Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1886-05-01


Il think he does. 1t was he who dug
me out His name is Bill"
SOLDIER PRESIDENTS.
A letter of Henry Clay, Hitherto Unpub.
lished, on Military Rulers.
The following important letter, written
by Henry Clay, expressing his strong
disapproval of the elevation of military
men to the presidency, appears in re-
cent issue of the Philadelphia Press:
Private and Confidential
ASHLAND, 18th August, 184S.-DEAB
SIR:-I received your favor accompanied
by few lines from our friend Mr..
Jamison. Recognizing you both as fast
and faithful friends of mine, I wish to
express my regrets that I cannot recon
Gle it to sef-respect or sense of that I
owe to my country to conform to your
request that should take an active part
in the support of Gen. Taylor's election.
Although I was aware that his nomina-
ton was brought about by the exertions
of some members of congress coming
from states which will afford no support
to his election, and by no other excep-
tional means, I resolved to make no OPP
position to it, and as far as I was per-
sonally concerned to submit to it. I have
accordingly given no movements, and
shall give none. I think this is as much
as ought to be expected of me.
I have long entertained, and publicly
expressed, strong convictions against the
elevation of mere military men to the
presidency. Far from being weakened,
they have been strengthened by time and
observation. Gen. Taylor is the merest
military man ever offered as p candi-
date to the American people. He never
filled any civil Office in his life, and at
the age of upward sixty it is proposed
to place in his hands the great and mo-
mentous and complicated affairs of the
country. Even Jackson had some civil
experience, and Harrison had spent the
greater part of his life in high civil offices.
think Gen. Taylor has shown much
instability in his numerous letters, and
displayed anything but the Roman firm
ness attributed to him. He will inevita-
bly, fall into the hands of others, who
will shape bis administration, if elected.
Who they will be know not, but those
most probably who will fawn upon and
flatter him the most. Such is the result
of my experience of poor, weak human
nature.
He declared that he would continue as
a candidate even if any other whig or
were nominated by the Philadelphia
convention. I have seen nothing under
his hand to contradict that declaration.
His letter to member of the Louisiana
delegation has been suppressed. His
letter to the Independent party in Mary
land has been withheld from the public
at his instance.
He is presented as a no-palty candi-
date Some of his leading supporters
affirm that all the old whig measures are
obsolete, and he himself has again and
again disavowed all obligations to sup
port them. And yet the wing party, as
a party, is appealed to in order to secure
his election.
We behold the humiliating spectacle
of prominent politicians ridiculing their
own class, and speaking of the presump-
tuousness of asking Gen Taylor to avow
his political principles! He is even COM
pared by them to the immortal Wash
ington.
He has in his Allison letter put forth
some opinions which have been trans
formed into political creed, which it is
thought are sufficient for the wing party;
but when they come to be carefully ex-
amined they do not contain single SEN
:.iment to which I believe every president
we have had (not excepting Mr.. Tyler or
Mr.. Polk might not have been willing
to subscribe.
have been frequently addressed, nay,
importuned, to indorse Gen. Taylor as
wing. But cannot say he is more |
whig than he himself has declared; and |
he has repeatedly stated that he will not
be pledged to the support of wing meas
ures. If I we're publicly to proclaim
my support of him, and any persons, on
the faith of my course, were to support
him should be justly liable to their re-
proaches if his administration were after
ward to deceive them. i
Ought it to be expected of me to take
an active part in behalf of one who had
announced his purpose to remain as an
independent candidate if I had been
nominated by the wing convention?
Where would be the reciprocity? I
should, moreover, justly expose myself
to the greatest Inconsistency if, after all
that I have said against military candi-
dates, I should now warmly espouse the
cause of the most exclusive military can
ddate that has ever been presented to
the American public.
I have concluded therefore, to take no
active part in the election. I desire to
influence no one, and only wish to be let
alone to pursue the dictates of my judge
ment.
can vote for neither Cass nor Van
Buren,, and I may be constrained by
the force of circumstances to vote for
General Taylor. There is chance
with him that we Will have a better ad-
of the government than with
either of them, and that chance may de-
termine my choice. But I see nothing
IN the contest to stimulate my zeal or
l.,inaats my patriotism. If we had