The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1850-05-06
istration Il may be fairly presumed that they were
all, or nearly all, jackson men or Democrats

all, or nearly all, jackson men Democrats.
But what was the condition Of things when Gen
eral Taylor came into power? How many Wings
or Taylor men were then In Office of the twenty
thousand civil officers employees under the Gov
ernrnent subject TO Executive controi' Probably
not five hundred, if 30 many.
Bot am dwelling too long upon this subject
The question presented by the manner IN which
the discretionary power OF removal claimed to be
in the President has been exercised, and the con.
sequences 10 the country bring to my mind Old and
familiar topics of party discussion, and can hardly
trust myself to speak Of them without unnecessary
digresson. II has been my purpose, IN the sug-
gestions have made, to show that General Fay
lors since he came into power Is susceptible
of the clearest and most ample defence and vindi-
cation against all the charges Of inconsistency and
violated pledges which have been made against
him l think, upon the whole, that the Senator
from Maine, in the views he has presented of the
course and practice Of General Taylor in the mat
ter Of pledges and removals from Office, has been
prompted by the ardor of his feelings to assai him
with undue harshness, and at the same time rashly.
do not, / repeat, pretend that General Taylor
may not have made some mistakes, both in his re-
movals and appointments he has not in some
instances been misled to the existence of proper
cause of removal; and in others that he has put in
competent or unworthy persons in office Indeed,
know of one instance in which am apprehensive
that misled him in regard to an appointment, in
which took particular interest, but was myself
misled by others; and there may be many other
cases of the same kind.
But the Senator from Maine has assaed the
5lStenCY OF General layl0r upon anOtneT point, IN
regard to which think he does him injustice. He
takes up and comments with severity upon General
Taylor's repeated declaration that he would not be
a party candidate. 1t will not be denied by the
Senator that when General Taylor first spoken
of as candidate for the Presidency, members Of
both parties, Wings and Democrats, united in the
expression of their desire to him elevated to the
highest honor in the gift Of the people He was So
hcited to become candidate by public meetings,
held without distinction of party, and in some in
stances by meetings exclusively Democratic.
Though Whig, ii was the most natural ambition
in the world for in General Taylor's position
to desire to be elevated TO the Presidency by the
people, Independent of party. III he is not second
Washington, that was an aspiration worthy OF a
Washing gton. 1t eminenty patriotic to desire
that the party feuds which had so violently agated
the country so long should be alayed. At the head
of his little army in Mexico, and little skilled in
political tactics, he did declare his intention,
though Wing, not to become party candidate.
alone should settle the question Of his candidacy;
but, after his return home, and as time wore on,
while he found numerous and devoted friends every
where he that the leaders of the two great par
ties would not be content that the people should
have their own way he was compelled either to
withdraw altogether and thus disappont the wishes
of numerous devoted friends, modify his first
determination. The Senator from Maine states,
and states truly, that he finds the evidence OF n
change of position in the second Alison letter.
Now, what the change indicated In that letter.
Why, simply, that, though Wing, and TO that
candidate in the strict sense OF that denomination.
His meaning was, that he was not 50 far party
candidate that, if elected President, he would be
bound TO conform to the dlctaton oil any party
upon any exigency in public affairs that might
arise that he would administer the government
according to his own judgment, enlightened from
every source within his reach This was the true
meaning and import Of the second Alison letter
Nothing that transpired at the Philadelphia con-
vention changed his position in this respect There
was an avowal made by his Louisiana friends al
a -. -. ...f.
change of men and Of measures Of government,
which manifested strong Wing sentiment; and he
declared himself ready TO abide by the decision OF
that convention, as 10 whether he would be a
candidate or not but he accepted every nonina
ton rendered to him, and he still declined 70 be
considered a party candidate, and therefore failed
10 give satisfaction ~ numerous Wings oil that con
venton : and deny that General Taylor did be-
come party candidate any further than he avowed
In the sooond Alison letter The honorable Senator
has pointed 10 the fact that no Wing platform
laid down by the Philadelphia convention? And
why was il not laid downs II Is a sufficient reason
10 say that the convention did not consider that
General Taylor would regard their authority 10
prescribe his course upon any subject; they did not
consider that they had the man before them who
would submit 10 party dictation. Iventurc to say
that General Taylor does not now consider that he
ever a party candidate, in the sense in which
those terms understood throughout the country.
or that he is party President. though
elected by the Wing party though seldom see ot
converse with him upon such subjects. And give
me leave TO say, Mr.. President, that any man, OF
any solid pretensions 10 distinction, lcts himself
down very much when he Processes his Willingness
10 subscribe TO whatever doctrine policy any
number Of his friends may think proper 70 lay down
for his guidance. | believe the practice OF the
Democratic party IL, that their candidate shall
square himself by the rules laid down by the con
yention which nominates him, and that this re
QUESTION is vigorously enforced. That II precisely
what General Taylor would never consent TO-. He
resoutely, and 10 the last, refused 70 pledge him
self 10 any particular system Of Administrative
policy After all that has been said against Gene
raj Taylor by the Senator from Maine-after all the
abuse which has been lavished upon him by tho
Democratic journals--sfter all that has been said
against the Wing party, for taking up and elechng
him 10 the Presidency, will that Senator deny that
the Democratic party seriously contemplated his
because General Taylor ayowed biuaself Whigf
Mr.. BRIaHT, in his seat. lie the last man
VIC would have thought Of taking up.
Mr.. Bell. Nevertheless IL vas announced by
the principal organ Of the party, the Washington
Union; and II such thing was never thought Of by
liable sheet.
Mr.. BRADBUsY. I think the senator must BE-
mistaken.
Mr. Bell. think osqpot be mistaken. Ger
tainly have seen the statement IN the URi0n that
General Taylor would probably have received the
nomination Of the Democratic party but for his
declaration that he Whig Will the Senator
deny that, after General Taylor received the nom
ination Of the Wing convention at Philadelphia.
u was forthwith announced in the Washington
Union, and re-echocd in the two three hundred
Democratic journals Of the country, that General
Taylor had become party candidate that he was
the Wing candidate that he would be proscrip
tive In bis policy f elected that all his professions
Of moderation meant nothing at all And IL this
be 50, how could the people have been deceived by
General Taylor's professional Was the bonorable
Senator deceivedl
Mr.. BRADsURy. I will say that the declarations
did not deceive me, although there many that
they did deceive.
mr.. DsLb. W-n, viii not press that Doint.
But will say that General Taylor lost Wnlg
votos than We gained ON the Democratic side Ia
consequence Of his not being considered thorough
party candidate.
Mr.. sswARp. At least forty to one in the State
Of New York.
Mr. BELL. The Senator from New York says
'sforty 10 one in that State and have little doubt
that in every State Of The Union General Taylcs
lost az many Whig votes as ne gained Democrats
once Rut will my friend from Maine allow me to
ash him one other question, and Will he answer
frankly Would he not have been disappointed IL
General Taylor had made no romovalsl Whether.
in fact he did desire that General Taylor should