New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1884-03-29
THE WHIG VICTORY IN 1848.
MIR. BLAINEs STORY OF THE CAMPAIGN.
BLUNDERs OF Folks ADMINS FREE

The events of the year 1S47 had persuaded
the Wing leaders that. If they persisted In the polio
embodied n the wimot ProvsO they would surrender al
power to control the ensuing Presidential election b.
clever and the avoidance OF issues which In
vovcd the slavery question: they felt reasonably OF
yotesof Delaware Maryland North Carolina Kentucky
and Tennessee with probability OF securing Georgia.
Louisiana and Florida To throw these States away by
All antisavery crusade to accept inevitable defeat
and disband the Wing party Mr.. Winthrop was there
Wings When he used his influence to restrain
promote the Developments Of the anti-slayery policy
which had been initiated with such vgor. The result o
this change soon visible. In the preceding House
with large Democratic majority the Willnot Proy,se
bad been adopted In the Wing House. over which Mr.
Winthrop presided found Impossible 10 repeat he
vote during the preparations Tor the National eones
then impending. The treaty If Guadalupe HidalgO, by
which acquired ayast territory from MEXICO, was
rallied 10y inc se1atG ana tIs nHn9e 'o' ic n
any kind the subject OF slavery Every acre OF
the 100000 square miles was free territory Whlle
under the rule of Mexico. and the mmsSiOners oil
that Government were extremely anxious that the
United States should give guarantee that its character
slavery recognized upon soil once owned by Mexico
would be ahhOrent to that Government a. would be
To the United states the Spanish InquisOn csab
shed upon It, Mr. Nicholas r. Trlst, the American
Commissioner gave reply which free Republic reads
territory proposed 10 be cedc1 were increased enfod
in value and, addition TO that covered foot thick
with pure gold. tho single condition that slavery
should he excluded" he would not entertain the
offer for moment nor even think OF sending u 70 ms
submit such treaty to the senate -,,,
ular feeling In the North the subject Of slavery the
two great parties approached the Presidential election Of
selection OF candidate and the PRECIPITATION OF the
principles on which support was to he asked Inc
anomaly presented the Congressional election OF 1916,
where Administration conducnga successful war was
defeated before the people, promised to be repeated
Tie Democratic party had procpitated the war; had or
gained the military foToo that prosecuted it, had con-
victorious conclusion yet had gained no political
N the The two gallant soldiers VINO
had largely shared II indeed they had not absorbed s
%y Mere Ms % t PStb bo EIe Of Ruena Vista nyo
victorious progress had been checked and HIS army Grip
force and turned the Regulars over to Scott Scott ended
his brilliant campaign IN a Migrant quarrel with inc
torily with the prospect of court martial lie was
ordered to leave General William D. Butler Democratic
general in command OF the army In the Cty oil Mexico
after resistance had ceased.
EXPERIENCED OFFICERS SET ASIDE FOR UNFRAMED
DEMOCRATS.
The Administration had obviously endeavored from
the first to create a Democratic hero out Of the
Authorized TO appoint large number of officers in the
increased military force raised directly by the United
States an unjust discrimination was made In favor OF
Democrats. Thus william o. Butler John A. Quitman,
and Gideon j. Pillow prominent Democratic leaders I'm
their respective States appointed majorgeneras
directly from civil life Joseph Lane. James Shields,
Franklin Pierce George Cadwaader Caleb Cushing, EnOs
d. Hopping, and Sterling Price were selected for the
high rank OF brigadier general Not one wing was In,
eluded and not OF the Democratic appolnees had
seen service in the field possessed the slightest pro-
tension to military education. Such able graduates or
West Point Henry Clay, IT,, and William K. McKee,
were compelled seek service through state appoint
ments volunteer regiments, while Albert Sidney John
ston subsequently proved to be one or the aDlest COM
nenders ever sent from the Military Academy, could not
the between Mexico and Texas by which the latter
had secured her Independence Johnston had held hlgh
command, and perhaps the best equipped soldier
both by education and service to be found In the entire
country outside the regular army at the e or te Mex
Johnston command OF one OF The ten new regiments
Johnston took no part in poltlcSi but ms eminent
brother Josiah Stoddard Johnston long Senator from
