The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1849-05-24

! Moro Equitocstioai
We called upon the. two Natonals-the two organs
to answer catsgorical1y the questions which we pro-
pounded about the proceedings of the cabinet If they
able to remove, not Impressions but the
anxious doubts of enlightened people, we presumed
they would meet CUR Questions boldly in the face and
disspate all doubt and silence the common rumor by
direct and unequivocal answer If they could not e4
plain away the rumors which were in circulation we
took for granted they would dodge the question and deal
in generaltes What is the resultl The National In
ellgencer still continues mule The National Wing had
better initiate its polite example. for its no
answers at ALL The only notice which it takes of our
questions is the following bald, general and equiyoca
phrase:
'We pronounce all the made by yesterdays
Union purpcrtiDg give account of the manner and
mode in which Gen. Taylor executes his Office, be
tery untrue. Is our neighbor satisfied -
We most emphaically NO are not satisfied
with this We made statements "purporting
to give account of the and the mode in which
Gen. Taylor executes his Office" We stated only the fact
Of having alleged that Gen. Taylor submedques
tons of importance his cabinet, and that they
decided by majority of the members General Tay.
lor having but the the decision that any
other member has. We asked if this runor was true
or false; and are not to be put off by sweep
ing declaration of the National Wing that all our
|statements=when have made none-are utterly un
true Knowing that the National Wing would attempt
to escape under the smoke of unmeaing generaties,
we determined pin down the witness TO specifications
As he has voluntarily into court, and placed him
self on the witness stand, claim the right of ques
tionng and CROSSE questioning him please keeping
always in view the main issue. Accordingly, we pro-
pounded distinct and specific questions and have de-
manded distinct and specific answers from either the
National Wing the National lnelligencer or both the
organs of the administration The following are the
questions we put. and repeat them:
st Does the President vote with the members Of his
cabinet each voting one, and is the question de-
cided by the majority of voes'
3D. When did this practice commenced How often has
it been acted on' Does ii continue, is it abandoned
and when
These are not Statements but questions, put to
those who are supposed to be in the confidence of
the administration, and are presumed to know some
thing of the manner and mode in which General Taylor
executes his Office" They not trifing unim-
portant but they relate TO matters of high public
Germ, of which the people have right TO be in
formed. The people have right TO know the princi-
pies which their government is administered They
have right to know how the power which they. have
conferred upon man is divided between the President
of the United States and the heads Of departments and
they have right 10 know whether General Taylor dis.
charges the duties imposed upon him by the constitution
shares his executive powers equally with the members
of his cabinet Oar questions important and they have
been propoundcd without and in spirit Of mere
wanonness They called forth by rumors which
met on every side. The Washington correspondent
of the Philadelphia Spirit of the Times stated, fact
well known in this city for time, that the cabinet
equally divided between candidates for the col.
ecorshp of the port of Philadelphia; that General Tay
or along with Messrs Crawford Preston and Johnson,
inclined to Peter Sken Smith, and Messrs Clayton Mer-
edith Ewing. and Colamer preferred William d. Lewis;
thus producing tie between the two aspirants In this
state of things says the writer, advantage ia
ken of MI. Prestons absence from the seat Of govern
ment and Messrs. Clayton Meredith Ewing and Cola
mer ovenuled Messrs Crawford Johnson and Taylor and
gave the Office William D. Lewis by majority Of votes
We perceive further, that "on, the wing correspondent,
OF the Baltimore Sun, writing from Washington on the
2ad instant, in yesterday mornings paper says "The
cabinet certainly possesses considerable influence
more than any cabinet did before" What!
than the cabinet of any Of the earlier Presidents pos
sessedi More than General Washingtons. after whom
General Taylor to model his owns Clearly The
letter in the Baltimore Sun then proceeds) "They take
vote, in the cabinet meeting, all prominent appoint
nents and removals. and General Taylor. President,
has a vote but, would seem, does not override any
decision made by the majority Of the cabinet" This is
the authority of whig-a moderate and liberal whgand
OF the bestinfomed correspondents from Washing
ton. And we ask, is il tue' Does it state the "mode
and the manner" in which General Taylor performs his
executive functonsi We demand an answer to our
questions We shall not be satisfied until questions
repubshed by one, and answered catsgorcaly.
Let there be no generales to wrap up mysterious
equvocaton, and dodge the true question at ISSUE
And also take the liberty Of asking. specihca
ton Of our statement, and one illustration OF the rule
which is said to have been adopted, Did not General