The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1849-08-03

PRESIDENTIAL QUALIFICATIONS.
The Union, in summing up its reasons
for assailing President TAYLOR as not quail
flied for the post he occupies, says of him:
{" He entered the army forty years ago, when he
" was but young His education was very
" limited. He has been during good share of his
service in the army, stationed on the frontier and
engaged in savage warfare, where he had no oppor-
tunty to acquaint himself with books, much less 10
acquire knocledge Of Laos and ethics necessary to
qualify him for the high duties Of craftsmanship,
He never voted for forty years, as he says. He
never filled civil office. He ,oas neper justice of
The peace, State Representative, Representative in
p" Congress- nor Judge. He never distinguished him.
self in arms until he went to Mexico. These facts
"al go to show that he could hare experience in
craftsmanship, any acquaintance ,ciih political
measures and men"
Here are certain positions laid down,
which are worthy of note, as exhibiting,
in their negative form, the qualifications
that the "sole organ" of the Opposition
regards as essential, not only to fitting a
man for the Presidency, but for enabling
him to attain "any acquaintance with
political measures and men," In the first
place, he must not allow himself to be
" stationed on the frontier" where he
will be liable to be " engaged in savage
warfare" He must shirk every thing of
that kind, and never go to protect the
helpless women and children of our bor-
der settlements from the incursions of In
dams. 1t is not in such services, and
subjected to the rigid discipline and me-
thodical habits of the camp, that he can
" acquaint himself with books, /" much less
acquire ga knowledge of laws and ethics"
How could he ever have had an opportu-
nifty, amid such pursuits, to learn the great
duty Of obedience to the laws; or to study
that complex system Of political "ethics,"
which has been so brilliantly illustrated
in the vetoes, defalcations, intrigues, and
prescriptions of the administrations to
which the present is Numerically OPP
posed
And now for his positive qualifications.
If the distant aspiration of one day reach.
ing the Presidency enters his imagination,
let him at once bethink himself whether
he has ever been "justice of the peace!"
"Wast ever in court, shepherd mo,
truly.-Then, thou art damned.-Nay,
hopefully, thou art damned, like an ILL
roasted egg, all on one side" Vast ever
justice of the peace, reader No. Nor
State Representative Nor Repre-
sentative in Congess' Nor judgel Tru-
ly, thou art Gin perilous state," read
er; and must despair Of ever being Presi-
dent, or even of having any acquaintance
with political measures and men,"
This doctrine may be very good Loco
focoism, but is it sound democracy Sc
rlously, are the large class of our fellow
citizens who have never served either in
a State or Federal Legislature-who have
never known the official dignity of judge,
aJustice of the peace, or a Commissioner of
Patents--are they willing to be considered
as DISTINGUISHED, so far as the Presidency
is concerned' Is the having "filled civil
Office" to be the test and measure of a
mans fitness Are there no Cincinnati
at the plough, who, though not "known,"
perhaps, at Richmond, would yet make
| canahle and inteIlioent Chief MAGISTRATES
No HANcocKs, who are yet in the count
ing-room; no FRANKLrNs in the workshop,
who are as qualified to preside over the
destinies of the country as if they bad been
"justices Of the peace" ofice-holders, or
Office seekers and trading politicians all
their lives MILTON tells us
! "They also serve, who only stand and watt"