The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1850-02-12

To GENERAL TAYLOR,
President OF the United States
There certain conventional rules which gentlemen
in their intercourse ought 10 observes and there are Ger,
tain rules to be observed between IN private lie and
those whom the people have elevated by their sufages
to the principal Offices OF State The first has its iounda
ton in refinement OF feeling which is the result OF edu
cation and the latter in the respect which ought 70 DC
shown 10 the voice OF their countrymen. have been
directed BY these rules in the two notes have addressed
to you AT the moment wrote them, yielded reiuc,
tanl obedience 10 them, as. in your case considered
myself relieved entirely from all obligation to comply
with them.
her, has strong, nay, the strongest CLAIM upon
you for the proper exercise Of the great powers which
she has conferred upon the Office which, in an uniucky
she expect nothing, after the developments Of the last
ten months, that will rebound her honor add to her
happiness. render her satisfied with the choice she
made OF the present Chief Magistrate. But there are
some things you may do which will soften her regrets
at her folly, and measuraby expate the offence she COM
med against light and knowledge, in electng you Pres
ident N
Ii be correctly informed rule was early laid down
by the caba who control the desnies OF this great re-
public, that IN all cases oil application Tor the removal Of
official incumbent some charge should be preferred
against him. In the ethics OF IMAM OF horor or Of just
Judge, this rule implied that must be guilty OF some
OF the offences or deficient in the particular quahca
tons announced by you to your counymen as the only
grounds which you would exercise the power OF ap.
pointing TO or removing from Office have already told
you, sir, that am one OF those to whom your guoune
has been applied and within few hoursi have learned
Of the pretext in my removal from Office that certain
unworthy creatures urged by others doubt as disrepu
table HIMSELF has accused me before you have no
doubt Of the truth OF the information communicated TO
know the creature who falsely represented me;
know his unworhiness, in whatever light you may NOR
ally behold him But, General did you give me notice OF
what my said! Did you call upon to answer
the charge which he arragned me before you, the
high usciary OF my country in all such cases! No, sir
the accusation and judgment OF death were one and the
and hanging were synonymous-both occurring at the
same moment. Whence were these notions OF justice
drawni Not from the compeadus OF military jurspru-
dence which your inaptude for all intellectual labor has
occasionally led you to thumb, rather than consult the
works OF learned men, Macomb's Manual oil Martial
Law has eveR been too large for your comprehension, if
sence Of all fairness and all justice in your cruel judgments
upon the characters OF your countrymen.
Practising judcious economy, with ample resources
have made estate equal to your wants IN the
one 10 be possessed OF means or OF opportunity to lay up
these stores, and age often fnds him in distress. AL
such an hour his reputation for "honesty capacity and
fidelity" is apt be the only hope he has for the
sares OF life. Many OF the public officers you have dis
missed in this condition, and You have turned them
out Of the public service with the brand Of your disap
probation leaving, nay compelling, the public 10 decide
whether you have been most truthful in observing your
pledge or the men you have elected TO the number OF
about several thousands have been false to Their trusts
and unworthy OF the places they filled. Mankind pay
habtua obedience to authority, and from the general
necessity which exists for respecting it, its conduct is
usually upheld. To mind capable OF comprehending
the results OF public actsone used to philosophical
temptation would the injury done TO citizen by
placing him in the condition in which many stand
before the world Power not given to you 10 be
welded for ends unust not to Cypress but pro-
tec your fellow.citizens.
It was the proud consolation Of Roman consul that
citizen went to sleep in hunger, or without the
protection of the laws Of his country For centuries
since the decline OF that Commonwealth, il is the boast
Of England that the gs OF her flag shall be extended to
all her people, whensoeyer they may be oppressed Can
your term Of office expire, under present appearances
with such consolation TO you your country Thou
sands OF her citizens, and tens OF thousands OF their kim
rise up witnesses you OF injustice You have
nevertheless, and have the sycophants who deceive
you, made claim to the pursuit OF the course and
conduct OF Washington. Great Heaven what an effort
Taylor attempting 10 seize the club OF Washington the
Hercules
In speaking OF the cabal who have established what is
understood be your rule to hang man as soon he
is accused, beg to exempt MIR Attorney General John.
son from participation in countenance Of such pro-
ceedings l know him very slightly but ali accounts
represent him gentleman OF great ability, OF extern
siye learning, and honorable bearing IN all things
JOHN HAMPDEN.