Portage sentinel. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1845-1854, 1849-05-16
:. From the Peoples Ky) Press.
GiddingS down uDOn TaYl0r.

the slavery question, after his arrival in
| Washington city. We publish it, as fore
sbadowing to some extent the breakers
which lie in Gen. Taylor's political sea a
head, and which he will find it impossible
to avoid, with all the skill he can possibly
call to his aid in steering his bark. The
fact is, Gen. Taylor was smuggled into the
presidential chair. He was lun in the North
as a Free Soil, Ant:-Slavery man, and at
Ike South as a man in whose hands, South
ern interests would End ample security. All
this would have done we'll enough if the
exciting question Of slavery could have been
settled before he came into power; and
hence the anxiety which he and his friends
manifested to dispose of it before the close
of the last session. For our own part, we
have not the slightest doubt that Gen. Tay-
lor did urge upon members of Congress the
adoption Of Walker amendment; and, in
deed, if we are not mistaken, it has been
admitted by the Intelligencer, and plastered
over with the plea that California was in SO
much need Of government that it was
better to leave the slavery question where
this amendment placed it, than to leave that
country without law and without govern
ment
81 ask no favors and shrink from no re-
sponsibilities," was the declaration in one
of General Tay lor's campaign letters, and
it was rung in the ears of the people from
one end of this Union to the other. When
it comes to the test, however, he finds he is
not the man he tock himself to be; for he
did ask the "favor'' of the last Congress to
settle this vexed question; and in SO doing
he did emphatically shrink from the respon-
sibility" Of meeting it in his official capaci-
ty. We say the Free Soil party have a
right to complain of his course; for when
interrogated directly on this point he inva-
riably pointed to his Allison letter as pledg-
ing him not to thwart the will of Congress
on this or any other matter. He knew, too.
that his friends in the North run him upon
the issue that he was better Free Soil
man than even Van Buren,. Now we do not
say that Taylor's wrong consisted in taking
stand in favor Of Walkers amendment,
or in other words, the principle of non-inter-
ference by Congress ss-but it was wrong,
nay, iraudulent-for his friends to run him
in the North as a Free Soil man-and it was
, equally wrong in him to stand by and SET
; this fraud practised without lifting his voice
against it. Now he finds himself betW eer
scylla and Charybdis, virtually pledged
\ both to the North and the South. One
: party or the other must inevitably be dis
appointed, and disgraceful family row il
an unavoidable consequence Cod grant
) that no greater evil may follow.
For our own part, we think Mr.. Boyo
} would have been justifAble in giving all the
f facts, for President cf the United States
has no right to consider conversation be-
tween himself and public agents on mat
ter of business pending before them, as a
private especially that man who
has said,'I have no political opinions which
| would not freely proclaim TO my assembled
countrymen. Besides, we think it mat
: ter manifestly affecting the public interest
, If General Taylor did by his words or act
commit himself upon this question he should
be held amenable; and we should lave beer
gratifed had Colonel Boyd found it consis
: tent with his feelings to give all the facts tc
: the public. For the present we forbear fur
ther comment.
CORRESPONDENCE.
E Lur. Geo c. Bronaugh.
= DearSir-As my name is being used pret
: ty freely in connection with the controversy
} about Gen. Taylor's position on the Wilmo
Proviso, you are at liberty to publish all O
f any part of the correspondence between Mr.
| Giddiags and myself, you think proper.
E Yours, LINN BOYD.
: April 90
jefferson, o., April 8, l849.
S NY Dear Sir:-On my way home, il
= an address, to the people of Warren, state'
e that during the last days of our late session
it was reported that Gen Taylor sxpresse'
his desire to see the House agree to tn
Senate's amendment to the caral and d1
plomatic bill, pr0rading gouernmemfo
Y California.
j Some Taylor papers have charged m
s with misrepresentation for thus stating wha
e was so freely spoken Of at Washington
T. The National Era, Published in that cit
comes out in stronger terms than l did, bu
no Taylor paper at Washington denies Q
t doubts the fact. Yet feel it due to I'll
public, if in my power, to let them know th
j. facts. "A Senator who supported Taylo1
It told me distinctly on the last day of tt
h session, that he heard him express desil
g to see the Senate's amendment pass.
have written him and the honorable Jon;
than D. Morris of Ohio, requesting them
n inform me Of what transpired in their hea
g. ing.
e T was informed that you also heard II
"a same thing or similar expressions; and
le write to enquire whether you did? and if
will you be kind enough to give me the pa
ticulars with the permission to publish it
l deem it necessary to the vindication
truth. l would not ask it except from co
:" sciousness that most gross deception h
IS been played off upon the people of our Stat
and that an attempt is making to carry
still further. -
10 Very respectfully,
ke J. R. GIDDINGS.
ne Hon. Linn Boyd.
Bsllueas, Ky, April 20, '49.
70 Hon. J. r. Giddangs:
Nv Dear Sir: In reply to your note of the