The daily national Whig. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1847-1849, 1849-03-31
MIR. cIDDINas AND GEN. TAYLOR.

MIR. cIDDINas AND GEN. TAYLOR.
Since his return home, Mr.. Giddings has
been giving an account Of his stewardship to
his constituents. Speaking of Mr. Senator
Walkers Amendment 10 the appropriation
bill, proposing to extend all the laws Of the
United States over the new Territories, Mr..
Giddings uses the following language:
"lt was sought to be carried through at
the close of the session, by men who had
been rejected by their constituents and could
expect no favors, and by means Of attaching
i TO the Civil and Diplomatic bill, which the
Congress were expected to pass at all events,
Such means were not only resorted to, but
al the influence, personal and official, Of the
late Executive, and the influence, personal
and Official, Of Gen. Taylor, ,eas brought
10 bear to produce the result. Yes; not
withstanding the Allison letter and the pre-
tended pledges Of Gen Taylor TO leave all
questions Of legislation entirely to Congress,
&c Das found personally urging members 81
Congress, to pass Mr.. Walkers amendment
through attached as it was to the appropria-
ton bill. The first movement Of the fast
friend Of the Wilmot Proviso, after he had
arrived at our Nations capitol, was to give
his personal influence 10 ameasnre, The effect
Of 1hich pds 10 erfend slavery"
We will not say that MIR. Giddings did
not believe every word Of what he here
states. On the contrary, we think that he
was fully persuaded Of its truth, for whatever
we may think Of Mr.. G.'s extreme zeal in
the advocacy Of his opinions, we believe il has
never been charged upon him that he is in
the habit Of making purposel misrepresen-
tations. His ardent temperament, and his
entire devotion to the one idea o. anti-sla-
very, have more than once betrayed him
into errors Of the most serious character, and
we are fully willing to ascribe the above
statement, so far as Gen. Tayloris concern
ed, to these influences over his mind.
He may have inferred that Gen. Taylor
brought his personal influences and the in
auences arising out Of his position to cause
the passage Of Mr.. Walkers amendment
Nay, he may have been told, that such was
the case, by persons interested in producing
mischief But the differences Of heated feel
ings or the gossip of tale-bearers and tale
makers are not reliable substitutes for abso-
lutte knowledge, however ready the magma
ton may be to adopt the suggestions Of these
influences for facts.
However, let the motives Of Mr.. Gid
dings be what they may,-whether sincere
or not--they do not affect General Taylor.
The old Hero did NOT bring his personal
and official influence to bear to produce the
passage Of Mr.. Walkers amendment. He
was NOT found, by any man, personally urg-
ing members Of Congress to pass this amend
ment. Mr.. Giddings cannot say, that he
saw the General engaged in this act, cannot
say, that he knows the old Hero did bring
his influence to bear in favor Of the passage
Of this or any o.her measure by the late
Congress.
P. S.-Since the above was written, our
attention has been called to Mr. Stewards
published card, and his statement Of what he
knew relative to the interest taken by Gen.
Taylor,-an interest largely shared in BY
every citizen then, as well as now--in the
success Of the passage of a law organizing a
Government in California, goes to disprove
in the most conclusive manner Mr. Giddings'
unqualified allegations