The daily national Whig. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1847-1849, 1849-01-01
A FEW WORDS IN JUsTIFIcAT1oN
te OF THE PAST. 8EN

cd washington, TWO Drlel IetteIS from Ien.
Taylor made their appearance, written before
these events, and avowing purposes, which
none but truly great mind could con-
ceive, and which none but the sternest nerve
could execute. One Of them asking for re-
Inducements from the State Of Louisiana,
said, that he knew if the Mexicans inten-
ded to fight, the battle would be fought long
before the reinforcements could reach him,
but that he was prepared for the emergency,
great as the odds would be against him. The
other Of them, announcing his safe passage
from Fort Brown to Point Isabel, said, that
he should march on a given day on his re-
turn to Fort Brown, and that in whatever
force he should meet the enemy, he should
fight him. These purposes verified by the
actual result almost before the ink that ira
ced them on paper became dry, were con-
veyed in such simple and unaffected language
as to excite the admiration Of the reader and
to command his heartfelt applause.
1t was these letters, throwing flood OF
light upon the brilliant achievements that i'm
mediately followed that determined us individ-
ually as to the part which we should take in
the approaching Presidential contest. The
first impression upon reading them was, that
the man who could avow such purposes, and
in few hours thereafter execute them to the
letter, and come out Of the contest victorious,
was fitted to preside, over this great Repub-
Ilic as its Chief Magistrate. He had prov
ed himself TO be correct Judge Of men
and their actions, and to be capable Of iniu-
sing, by his personal character, into the minds
| Of those with whom he had to do, un6oun-
ded confidence in his wisdom and patriotism.
A minute examination Of his early deeds
and those Of later date, on the desperate
battle fields Of Fort Harrison and Okeecho-
bee, and rigid scrutiny'of his official cores
pondence during his previous military life,
only served to strengthen our preposessions
in his favor for the Presidency and to increase
our admiration Of his prowess, sound sense,
incorruptible integrity and comprehensive
ness Of mind.
The hard fought battle Of Monterey, its
glorious capitulation glorious, because Of
! its extension Of mercy to the enemy, the
terrible pitched battle Of Buena Vista I'M
equaled in the annals Of human warfare,
| the model official correspondence during the
memorable period from the t;inc Of the oc-
cupation Of the west bank Of the Rio Grande
TO the defeat Of Santa AIMS at Buena Wis
ia, all contributed to satisfy US that our es-
innate Of General Taylor'had not been plac-
ed too high, high as il was, hut every days
events went to show US that we had fallen
short in our appreciation Of the victor sol
der, who is now about to enter upon new
conquests-the conquests Of civil admins
tration in peace.
In the fall Of 1916, we began to write
our convictions in regard to Gen. Taylor
and his fitness for the Presidency, and to
print them. Some Of our lucubrations ap.
peared in the Washington Fountain, an in.
dependent paper printed by the proprietor 0
this journal. Our views fell on willing ears
and we soon found that they met with Q
hearty response from that portion Of the peo
pie who were not in quest Of Office, wht
were not pursuing the trade Of the politi
cian; but the partisan press, both Wing ant
Democratic, manifested no symptoms Of sym
patty with the idea Of making Gen. lay
{ ior President. The movement found stea
dy public expression no where, but in thu
columns Of that powerful and widely ex
tended journal, the Ne,D York Herald. A
only one public meeting held in New Orlean
, to rejoice over the victories Of Palo Alto ant
Resaca de Ia Palma, was formal resolu
ton nominating Gen. Taylor as President
offered and carried. Similar movement
!, were made in different parts Of the country
after the battle Of Monterey, but It was no
until the opening Of 1s47, that the partisan
press began to break ground in favor Of thu
old Hero's nomination. The restraints o
the politicians were gradually broken dowl
I blythe popular voice, which found vent through
the columns ofthe NeU York Herald. Here
1 and there Wing or Democratic press sym
pathized with the feeling Of the people to
wards him, but no set principle Of action il
the premises appeared to manifest itself. Tn,
! idea began to prevail at one time that ther,
would be complete fusion Of the two grea
parties, and that Gen. Taylor would be tn,
candidate Of the fusion The politicians di,
not attempt to resist the idea at first. The,
4 believed that il would die out Of its own &C
cord, and it was not until they saw that, in
stead Of the flame expiring, it threatened I
consume all before it, they interposed to ares
| its progress.
| The impossibility Of realizing the fusiol
ofthe two parties was apparent to US from tn
first, and though we did not make war agains
|, the idea Of fusion, we regarded it as Utopi
an to the extent hoped for by the ardent sup
portcrs Of General Taylor, who looked for
ward to such a result. The events succeed
ing the publication by the Ne,o Yor
Cypress Of Gen. Taylor's letter to Genera
Gaines upon the war and its management
and consequent upon the capitulationof Mon
terey, convinced us, that the time had come
when, if General Taylor was to be mad,
President at all, it must be by the concen
tration OF Wing votes upon him. Unde
the influence Of this conviction We sent Il
the Washington Fountain communities
ton, submitting to the decision Of a Whis
National nominating Convention, the nam'
Of ZACHARY TAYLOR as a candidate 70
\ .