The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1850-05-24
The Union and ITS Tactics.

No one who has observed the course of
the Union newspaper, since the nomina-
ton of General TAYLOR for the Presidency
in 1913, can have failed to notice its in
cessant attacks upon that distinguished
citizen, so wantonly begun, so bitterly con-
tinued, so shanelessly persisted in. That
mark of the popular favor which his nom
ination at Philadelphia signalized, and
which his subsequent election to the high
est office in the gift Of the people con-
firmed, became the provocative of the
most virulent political enmity on the part
of the journal we have named-the most
viruent in its spirit, the most unscrupu-
lous in its manifestations, that was proba-
bly, ever let loose against the chosen of
the people since the days of WASHINGTON.
These assaults have been systematic
from the first. They have constituted the
system of tactics deliberately adopted and
pursued by the Union, which, leaving the
discussion of principles to come in as an
incidental part Of its plan, found more
congenial occupation in the ignoble work
of detraction. 1t may not be incorrect to
conjecture, moreover, that this species
of work was more suited to its capabilities,
as well as TO its tastes, than any thing in
which principles were involved.
No sooner wis General TAYLOR an
nounced to the country as the candidate
of the Wing convention for the Presiden-
cy, in 1S4S, than the columns of the
Union began to tenn with disparaging re-
Elections upon General TAYLoR's qualif-
cations for civil bfice. The country was
told that this nan, so illustrious as sol
der, was a solder only; that his active
life had been spent entirely in the mill
tary service; tint all his experience was
associated with the camp and the field;
that he knew ndhing of the duties Of civil
administration, and was indeed profound
ly ignorant in all matters requisite for a
successful performance of the duties of a
Chief Magistrae. His nomination for the
Presidency wa ridiculed. Who does not
remember the contemptuous language of
Mr.. PoLK's ,fficial journal, uttered and
reiterated frdn day to day in utilization
of General THLoR, throughout the whole
canvass of 1882 Even his achievements
on the field d battle were called in ques-
ton. The grteful Acknowledgements which
the victorious hero, on his return from the
scenes of hi glory, always rendered to his
brave complnions in arms, whenever he
was called uion to respond to addresses or
greetings Decentralization from the en-
thusiastic Thousands who came to well
come him bme; these tributes, so touch
ing, so ma,nanimous, so indicative Of
modest and noble nature-even these, to
the shame othe miserable traducers, were
seized uponand made the basis of impu-
tations upoI his military character. Yes,
the Ameridn people were told that the
man who onducted the campaigns of the
Rio Grand, who never made a move
ment thatwas not effective, who never
fought bttle in which he was not victo-
rious, whoachieved his greatest successes
in momers of peril, when every heart
despaired xcept his own--that this com
mander, irall those triumphs, so far as his
own part them was concerned, was, af-
ter all, lite other than an accidental con-
, queror!
The elttion of General TAYLOR to the
: Presidency, by the votes of an admiring
/ people, US an offence which the Union
could ndforgive. That event confirmed
I it in an nplacable hostility. The foun-