Louisiana. Mr.. Clays most intimate friend III pubic
life and General Taylors letter not even answered
ton and Tibbatts Of Kentucky, Jere Clemens OF Ala
bama Mledge L. Bonham OF South Carolina. Seymour
NC actlEe partss, puC WIN
rotary OF War; and was eminently dscredable to the
Perhaps the most ircxcusable blundcr Of the Admins
traton the attempt 10 take Thomas IT, Benton from
the Senate, where he was honored eminent ana useful
make him lieutenant and send him out to Mex
tho ARMY The hill 10 enable this To- he done actually
branch. prominent Democratic member from Ohio Dc
carcd m one reason for passing the bill that two OF the
generals opposed politically to the Democratic party
and by their acts or those ofthe friends are cand
dates for the Presidency" The evident basis OF this
argument was, that the Mexican being Democratic
venture Wing had the right to profit by IT, The bill
fortunately stopped in the Senate though that body
at the time had n Democratic majority. The measure
killed by lone convincing speech from Mr.. Badger Of
North Carolina The Senators knew Colonel Benton's
temper and temperament, and understood how COM
petey untitled he was for military command. and how
his appointment would demoralize ana practically dc
stroy the Army TO the emu OF his life. however Colonel
Benton hmsefbeicved serious mistake had been made
He had been commissioned colonel In the war OF 1872
though of uqucstioned bravery and deeply read Ia
military science it had been his fortune to engage
in battle, 10 .sec the face OF an enemy Yet IN the
photographed sketch which precedes his Thirty Years
View" he compaoently assured himself that his ap
pOintment as lieutenant general over scott ana Taylor
could not have wounded professional honor at the
time of his retiring from the Army he ranked all those
who have since reached its head"
But athe efforts TO make Democratic nero out or the
wal failed The lne'olhcers appointed IRON civil e pc
haved calamity The volunteers under their command
exceptionally eXcellent-alnOst competent them
selves to the conduct of campaign Ine political gen
erals who yauted from lawoiceS into the command OF
brgades and divisions were furnished by the War De-
partment with staff officers carefully chosen from the
best educated and most sklfu OF the regular army All
would not suffice however to dspaco Taylor and scott
from the post Of chief heroes Old Rough and Ready,
Taylor was called by MS troops became popular
faJorite OF Irresistible strength and in the Wing conycn
ton Of $40 was chosen over Mr. Gay as tne standard
bearer OF the party He was placed before tine people on
his record soldier unhampered by the political de-
claTatons which: make iup tho modern platform Mr.
Clay had expected the nomination, and General Scott
had offered to the ticket Vice President;
but against the constantly rising tide Of Iaors popu-
ary both ordinary anu entra9rtnaIy p9lillcal com
bnatOns gave way. Even the Kentucky delegation d.
vided-in accordance with Mr. CrttendenS Judgment,
though not by his advice 10 the overwhelming chagrn
and modification Of Mr. Clay "A man unknown in
political circles as Ihe eadlde OF e parry
OF which he felt nmsef TO nave Deen the creator Mr
Clay enraged by the result and never became recon
Clcd To IT, Though ne gave III the enu quiet vote AT Tue
polls for Taylor he subbomly refused during the
paign open his lips write word In favor Of his cleo
ton. Mr. Webster though without the keen personal
disappointment Of Mr. Clay. was equally discontinued
with the nomination. lie had spoken in semi public
way for several months previous to the of the
folly OF nominating swearing staggering frontier
colonel" for the Presdency,-an allusiOn to General
Taylor which was scandaOusly unjust and which was
contradlcted by his whole lite When Taylor finally
nominated. Mr. Webster resented tho selection
indignity the Of the Wing party His only
comfort the defeat OF Abbott Lawrence for the
Vce-Presidency by Willard Fillmore Mr. Lawrence was
man OF wealth. the most prominent manufacturer at
the time IN the country OF high personal character and
OF wide political influence He was the leading Taylor
Wing in New England and hs course had given offence
TO Mr. Webster TO such extent indeed that pub
Mr.. Lawrence in unfrendly and discourteous man
ner.
The situation became still further complicated. The
Wings believed they had avoided the responsibility OF
positive declaration either side OF the issue embodied
IN the WmOt PrOviso by selecting a military hero
their candidate In the phrase Of the day he could make