The Greenville times. [volume] (Greenville, Miss.) 1868-1917, 1882-06-10

peIseNere ana never give up the
contest.
1t seems to me that the only al
ternatives are: First, a restroees.
sion of New Mexico and California.
or, second, their continued exemp-
tiOn from the presence of African
slavery.
But | have written much more
than | intended when | began, on
this subject, and viii proceed to
the other topic of your letter that
relates to the Presidential election.
Although the proceedings of the
Philadelphia Convention were not
such as to inspire me with any re-
spect, and although l regarded it
as merely ratifying a nomination
previously made virtually at Wash
ington by members of Congress,
many of whom came from States
that will give no aid to the nomi-
nation, resolved quietly to sub
NIT to it, and make no opposition
whatever to it. Ihaye conformed
to this resolution. | have given
no encouragement or countenance
to any counter movements for my.
self or for others. | mean to give
none. This, think, is as much as
ought to be expected of me.
see nothing in the attempt to
elect Gen. Taylor to animate my
zeal or arouse my patriotism.
regard it as one to construct a
mere personal party on the basis
of military popularity, without any
known principles of administra'
ton. For a great part Of my life ]
have been opposed to the eleva
ton of military men to the Presi
dcncy without knowledge or expe
rience IN civil affairs. You and
last year, in some correspondence
on this subject which passed be
tween us, entirely agreed. Yor
went so far as to say that if Gen
Taylor were to be the candidate
you would quit the field of politics
He is the merest military man eve
offered to the American peopl,
for that office. He never tille'
any civil station in his life, tn
greater part of which has bee
spent in the camp. Gen. jackson
has filled high civil stations, an
the larger portion of the life Q
Gen. Harrison had been passed /
high civil employments.
Gen. Taylor has, | think, in hi
numerous letters, shown much m
stability, OF that you and hav
both secn evidence. Such a man
if elected, must inevitably fall int
the hands of others, and who the.
will be / know not. Judging from
what | know of human nature, |
is to be feared that they will b.
those who fawn upon him and flat
ter him most.
/ have been repeatedly asked
nay, importuned, to vouch for hin
as a Wing; but l could not sa,
more of him than he has himsel
said, and he has again and agail
repudiated all obligations to SUP
port Wing measures. If | were t
induce any Wings to support hin
by my public acts, and his admin
istration should afterward disar
point us, should be justly liabl
to reproaches.
| confess that | have been SUI
prised and mortified at the cours
of some of his leading supporters
They pronounce former VIII
measures as obselute. They ind
cate tho class of politicians 7
which they themselves belong
and they seem to regard as an ac
of presumption any approach G
Gen. Taylar to elicit from him hi
, opinion on grave public measures
: They profess to see in him the en-
, bodiment of all that is wise, grea
, and good! They compare him t
:. the immortal Washington!
!. / can not vote for or supper
! either Cass or Van Buren. Thcr
5 is a chance for better Administer
: ton under Gen. Taylor than eithC
Q of them would give us, and ths
Y chance may determine me to vot
: for him. But self-respect, the COZ
/ sistency of my character, and m
n sense of duty will restrain me frol
f taking any active or partisan pal
9 in the canvass. With the views
t entertain believe that to be N
i true course.
l. One i'll effect which ensues fro
II putting aside all the old issues b
I tween the two parties is that,
+ the absence of all former que
It tions, some new one is sure
y arise, and the sectional one OF 81
# very is ever ready to fill the vac