The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1850-01-17

General Tsylsr ana ths sslt~n.
We have many times asserted that General Taylor had
no right TO maintain the position which he has taken
since he became candidate for the suhiages OF the
people. We have always commended that the repre-
sentative had right to withhold his sentiments and
conceal his opinions from his constituents; on the con-
Iary that he bound deal frankly and 10 answer
fairly the questions which his constituency may PROFOUND
to him. II our government were despoiism or an
absolute monarchy, The case would be different In
that event the head OF the nation would not in all
things be accountable to the people" The king would
not be subject close questioning, for the govern
ment would be his government But, fortunately, In
1.-THE United States, the people sovereign; and even
the President of the United States is but servant
Of the people He has right, therefore, to play the
game of non-committasm. He has no right to conceal
from the people the mode and manner in which he will
administer their government But General Taylor has
far forgotten the position which he occupies under the
constitution that he has refused TO render an account Of
his stewardship Even in his message he has refused to
state his views upon the greatest question which is now
before the country.
The constitution requires the President to give Congress
information Of the state Of the nation. and TO recommend
such he thinks conducive to the public good
In disshargng this duty Gen. Taylor has acted not as
Queen Victoria speaks to the united Kingdom" He
explains nothing does he even condescend ia set
forth the reasons Of his action By this derelction Of
duty-a crime which we charge not against him so
much against the irresponsible ami unscrupulous men
who surround hmCongress has been forced to call upon
the executive departments for all the information which
o. .L.l
and the representatives Of the people are forced to rely
entirely upon cas for correspondence and papers, in
order to obtain that information as to the state Of The
nation which il is the duty Of the President furnish il
his message, without the delay Of compulsory congress
sional action And have heard, too, that General
Taylor does not bear himself calmly under congress.
sional scrutiny Il that with all his professed
respect for the will Of the people, as expressed through
their representatives he takes pains to conceal his
passion, when the representatives of the people call
upon him for information relating not to his but 10 the
sopie's government. From more than one source we
have heard this fact stated and further that the President
Of tie people makes hesitation in dcnouncing, even
in the bterest terms. the mpertneat curiosity Of tie
peoples representatives.
But this is not the only manifestation Of royalty which
the government now exhibits. The President instead Of
dschargng the duties which the constitution imposes
upon him, has delegated his authority to Others OF whom
the nation knows nothing. This cahal is Irresponsible
TO the President; and the Presidents best friends
aver that he should not be held responsible for the acts OF
the caba This idea, strenuousy insisted on by The ex
sng remnant OF the original Taylor party reminds us for
chilly Of sketch have lately seen Of Abdal Medschid
he Sultan Of Turkey and the commander OF the faith
full. That sketch says:
His NOT ANY LEADING PART IN STATE MEAsu Es
CHIEFLY LEAVING THOSE CONSTITUTIONAL SOW
EREIGNs IN GENERAL. MINISTER'S vIzlER,
AND TO THs DIvAN, WHICH
Thus il is with General Taylor He takes no leading
part in State measures but, 'like constitutional sover
egns general" he leaves such matters to his ministers
From the first we have condemned this SYSTEM and we
have held il up to. popular indignation, monarch
cal in its tendencies and dangerous to the rights Of
the people Our government is a representative re-
public, and il requires that those who exercise power
shall be chosen by and be amenable to the people.
That is the great principle which is at the foundation
of ALL Butnow the wing party claims for lis President
the elegant leisure Of eastern king He who is alone
responsible. must not be troubled by impairment ques
TONS or annoyed by the business OF legislaion and
accordingly he shifts the burden from his own should
ers-paces II upon irresponsible cabal. selected by
himself--whe his friends contend that he is not TO
be held accountable for the admitted mal-practces,
wrongs and conuptions Of his Diuan The DvDn is not
responsible to the peoples and the President is not it
seems to be charged with its And thus the most
fragrant wrongs and the most manifest indiferencenot
only TO solemn pledges and pghed faith, but to the best
interests OF the countrymus be submitted to without
complaint or remonsirance The people must wake up
from this deuson, il they would be safe Let them look
10 innovation before innovation ntrenches itself behind
precedent, and becomes too strong to be resisted.
Dsshonssty OF the Protecsionists.
We have often exposed the false and unfounded clamor