The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1849-03-24
The New Administration.

try Our government, all persons admit, 10 founded on
the sovereignty of the people 1t is their government
and should be administered for their benefit alone All
officers, from the President of the United States to The
postmaster of petty village but trustees and SER
wants of the people. They have powers but the pow
ers of agents which the constitution emanatng from tina
people, and the laws made in accordance thereto cons
upon them. Their powers conferred moi for their
benefit but for the benefit of the sovereigns of the
country, to whom they bound, periodically to give
account of their stewardship that their conduct NAV
be Judged of Oh the day OF election The representatives
of the people and the officers of the peoples government
have right to conceal their opinions of matters of pub
lie policy, deceive the public mind with regard to the
views which they will carry out when intrustel with
power. No one has declared with more emphasis than
has General Taylor, that it was right of the people
to know the opinions of those who came before them
for their sufrages. And we well remember that the
wing press asserted that when he returned from Mex
co he would declare explicitly his opinions on ques
tons OF public policy. The idea was rideued that he
had no opinions to express. that he would conceal
those which he entertained. II was said by his friends
that allege he had fixed opinions the great ques.
tons which had divided parties, to impeach his intel
gence and that to say he would not frankly express
the opinions which he entertained, was to mpeach his
integrity Such the assertions, not of the dem.
ocatic, but OF the whg party. General Taylor returned
from Mexico he accepted the nomination of party con-
vention; he elected and installed President of the
United States Letter after letter appeared from his pen
in rapid succession without single expression which
indicated his views any OF the great questions OF The
day, further than to state that questions of domestic
policy should be left to Congress, and that the qualified
veto power should not interfere with the will of the
national legislature, except in of hasty clearly
unconstitutional enactmens-a virtual refusal to obey
the plain injunction of the constitution. Upon no
other point does he stand committed before the peo-
pie by any express declaration. Even though
southern and a stakeholder, he does what no
other southern man has done. He shrinks from
taking the responsibility of declaring his opinions on
the greatest question which has agitated the country
since the formation of the government Section has been
arrayed against secton portion of the cenfederacy
has soughto brand the institutions among which he was
reared and the public mind has become 80 excited that
the Union itself is endangered; yet Gen. Taylors posi-
ton is left TO inference and conjecture He has gained
renown the battle. field, and his military services gave
him influence over the public mind and the public feel
ing. That influence he has allowed the southern wings
to use, in order TO commend him, along with Mr. Fill
MORE to the support of southern shareholders. And
his friends have allowed the northern wings TO use his
influence, gained the battle field, in order strengthen
the cause of the foes of slavery. His name has thus
fought on both sides.
| Under these circumstances the people have looked
with more than ordinary interest for an expression of
General Taylor's sentiments the great issues which
must be decided. 1t is apparent that he is misunder.
stood by one section of the country the other
Nay, more portion of the country or the other has
been wully deceived by the leaders of the wing party
The people demand to know what is to be the policy of
this government and the course of conduct which their
trustees and servants intend pursue They have great
interests at stake in the legislation OF the country They
do not acknowledge that the President and his cabinet
"an institution" like the King of England nor do they
admit that the doctrine Of "royal prerogative" is
recognised by the genius of our institutions. Our
nation is not made up Of 'hee estates"-of king lords
and commons-but only OF esate--he people OF the
States OF this Union. Our government looks to their
rights and interests alone and Legislators and executive
officers chosen for that purpose alone But the
dynasty to entertain different views of the nature
OF our institutions 1t conccas its purposes, or leaves
them to conjecture thus carrying out the doctrine Of
"impcit obedience'-the essence Of monarchy-by ask
ing the people to support and sustain administration
which hides its purposes from the public view.
| What is the democratic party to expect but hosil-
ity from dynasty which thus disregards the prn-
cipes of republican government Its sin of omission
is as great as any overt act against the rights and
interests OF the peoples for it is in legal language
negative pregnant" involving positive disregard OF
both Fortunately, however, but few efforts at conceal
men are entirely successful. In despite of caution AMI
cunning the designs of men will be discovered While
General Taylor has refused to speak his sentiments be-
fore the people, he has brought around him cabinet
| composed of decided wings. They are all welded to
wing measures and wing policy The democratic party
seem to have little to expect from them in future but what
has received heretofore and that seepess oppo-
sition and determined hostility. The cabinet may
remain apparently passive. for the present. but in the
mean time, the administration presses will endeavo
to prepare the public mind for the overthrow of the WISE
system which is scattering its blessings over the
land Federal measures will be revived and federal
lights will burn federal affairs. The conflict
will be renewed; and the questions often decided by
the people must be again decided not by them, but by
the members OF Congress The wings dared not appeal
TO the people They knew that the country prosper
ous and they had not the hadihood to ask the people
for change OF policy. But, profting by the personal
popularity of the hero of 81 God-abhorred war,
they enabled, by divisions in the democratic
ranks to elect their candidate against the votes oil
Il olol In