The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1850-01-19
Tho Leader or the Administration forces In the
Souate.

The peculiar manner in which General Taylor was
brought forward candidate for the presidency, and
the peculiar circumstances under which he elected
to that Office. made the whole nation curious for some
development OF his designs and purposes. General
Taylor had been in political life, and had made
promises which, fairly interpreted precluded him from
being either party candidate party President; and
yet he consented to accept party nomination. and by
that consent, and by the qualified pledges Of parysm
which the Louisiana delegation to the Philadelphia con-
venon uttered in his name, he succeeded in thwarting
the cherished hopes and destroying the presidential as
piratons OF Who the acknowledged leader and
exponent Of wing principles. if not Of the wing party
1t but natural, therefore, that the country. and
even the party which elected Gen. Taylor should have
been anxious for some sign by which the course Of
the President could be foretold. Democrats who had
voted for him trusted that he would show favor
to the democratic policy. The wings Of the North
trusted that he would be found faithful to SOIL and
the wings Of the South trusted that he would honestly
declare his hostility to the Wilmot Provso This was,
indeed, curious state Of things for representative
public where public officers are but public servants and
every candidate for public trust is held 10 be bound to
state frankly the people his opinions questions of
public policy Yet this curious state Of things did exist
among u.s. and gave unusual degree OF interest to the
inaugural and TO the annual message. But neither the
inaugural nor the annual message defined precisely Gen
Taylors political position True, those papers and the
intermediate act of their author enabled the democratic
party to see that despite his professions OF noparysm
and forbearance he the enemy of democratic prn-
cples But they did not enable the wing party to see
what was his position in its ranks. In the appoint
ments TO Office, the effort to keep up this mystery
apparent to all who wished to see The cabinet was
so selected that almost the entire patronage of the
government which is available in political contests
was given TO the advocates OF free sell, while the
mics of the Wlmot Proviso cheated by the appoint
ment OF southern gentlemen posts in the cabinet which
had no political au,hority-no paronage-and practically
no influence whatever The same system was extended
to the cliques Of the wing party The son OF Mr. Crit
tenden, who deserted Mr. Clay, appointed consul to
Liverpool and the son Of Mr. Clay, who was deserted
by Mr. Crittenden, appointed charge TO Portugal;
and General Taylor foetful Of his pledges to his coun
try divided the Offices OF the government among those
who had proved themselves to be his men, and ex-
cep when was necessary TO bid for the support OF some
distinguished member OF his party whose featy 10
hm--not to wing principes-might be deemed question
able
But, in the last foye hours, much Of the mystery
which General Taylor has thrown around himself has
been cleared up The curtain has been partially lifted,
so that gmpses may be had Of the view beyond. The
Senate debate which we published on yesterday gives
this new information II not only discoses that the con-
6dence which the administration press declares exists
between the President and Mr. Clay does exist but
discloses the fact that neither Mr. Clay any OF the
prominent leaders Of the wing party under the old regime
thoroughly trusted by The Taylor Ewing admnisra
ton They have been all superseded and cast aside, and
new upon the floor OF the Senate has presented
his credentials as fugleman and leeader Of the admin
istraon forces. Messrs. Clay, Webster, Mangum, and
Benen must now bow their heads; for the senatorial
leader OF the administration has announced himself in
the person Of Truman Smith. OF Connecticut In the de-
bate that unequivocally, but not for
mally madefor such announcements formally
made. impossible TO read, hastily the remarks
Of Mr. Smith, without perceving from their tone that he
the accredited mouth piece OF the President and his
duly appointed parliamentary leader the floor OF the
Senate. He stated unequivocaIy. and without reserva
ton, the action OF the President under call from the
House OF Representatives and he pretended to give facts
drawn from papers called for by the House, when
il turned out that those papers had not been even
opened. il. indeed, they had been received by the
Speaker. And our readers cannot fail TO perceive the
dsreputable manner in which this new parliamentary
leader enaeavored TO stae inquiry into the conduct
Of the OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES he endeavored furtively TO
cast odum the late Observation-Disclosures his disrepu
table trick was exposed-how be shrunk back from the
disastrous consequences Of his first senatorial eortand
how he forced. by very shame. to vote for the
luton which he had opposed and endeavored by dsngen
uous statements to.defeat But il is not purpose al
this time to examine into the qualifications which Tru-
man Smith possesses for the post that has been
signed him by General Taylor Our purpose was simply
TO call attention to the development that his dis
graceful conduct heretofore dsavowed by the organs Of
h's administration, in the Of the cabinet has been
endorsed by the President in the appointment Of Truman
Smith, his parliamentary leader Our purpose was to
announce that Truman Smith-the political pedar-,he
manufacturer OF secret circuarshe man who has been
for months the stpenday Of political club in this ci,v
doing dsreputable work for eight dollars day, while he
busiy engaged in Offering brides TO the peope Of In
diana to support General Taylor and protably empoved
in obtaining Offices for the lai,hiulhas been appo;oed
10 represent General Taylor the floor OF the Senate
This statement, supported is by the debate 10 which
have referred. surely needs comments II proves
more concusyey than words could do the baseness Of
lnoparysm and fires and fastens upon the cabinet the