Herald of the times. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1849-1856, 1849-11-01
Saturday, Oct. ~.
THE ADMINISTRATION OF GEN
TAYLOR

A"O TIu'HihIsL6uoH VI t'IepluenI ldyIOr Hi0
not commenced teG 10 Ito veteran editor OF
Tho Union, exaspera,ed by the overthrow OF
MS party, announced his determination to op-
pose it, and, during the Las. summer, before
time had been allowed for development OF the
policy Of the new Administration, or for the
Recommendation OF a single measure to Con-
gress, that print, " the organ Of the opposit-
ion a, the seat Of government" proclaimed it.
purpose, " no matter wha, face the future
might wear, to oppose tho Administration to
the bitter end"
Measures of domestic policy having been
but very slightly shadowed forth, the Union
has until recently confined itself chiefly to a
daily outcry at the appointment to office OF
some OF the members of party which has dur
ing twenty years been AS much prescribed and
spurned by the Loco Foco Administrations as
though they were aliens in the country and
entitled to none Of the rights and privileges Of
American ciIizenr. Having exhausted its
vocabulary of vilupera,ion on this theme, and
determined to PREJUDICE tho Administration
withou, regard to facts, the Union has lately
burst forth in fury aga nst the foreign policy
OF the President and the Secretary Of State
has not been able to do a single act which has
not been condemned, or. to leave undone any
thing for the omission OF which he has not
been severely censured.
We propose briefly to examine this subject,
and to show how groundless are these sweep.
ing censures ef the Union. We have been
attentive observers OF the manner in which
our foreign affairs have been conducted since
the present Secretary Of State was called by
the President 20 aid him in the management
of those affairs; and, after q dispassionat'
consideration OF every thing he has done,
which has thus far met the public eye, and OF
which we have any knowledge, we under
take to say that our foreign rela ions, amidst
great difficulties, were never more successful
ly managed, and that in every irstance he has
vindcated the honor and interests Of the ma
ZION with an ability, zeal, and patriotism which
en!itlc him to the respect aud thanks Of the
country.
The Union hazards vague charges Of mis-
management, then calls for the facts, and,
while it strikes away in the dark, complains
that it has no light. We can tell the Union
that, were its judgments guided by more can.
dor, there is light enough to lead it to more
charitable constructions than it now chooses to
pronounce. The fact is, Presiden, Taylor's
A administrations so far as it regards lis foreign
policy, has been most remarkable for the
irankness and openness with which he has eX
posed all his dolnes, when compatible with the
public interest, without waiting the slow and
distant operation resorted TO under other Ad
minS,rations, of calls of Congress. The
moment that the Opposition raised tho hue and
cry about the stoppage of the Prussian war
steamer United States, President Taylor or
dered the whole correspondence with the
German Minister to be laid before the public
The same frankness characterized his coz
duet in the case of his refusal to hold any
further communication with the French Min
is,er, and, in general, the correspondence Of
the Secretary has been promptly laid before
the public, on tho call Of his political assal-
ants, with defiance Of scrutiny and opposit-
ion never before exhibited in our history -
81 far, therefore, from refusing light to his
enemies, the President. with characteristic
friend and foe and the result has been tina,
the Union, and all that portion Of the factious
press bound, under any circumstances, to 'op-
pose to tho bitter end have broke forth against
the President and the Secretary Of State with
fury unparallcl ed in vndlctiveness and in
Justice But let US proceed.
! In the case of the prussian war-s'eamer
/ United States, the conduct of the AdmlListra-
ton was marked by degree Of courtesy am
] hrmness which, wheit compelled tho agents
ola foreign Power within our borders to res
pect our own laws and treaties, deprived even
those who were bound TO respec, our neutral
obligations, of the slightest pretext OF com
plant Asamark Of fextrscrdinary confidence
in the German Minister, the President offer.
cd TO accept his own written assurance, in the
words oi our act Of 1918, that the ship should
no, violate our neutrality. This Baron Nor
Roenno declined TO give, without fixing a con
siructlon on the words Of the act which ren.
dcred IL imperative. The bond prescribed by
the act was then demanded aud obtained, tc
the satisfaction oi Denmark, and even o
|, Prussia herself The ship which was fitting
out in our own navy yard, al d under the di
rcction ol our own naval commanders, by or
der Of Mt Secretary Mason, for the purpos,
Of being employed IN the Schleswig lIolsieir
war, sailed under bonds for Bremerha,en
her port Of destination and his Majesty o'
n prussia has noyer been able to employ lhs
ship in violation Of oar treaty With Denmark
Had the administration proceeded. as iis pre-.
dcccssor hd done, to iit out ships Tor the bel
lgcrents Vi Eulope, oa. country ooulI have