such the substance Of remarks made
in the best temper, and with the kindest spirit"
We will not cricise this portrait in any querulous
spirit We will not question whether il is complimentary
oherwise whether is Sin rather complimentary
terms" But it is for the casuis of the "News' to show
that it is not sin the slightest degree dsparagng ones
character 10 say of him that he is only carry
ing out the contract which he made with his party
;,G ho ~
still more kindly to add, that the President OF the United
States is "the last man who would wish to deprive him
of it," All this may be very complimentary in the eyes
of the Fredericksburg News but for our own part let
us have none of it We shall retalate this equvo
cal eulogum further than TO say, that if General Taylor
had Fulfilled the contract" which he made with his
country with half the fidelity with which the Union
carries out its principles would have been infinitely
better both for his reputation and the good OF his
country We may add, too, our doubt whether the
General is gifted with that 'grea good temper which
his panegyris ascribes him. Certainly the gossip OF
Washington abounds in anecdotes of very different
description.
We confess, however, that we should never have no.
tieed this article in the "News" if it were not for one
development i, make, of the Generals character. This
constitutes the gist of the matter. 1t has all along been
a problem for discussion, whether he knows What il.
passing around hm-whether he is at all acquainted with
the sentiment of the counry-wheiher he really knows
either what they say what his Secretaries do in his
namewhether the democratic papers not carefully
kept from him, lest he might know what is going for
ward, and what the country thinks of the bloody pro-
scriptons of his cabinet But what was speculation be-
FORE now turns out TO be the fact II appears from
his own confessions that he feels "no curiosity to hear
what was said of him-that he has read copy Of
the Union since he became the President-hat he only
occasionally hears friend repeat in his presence
the animadversions of that print; but that what he
hears from that paper, and, we presume, what he
occasionally hears about others, "makes sort of i'm
preston upon him" Heaven forbid that should com
plain of Gen. Taylor's not reading the Unon Wepre
sumo the Notifying indifference is shown to other
democratic papers. Not one OF them is worthy of pass
ing under his eye He not what any OF them
say of his administration. The grave truths which they
develop and the holiness with which they expressed
leave not the slightest impression upon this alaccompsh
ed statesman Is it, them really true that "where ignorance
is bliss, tits folly TO be wisew Is it of account to
public officer both sides of the question: to
the opinions of the democratic party freely even iercey
expressed Is the President really very wsc that the
holo of akap