The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1849-10-13
Presfdelsf Taylor.

The following passage We extract from
speech of JOSIAH Quincy, jr, at the late,
Wing convention of Massachusetts,. We
regret, with the distinguished speaker,
that it was not in the power of President
TAYLOR to have mingled in person with
the intelligent yeomanry of the Bay State.
He is a man of the fashion and the temper
to have won among them an instant, an
electric popularity, that would have thrilled
through their ranks from the capes to
Berkshire, and expelled all the lingering
doubts and prejudices that have been so
assiduously disseminated in section
where his rare virtues and noble qualities
might well look for the most genial sym
pathy and the most ust appreciation. If
the people of Massachusetts, could see
General TAYLOR as Mr.. QUINCY saw him;
converse with him; know, by personal ex-
perience, his genteness, his kindness, his
unassuming spirit, his modesty, his good
sense, his good judgment-there would not
be opposition enough left in the State to
make a show of hands necessary to indi-
cate the state OF opinion. He would carry
every thing by reclamation.
cit was my very good fortune, Mr..
President, to be at Washington, for three
or four weeks, about the beginning OF last
March, and it was my exceeding good for
tune to be under the roof with one who
was at that time called General taylor.
Sir, cannot he'll regretting that his health
prevented his having an opportunity OF
showing himself to the yeomanry and cit
liens of Massachusetts. Iregret that they
could not see General President TAYLOR
as he appears to all about him.
"We are very apt, gentlemen, to Judge
by what we have seen of the militia |
remember, sir, that | was once aid to hls
| excellency Governor LINCOLN, and we
thought then that the military had more
fuss than feathers, believe.
GAS regards General TAYLOR, he Is ex-
actly what his soldiers called him-Rough
and Ready. He looks no more like one OF
those officers whom you will see, on an
election day, riding about on horseback,
with long plumes, than he does like a
| Methodist minister confess, sir, could
not help looking at him with astonlshment
as saw him, sitting upon his sofa, IN his
parlor, quiet understanding man; and
could not help thinking to myself, is that
the fellow that sat sideways on Old Whitley
at the battle OF Buena Vista3
eve are apt to look upon the title Rough
and Ready as one which was got up Tor the
occasion. We are apt to imagine that a
committee has been appointed to draft re-
solutions, and to present to the public such
name as will be taking. But that is not
the case with name like this. The high
est glory of ancient knightbood was when
the soldier was knighted by his sovereign
on the field of battle. The highest title
of military man in republic is when
his soldiers give him name that shall
signify at once their confidence in him
and their appreciation of his modesty.
"He was called Rough and Ready be-
cause in every rough situation he was
ready; because he was found sleeping side
by side with the common soldlery, with a
tent or without tent; because he was
found in the forefront Of the battle, marked
only by his venerable and his simple APP
pearance.
Wings of Massachusetts you owe a
great deal to General TAYLOR. You have
placed him in situation of great RESPONSE
bility. You have taken him from the posi-
ton which he filed so nobly--that OF q