The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1850-05-20
THE REPU UBLIC.
SPEECH S


SPEECH
OF
Mr.. TRUMAN SMITH, OF CONNECTICUT,
On Removals. and appointments TO Office;
deliyered in the Senate of the United
States, March 21 and %, 1850.
IContinued.l
Although in our country the Chief Magistrate
must almost of necessity be chosen by party and
stand pledged to its principles and measures, yet,
in his official action he should not be the President
of party only, but of the whole people Of the
United States While he executes the laws with an
impartial hand, shrinks from proper RESPONSE
blity, and faithfully carries out in the Executive
department of the Government the principles and
policy of those who have chosen him, he should not
be unmindful that fellow citizens who have
differed with him in opinion entitled To the full
and free exercise of their opinions and judgments,
and that the rights Of all entitled TO respect and
regard
Nothing in any of the letters of President Taylor
can be stronger than this and yet, Mr.. Polk was
Gas will appear hereafter) by far the most proscrip-
tive President that has hitherto administered this
Government. The whole argument of the honora-
BILE Senator be directed TO prove the late Presi
dent guilty of treachery and breach Of faith.
Nv. come now to the last of the Series Of extracts
to be produced from the same letters in which the
President declared himself to be Wing, and to
symPathize with that great party in principle and
opinion.
!. In letter dated at Monterey July 81, 1876, he
"Although no politician, having always held
myself aloof from the clamors of party politics,
am Wing, and shall ever be devoted in individ-
ual opinion to the principles of that party
2. In letter dated at Monterey, August 3, 1S47,
he says: 1855
"At the last Presidential canvass. without inter-
fering in any way with the same, it was well
known to all with whom mixed, both Wings and
Democrats, (for had concealment in the mat
ter,) that was decidedly in favor of Mr.. Clay's
election, and would now prefer seeing him in that
office to any individual in the Union, certainly
much more so at any time than myself 1nde-
pendent OF his great talents and long experience
in Government affairs, consider his views and
those of the Wings, for the most part, are more
nearly assimated, as regards political matters, to
nents"
He then adds that he was reared in Mr.. Jetfersons
political creed and opinions in matters OF State and
had lost sight of them, conforming thereto
circumstances would permit
8. In a letter dated at Baton Rouge, February
IL, lS48, he says:
have no hesitation in stating, as have stated
on former occasions, that am Whig, though not
ultra one, and that have desire to conceal
this fact from any portion of the people of the Uni
ted States."
In his first Allison letter, dated at Baton Rouge,
April ~, lS4S, he says
81 reiterate what have often said am Wing,
bat not an ultra Wing. If elected, would not be
the mere President Of party; 1 would endeayor
feel bound to administer the government untram-
meled by party schemes"
And here, Mr.. President, is the proper place
70 take notice Of paragraph in the honorable
Senator's Mr.. BRApDuRY's) speech. which has
awakened much surprise in my mind. The Sena-
tor says:
"He occupied a different position from that of
other candidates for that high office, who were bis
competitors at the Philadelphia convention. They
could present no such varied claims. They could
make no such pledges and professions. They we're
conspicuous members OF political party whose
principles were well understood; and they could
not claim TO place themselves independent OF party.
His great competitor from the west never hesitated
TO make the ayowal TO the people Of the country,
am Whig' And the distinguished statesman
from the North, who stood in the same position,
gave the same response"
Here is plain intimation that General Tay lor
did not and would not claim that he was Wing;
and that, too, when his whole correspondence If
filled with asseverations 10 that effect Is this fair
Ia IL ingenuousY
have thus carefully analysed all the earlier cor
respondence Of the President; and what docs II
amount to9 Ii Ia apparent that he would not give
express pledges, and equally certain that he was
determined TO avoid the pledges implied by be-
coming the candidate of party; but, at the same
time, we see clearly that he was Whig, though not
ultra one, and that he "deyoted in individual
opinion TO the principles Of that party"
How il II that the honorable Senator deduces the
conclusions stated in his speech from such source
How can he, with any show of fairness, contend
that the President pledged himself even in his ear
lier letters TO any particular course? If he had
been elevated TO the Presidency the platform OF
basis thus presented, would he not have been al
liberty 10 act as a sound Judgment well-in-
formed understanding, and an honest heart might
dictate? Ichecrfuy refer the entire matter 10 the
appreciation Of such Senators ms desire to do jus
tice, and 70 the arbirAmcnt of an enlightened pub
lie sentiment.
But, sir, now come TO the essential part Of tho
case-to the later correspondence Of the President
and 10 the position which he saw ft 20 take at tho
-.1-l IL i
been reproached with inconsistency in this regard
The most unqualified abuse has been poured out
upon him for daring TO become the candidate Of the
Wing party. II has been assumed that If any man
once takes the ground he will not be candidate
or ifso, only on conditions, he IL committed ire
trievably, and cannot depart one hair from his po
sition without dishonor. Nothing be more fals'
than this. He may say, at one time, he will not b.
a candidate, and alter his mind at a subsequent pc
riod, provided he does not compromit and cmbar
rass a candidate OF candidates who have become
such the faith Of his At the time th'
letters were written on which the honorable Sena
aor relies there were no presidential candidates in
the feld-u was all preliminary 10 the selection o.
candidates. Before any convention was held, h'
manifested change OF purpose, and at the Phila'
delphia convention II was proclaimed 30 as TO D
understood and known Of all men. The brave old
soldier acted with his characteristic frankness
The reasons which originally induced him 70 insis
that he could not be the candidate OF any party
having ceased, he concluded 10 let his name 60 be
fore that body 10 be considered in conneIion will
those Of other distinguished citizens. Judges Win
chester and Saunders (both delegates from Louisi
anal appeared as his representatives, and the lat
ter, in behalf Of the President, read the following
statement.
General Taylor, we are also authorized 10 say
viii hail with entire satisfaction any NOMINATION
besides himself, being persuaded that the welfare
Of country pEouIREs A CHANGE or MEN AM
nEAsuREs, in order TO arrest the downward ten
dency of our national affairs. On making tins an
nounccment, the delegates Of Louisiana wish II e
be distinctly understood that IL involves no incon
sstency ON the part Of General Taylor, in case tn
choice Of this convention should fall on another.
General Taylor's friends in this convention with
draw him, Il will be their act and not his and BY
the act Of uniting with this convention his friend
withdraw his name from the canvass, unless he b
the nominee Of this convention; and we deem !
proper 10 assure the Wings Of the Union that vi
desire the nomination and election Of General Tsy
lor TO tho Presidency on no other than nationa
grounds"
find nothing about "a CHANGE or MEN AMI
MEASURES, in order 10 arrest the downward ten
depcy Of our national affairs, in the speech Of th