The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1850-05-20

these gentlemen, Judges Winchester and Saun-
ders,) shall deem whatever statements they may
have made TO be right and proper; and. confident
in their integrity, and in the sincerity of their
friendship for me, shall sustain them without quail
ifcation. ] now, therefore, take upon my own
shoulders the responsibility Of the acts OF the Louis
ana delegation, and am prepared to stand by their
consequences, in their length and breadth"
And then he adds EL
81 cannot expect or desire that any OF my friends
whom you represent should do violence TO their
own sense OF right and wrong, by supporting my
election, while they believe have changed my po-
litical views''
The effect of this communication on the indepen-
dents Of Baltimore was their immediate disorgani-
zation, and discontinuance of their organ, called
the B,iena Vista in the last number thereof, the
editors say;
at is needless for to say that the ground on
which we have heretofore stood in support of
General Taylor is thus taken from under us delib-
erately and unequivocally by the individual in
whose behalf we assumed it, and there can be
neither doubt difficulty in regard to the alter
native which such state of things presents to US.
- y The act of the Louisiana delegation we treat
az General 1aylors act II Is his in its length and
breadth-consistent or inconsistent--in good faith
or bad faith, fair or false, it is all his"
Thus General Taylor became the candidate of
the Whig party. In no other way could he have
been either nominated or elected. Having been a
member of that convention am free to say that
my ultimate vote for him, after had given full
expression to the predomnating sentiment OF my
own State in favor of the distinguished Senator
from Kentucky. (Mr. CLAY,) was based wholly on
this ground. He had submitted his pretensons to
the arbtrament of that body, and not only agreed
to abide its decision, but even insisted that his
friends should ''sustain and support the nominee,
whoever he might be, heart and SOUL" upon the
principal that ga change of men and measures"
was indispensable "to arrest the downward ten
dency of our national affairs" The nomination of
the Senator from Kentucky having become unat
tainable, and General Taylor having placed HIM
self before the body the precise ground occupied
by his distinguished competitors, went over to
him, admit, mainly for the reason believed him
to be arailabie, having at the same time the utmost
confidence in his rectitude, and also in his ability
to administer the Government. He was nominated
and elected and is the Chief Magistrate of this
great republic. He has, in the eyes of the Democ-
racy, committed the objectionable sin of daring to
be the President of the United States He has been
too successful, and has too strong hold on the
confidence and affections of the American people.
The honorable member refers to some remarks
made in and out of Congress by the leading friends
of the President his views in regard to the pro-
scriptve policy. He says that the Hon. Mr.. Crit
tenden declared at some public meeting, that
he (the President) hates, loathes prescription :;
and that the present Secretary of State (Mr. Clay
ton) made in this chamber suggestions to the same
effect. To say nothing Of the injustice OF holding
any candidate for the Presidency responsible for
the views presented by his friends in various parts
of the country maintain that there has been no
thing in his course that conflicts with these state
ments. | should suppose that, coming into office
and finding the whole Government in the hands of
one party, and those his political opponents, who
had obtained their situations by prescribing the rest
tanned their proscrptve policy resolutely for long
course of years. should think, sir, that finding
himself thus situated, if he "hated and loathed
prescription" the very first measures which he
would adopt would be to prescribe prescription it.
self, by making reasonable and suitable number
Of removals and changes. Has it not occurred to
the honorable Senator that the President would
| have been proscriber if he had continued pro-
scption, and just responsible as il be had intro
duced il originally' II is precisely for the reason
that he is opposed to that detestabe system that
his whole course can be vindicated and sustained
postpone to a subsequent part Of my remarks
all comment on the charges against the President,
based extract from his inaugural address,
importing that he should make "honesty, capacity,
stowal Of Office, and that the absence of either OF
these qualities would be deemed sufficient cause for
removalSi as wish to hold these sentiments up in
contrast with similar language used by several
Democratic Presidents on occasion of their induc-
| ton into office.
| will now proceed, Mr.. President, 70 adduce
other evidence in confirmation OF the position which
] have assumed. My honorable friend holds out the
idea Though he does not say 30 in 30 many words)
that General Taylor into the canvass and suf-
fered his 10 be submitted TO the consideration
| of the people in csuivocal atttude-that there
was something doubtful in his position, and that
solely in consequence of this he enabled 10 reach
the higest Office in their gift. On the contrary,
insist that his position was unequivocal; that he
was a Wing candidate for the Presidency, and was
understood 20 be such by the Democracy through
out the length and breadth of the land. After he
was nominated by the Philadelphia convention
and had accepted that nomination, he was party
candidate, and was admitted 10 be such on all
hands. He was the Wing candidate for the Presi
dency precisely in the that the honorable
| Senator from Michigan (Mr. CAss) was the Dem
ocratc candidate, and his election resisted up
on that ground throughout the country. This Il
the inevitable conclusion from his correspondence
and my object now is TO confirm that conclusion
1 Of confirmation be necessarily by authority which
am sure honorable Senators will receive with re.
spect
might, II pleased refer 10 the testimony Of the
| public press, which would be legitimate on mere
| question Of fact, but choose 10 recur TO much
higher sources for proof
Up TO the period when the result of the State
| election in Pennsylvania October, lS4S) was
known, the Democracy in this city reposed in fan
ced security. They had not the slightest doubt OF
success at the great struggle in November. They
| we're taken completely by surprise by that event,
and, indeed could not have been more astonished
| IL thunderbolt had fallen in their midst. With
the utmost trepidation and alarm, they addressed
themselves 10 the work of warding of, If possible
| impending ruin; and, among other measures, ON
the 10th Of October got up procession, and marched
| 10 the house Of the Hon. Mr.. Buchanan, then Sec
| rotary Of State on y street, where he delivered
them address, characterized with his usual abil-
| ity, from which submit the following extract:
:" Let no Democrat lay the fattcring JUNCTION 70
| his soul that General 'Taylor's Administration
would not be a proscripdve Wing Administra-
ton" "a Whig himself, elected by
Wings, and surrounded by Whig Cabinet, he
would be compelled, by the necessities Of his posi-
ton, TO carry into effect Wing measures and Whig
principles. Indeed, he would prove fathcss 10 his
party II he were TO pursue any other coursev
Thus, MIR. Buchanan anticipated removals in tho
event of the election of General Taylor but, in con-
| formity with the uniform course Of his party, he
speaks of such removals being proscripfipe. The
new Administration. he says, will be ga proscrip-
tive Wing Administration" suppose there would
have been prescription in the event Of the sue.
cess Of General Cass, though "the little finger" oi
the latter had proved thicker than be oins OF the
former" We also learn from the late Secretary OF
4 State, that he would "be faithless 10 has party" II
he did not administer the Government IN conform
ity with their views. So that IL is treachery any
way--treachery TO the Democracy II he does make
removals, and treschery 10 the Wings IL he does
not
/ will finish this part OF the subject by calling az
witnesses the two houses Of the last Congress. On
referring To the appropriation bill for the civil and
diplomatic service, passed at the last session oi
Congress, IL will be found that provision was made
for the recall Of the whole diplomatic corps, and for
the appointment by the new administration Of its