The daily national Whig. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1847-1849, 1849-06-13

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the administration is gaining ground with the
masses which voted against its elevation to
power Such being the case already, we
may safely predict the absorption into the
ranks Of the friends ofthis Wing administra-
ton Of so large a portion Of the Democracy
as to leave the opposition in very meagre
minority, before Gen. TAYLoR's first term
shall be at an end, and we make this pre-
diction, because we can give reason for it.
But, before we assign the reasons upon
which we base this prophecy, we propose to
show why it is that Gen. TAYLoR's admin
istration has, so far, won the appreciation Of
the country, and has defed the opposition of
its enemies 50 successfully.
The administration of the federal execu-
tive office by the JACKSON dynasty, Of which
Col. Polk was the last prince, was King
ship in reality. 1t was Presidency only
in name. The daily study Of that dynasty
was, to see how far the public mind would
bear with usurpations Of executive power,
not to limit the exercise Of executive power
within the metes and bounds of the written
charter. And when one usurpation was as
sented to by, or rather forced upon, the pub
lie judgment, another was eagerly sought to
be accomplished, lest the public mind might
come to pause and reflect upon the enormity
Of the last usurpation and turn upon its
authors and rend them. The men Of the
JACKSON dynasty were tyrants in grain, and
they practised all the arts of tyrants in their
dealings with the power from which they de-
rived authority. They pursued the ever tor
tuous policy Of kings, in seeking to enlarge
their power over the people. The written
instrument defining the powers Of the federal
executive, were trampled under foot, when
ever It suited their purposes so to do. In
vested with the magisterial power of the
constitution, they did not seek in their rela-
tons to the people, to con6ne themselves
within the limits prescribed to the executive
Office by the written charter. No anxiety
was displayed on this wise. On the con
trary, they at once assumed kingly ground,
the ground Of executive prerogative, the jus
dirinum Of executive authority, and executed
the Presidential Office solely with reference
to the disposition Of the people to bear with
them, in their usurpations and practices.
Col Polk completed the metamorphoss Of
the Presidency into kingshp, and when
he was forced to lay down the executive
authority Of the federal republic, il was more
like the abacation Of monarch, than the
going out Of office Of a republican servant.
Gen. TAYLOR took up the mantle Of the
Chief Magstracy, as il fell from Col. PoLI's
all studded over with the jewels
of imperial authority.
They, who expected that Gen. TAYLOR
would wear the mantle Of, the constitutional
executive, which the people had invested
him with, as the men of the JACKSON dynas-
ty had worn it, that he would not dvest it
of all the foreign ornaments which had been
50 sedulonsly appended TO it by his immedi-
ate predecessors, have been egregiously dis
appointed. He has put away from him all
these assumptions, all these usurpations, and
he wears the cloak Of constitutional execu-
tive authority, as it came from the hands Of
the fathers and trainers of the constitution,
in all its republican beauty and simplicity.
He does not startle the public mind with
daily nsurpations Of power, but delights it
with the calm exercise Of the executive pow
er as defined by the constitution. He seeks
not to astonish the republic by new readings
of the constitution, but strives, and success
fully too, to follow in the footsteps of the
first expounders of that glorious instrument
He contents himself with executing the CON
stituton and the laws, as,he finds them, and
does not go about seeking to establish sys-
TENS of Legislative policy, to be thrust down
the threats of Congress noiens polens, by the
influence of the executive power. He does
not take counsel of passion or of his aifec-
tons, in his exercise Of the appointing power,
but seeks, by diigent, patient and thorough
inquiry into the merits Of officehoders and
applicants for Office, to know how best the
public service may be promoted in the pre-
misses. Strict construction Of the laws, is
the cornerstone of his execution of them,
and having no favorite system of policy to
establish, no iavorte views to subserve, he
is enabled to act with perfect impartiality in
the discharge Of all his executive duties.
1t is the contemplation by the country Of
this state Of things, during the last three
months, that has won the loud voice Of APP
proval Of the old Hero's administration from
the masses Of all parties, and especially Of
the Wing masses, whose principles of public
policy, he faithfully carries out. 1t is the
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