The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1849-12-21

President Taylor and the wilmot Proviso.
The reason alleged for the existing dis
organization of the House by the OPPOSE
ton writers is the refusal of General TAY-
LoR to announce prematurely his inten-
tons in regard to the Wilmot proviso. If
he would act as 1'Southern man" or as
a T'Northern man''-give the lie to all his
avowed principles in regard to the duty
of the Executive, and attempt to influence
the action of Congress by menace of the
veto, the House, it seems, may be organ
lied without the slightest difficulty In
other words, the public business is TO be
suspended, and the public interests are to be
sacrificed, in order to drive General TAY-
LoR to divest himself of his character as
national man, to identify him with sec
tional differences or interests, to break him
down either at the North or at the South,
and, by exciting against him local passions
and prejudices, clear the way for some new
Presidential candidate. The strength of
General TAYLOR consists in his integrity,
his moderation, his prudence, his nation
atty. 1t is precisely because he will not
become partisan of sectional power,
and insists on maintaining his position as
the President of the whole people, that he
may be temporarily embarrassed, only to
to become ultimately and permanently
stronger than ever in the hearts of the ma
ton.
The great struggle, therefore, of the OPP
position is to deprive him of this talisman
of power, and, to the end ofsubserving per-
sonal interests and ambition, compel him
to sacrifice himself, and the interests of
the great Wing party and of the Union.
We admit that, by taking one side or the
other, he might strengthen particular gen.
tlemen in their respective Congressional
districts; but as this could be done only by
a violation of public duty, and at the ex-
pense of the national WIG party, we APP
prehend that General TAYLOR will main
tain his position, without reference to the
eccentricities of friends, or the open de-
nunciations Of enemies.
We have said that the object of this
protracted struggle is to force some ex-
preston from General TAYLOR on the
subject of the Wilmot proviso. The
slavery question must Ike kept open for
daily political agitation. What was the
language of ''the favorite candidate of the
Republican party" for the Speakership on
this subject! What said the gentleman
who possesses such "admiraJle qualifca-
lions for the chair" in the judgment of
the settle of the distinguished Democrats
of Richmondp'
81 have repeatedly said," wrote Mr..
w. ]. Brown, in his letter to the editor of
the Union published the day after the per-
Torrance of the Plot Discovered in the
House of Representaiives-'T have re-
'pestedly said that, although deemed
the proviso as unnecessary and useless, /
should have no objection 10 see bill,
with its provisions, presented to General
TAYLOR for his signature, as at the
North he has been regarded as favorng
the measure, and at the South opposed to
it.v
This is the man who was such " ia
vorite" with the republican party. He
was willing 10 see bill pass with an un-
necessary and useless provision, upon a
subject perilous TO the tranquility of the
Union, for the sake Of having il presented
to General TAYLOR, and of compelling him
to take sides with the North or the South.
In other words, he was opposed to any set
Element of the slavery question, by the ad.
mission of the conquered countries as
States, or in any other mode that would
rob him and his copatriots of the exqui
site fun" of heading General TAYLOR
This sentiment, it seems, Mr.. BRowN
" repeatedly expressed" On this point
at least, his opinion was no secret. Il
was no doubt fully developed in the "fret
conversation" which he had upon this sub
iect on the famous Tuesday, with the Sc
Nor editor of the Union. Indeed, it could
not have been withheld. II was the very
thing and the only thing which that fac
tious, INSCRIPTIONS, and malignant spiri
would have desired. Assure the Bitter
Enders that they can have such an organl
zation of the House as will continu,
agitation, and operate TO embarrass Presi
dent TAYLOR, and they will willingl,
waive all other considerations, past, pre-
sent, and to come.
All the articles in the Opposition jour
nails on this subject breathe the sam,
spirit with the letter of Mr.. BRowN. Tn
plain English of the editorials in the Unio
for the last fortnight has been to the sam
effect. In that journal Of December 20
80 Cd tbo follnuipg y,asco1o IN q Latte