The daily national Whig. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1847-1849, 1849-04-11


cure such papers from Mexico as may be
necessary to the transaction Of their bust
ness.
%. The Mobile Register is greatly af-
nicted, that Gen. TAYLOR does not admin
lister the Executive Office, in such manner
as to make himself the head Of the party
upon all Legislative questions. In other
words, it complains, that he does not follow
in the footsteps of his more immediate pre-
decessors in this respect. II says, that his
refusal to take upon himself the direction
Of the Legislative policy Of the country, rem
ders it necessary for the people to be more
cautious than they have been in the exer-
else Of the elective franchise, when choosing
delegates to the House Of Representatives.
We have not met with more succinct
statement Of Gen. TAYLoR's true position
on this subject, than that which the Regis
ter thus assigns him in spirit of complain
ing and fault-fnding, and it is astonishing to
us, that the very conclusion to which that
journal arrived, in stating the question, did
not awaken it to sense Of the propriety and
correctness Of the old hero's position Why,
the clear intention of the Constitution is,
that the Congress should be the exclusive
makers Of the laws, and necessarily the true
judges of the policy Of the legislation proper
to be pursued. The independence guaran-
tied to Congress over this subject, draws
with it the necessity Of free and unrestran-
ed choice, by the people Of the representa-
tive body. The Constitution contemplates
what the Register complains of--the un-
exercise Of the elective fran
:hise in the selection Of Lawmakers.
The greatest merit of Gen. TAYLoR's
doctrines on this point, lies in the fact, that
hey elevate the people at the ballot-box,
hat they impose on the voter the necessity
If being more than mere automaton -
they compel him to exercise the power Of
,hoice. 1t will not be any longer the mere
'utcry Of party at the polls. Men will no
ShESi 10 d. 81 many patty dulO-
mata to do the work and bidding of their
They will bs forced to think for
themselve $, to choose representatives with
reference to great measures Of legislative
policy The Executive is no longer the
legislative leader. He refuses TO be the
head Of a Legislative Party. He will per
form his official part in the law making of
Congress, at the proper time but he will
coniine himself to the constitutional execu-
ton Of that duty.
Instead of being subject Of complaint
among free men, that Gen. TAYLOR de-
clines leading party to legislative victory
or defeat, it ought to be a subject of rejoic-
ing, for by so declining, he restores the true
action of the Constitution. This policy is
the only true one, at all times, to insure the
making Of good laws, but more especially in
the present condition of legislative ques-
tons. The interests of the country have
been too long at the mercy Of an Executive
party in and out Of Congress, striving for
the mastery with legislative party. The
currency and all the monied interests Of the
nation, were first crushed and ground to
powder beneath the upper and neither mill
stones of Executive and legislative parties.
Next, our foreign relations were subjected
to the same process, and the country was
plunged into war as the consequence Of
these conflicting elements. Had the Con-
stitution been executed, had the Executive
of those days confined himself to the per-
formance of his duties and left the Congress
to the enjoyment Of its independence and
no Bark war, no Mexican war,
would ever have occurred.
And now, that the National sentiment is
divided between two questions, that threat
en- its very existence, is it desirable that the
Executive should descend from his consti-
lutiona position, enter the hall.'of Congress,
and side with one party or the Q her' Sure
y not. The Federal Executive can take
10 position on these questions, but the one
aiken by Gen. TAYLOR in his ALLISON
stter, without involving the Union in GER
ain ruin. This is our solemn belief. But
~ leaving Congress to legislate on all the
ubjects prescribed by the Constitution, the
'eople are necessarily compelled to exercise
he elective franchise with more care than
inder the old system Of party rule, and the
esult will be more patriotic ex ercise Of
he power Of legislation. When Congress
hsll come to feel that the responsib ility Of
IS all upon their shoulders they
vi'l look to It, to see that no harm shall
one to the Union.