Portage sentinel. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1845-1854, 1849-05-23
Food for Reflection.
From the Ohio Statesman.

where a mere soldier has been called to
reside over free people. In the waning
laws of Roman virtue and Roman great
less it is true, that the distant Legions more
han once gave the empire to some favorite
General, but the wings, improving on the;
Example, have gone to the pivouc and cho-
ZEN for their chieftain the leader of that ar
ny which they had designated as "pillag-
ng marauders, and cut-throats." They
mad execrated the Mexican war as "God-
dishonoring and impious," and one of their
trained Ohio demagogues, in the National
Councils, Illuminated on anathema naaran-
ntha against all that participated in the
"unrighteous war;" Yet strange to believe,
this same party brought forward during the
last Presidential campaign, as the exponent
of their principles, the man who led those
'cut-throats" and whom they had so SOL
emnly denounced, and with loud hosannas
to his patriotism and honesty, cheered him
into the Presidential chair. o tenpora!
We have, Mr.. Editor, emphaticalIy fallen
upon evil times, when the sword and epau-
lette, kicked into notice by the prestige of
military success, are considered the only
qualifications necessary to the discharge Of
the high and important functions that de-
volve upon the executive of free and pow
erful nation. There was time-at least
the people thought so-when the citizen as
piring to the chair once occupied by WASH
ington and Jefferson, should have some
pretensions of fitness for that station-ons
who had established character for homes
ty, patriotism, and fearless avowal of his
political sentiments; and who would not
shrink from proclaiming 'on the house-tops,'
the principles which, in the event of his
succeeding, would direct his policy and
govern his actions. But the times have
changed, and falsebood and duplicity ap.
pear now to be the surest passports to honor
and station.
For the first time in the history of this
country, have we an executive officer, who
presented himself as. candidate before the
people, as mo-party haan-willing to ac-
cept the nomination for the presidency, re-
gardess by whom offered. Binding him
self by numerous written pledges, that, If
elected, it must be by the unanimous voice
of the whole people, and that be would ac-
cept Of no nomination '@trameled" by party;
that he recognised no sush distinction as
that Of democrat and avkig, as both stood
by BIN with equal bravery and devotion,
on the battle-felds of Palo Alto and Buena-
Vista, a,-that he would be the President Of
the whole people, and not Of party; and
that the only recommendations which he
should require to secure his confidence, were
'honesty, capability and fidelity"
Have these pledges been redeemed by
Gen. Taylor? Has he confirmed, by his
acts, the declaration Of Mr.. Crittenden, at
the Philadelphia Convention, that "Gen.
Taylor loathed, abhorred, prescription"
Far from it-he has falsifed them in every
par ticular, and has placed himself before
the American people in position from
which a genteel pick-pocket would shrink,
and which every high minded, honorable
man. must contemplate with contempt 1t
is with pain and regret, Sir, that am thus
constrained to depict the character of
President of this Union, but truth, forces the
picture on my consideration, ard it should
be presented to the American people in. all
its disgusting deformity. Let US call up
the facts:
The first act of Gen. Taylor, on assuming
the Presidential Chair, was in open and d.
rect violation Of the pledges that himself and
friends voluntarily rendered, both before and
after his nomination by the Philadelphia
Convention. He declared himself a no-par-
ty candidate; he had "no enemies IL punish
and no friends to reward and if nomina-
ted and elected, it must be by the unbought
suffrages of the whole people, "untramelled
by party shackles." Neither he nor tho
convention by whom be was nominated
made any public declaration Of party prins
ciplcs beyond those stated. and hence
large portion of the democratic party, de.
ceived by his artless professions and his
military fame, was induced to vote for him.
and thus contribute to his elevation
But what followed? Did this boasted
,ao-party President carry out in practice the
policy Of his professions? Let facts an
swer. No sooner was he installed in the
executive chair, than he called around him
circle of political advisers of the most
ultra whig caste-a cabinet of partisan
hacks, more prospcriptive in character than
the most furious fanatics that ever disgrace
ed the worst days of Oliver Cromwell
presenting pointed illustration of the sim
cerity and honesty of himself and friends,
and giving luminous construction ef what
he meant by 'sno-party" man! In this
instance did Gen. Taylor drop the mask
that concealed his true character from the
American people, while he was candidate
before them, and declare, in unmistakabls
language, what they were to expect at mis-
hands. He hesitated not to violate the most
solemn pledges, and to place himself before
the whole American nation, as disreputa-
BILE and dishonored man.
The usual results of whig ascendancy
followed, Collamer and Ewing-the Dam
ton and Robespierre of the bloodhound ad-
that reckless vindictive-
ness, which it was well known thew could
and would exercise, commenced the work of
prescription. The guillotine and the tor
!ure, the wheel and the rack, are put in re-
luisition, and their bloody traces NAV bs
ound in every national department from
ne highest bureau to the abode of the hum.
'lest messenger. By this system, the
'read is taken from the innocent and helm
ess families of the dismissed democrats. to
'estow it upon those vampires who shouted
he loudest and lied the deepest for sOld
Lack," the bloodhound candidate. On
raylor's head be the odium ave, and on