MORNING. EXPRESS—EXTRA. The THE VAN BUREN JUGGLE. Of all the public men of our country we have ever given Martin Van Buren the lowest place in our esteem. He is one who owes his political em- inence and succes, not to any high quality of mind —not to any brave deeds—not to any generosity of character—not at all; but the source of his success has been cowardly non-committalism and subser- viency on the one side, and the use of party ma- chinery,and corruption on the other. His advice to ‘carry the South by falling in with the South, and the North party machinery,’’ lays bare his character. » [tis a mirrorin which he may be seen. He was the father of that powerful combination of corrupt politicians known as the ‘‘Albany Regen- ey,’’—a combination of political gamblers, who, having thesreat state of New-York in their hands, as a stake, with its immense patronage and power, could so-contrive, and did contrive, to shape the politics of the national administration for years, and to parcel out the offices of power and trust as would best accomplish their object, and repay their tools. Van Buren and ‘his immediate confidentjal asso- ciates were political gamblers, ffom th@beginning, and looked upon ‘and calculated upon idates and elections asthe: black-leg does the ca’ pack, andthe chances of the game. The *lkany Regency politicians, of which Mr. Van Buren was the head, have done more to corrupt the politics of this nation, than all other causes.combined. It was one of their number who first broached the doctrine that ‘‘to the victors belong the spoils. ”’ Working his way by the aid of the South, whose faithful ally he proved himseif,.and by the ‘‘party machinery’? of the Regency, he was in 1836 elec- ted President of the United States: He was nom- inated for the office in 1835, at Baltimore. In his letter accepting that nomination, he thus speaks of ‘free soily’? i: ; “THE SLAVE. QUESTION MUST BE LEFT.,.TO. THiy CONTROL OF THE SLAVEHOLDING STATES THEMSELVES WITHOUT, MOLESTATION OR INTER- FERENCE; FROM ANY. QUARTER; foreign interference of every description, can only. be injuri- ous to. the slave, without, benefit to. any interest, and will not be ensured.to any section of our coun- try, and ANY INTERFERENCE COMING FROM THE NoN- SLAVEHOLDING PORTIONS OF OUR TERRITORY, IS CAL- CULATED: TO ENDANGER» THE PERPETUITY, AND, IF SANCTIONED, BY THE GENERAL GOVERNMENT, WOULD INEVITABLY OCCASION THE DISSOLUTION OF OUR HAP- py Unton.??)) 5 During the canvass +he wrote several letters, all of which are as southern as could have been writ- tem by John C: Calhoun... Among others he wrote a letter to several gentlemen in Jackson, North Carolina. Speaking.of the constitutional power of Congress to abolish; slavery in the District of Columbia, he remarks: in the Windings and Turnings of Martin Van Buren. “J do not hesitate to give it to you as my delib- erate and well tiki) ie opinion, that there are. ob- jections to the exercise of this power, AGAINST THE WISHES OF THE SLAVEHOLDING STATES, as impera- tive in their nuture and obligations, in regulating the conduct of public men, as the most palpable want of constitutional power would be.*? Further on he adds, that if successful at the ap- proaching election, “fF must go into the Presidential Chair the in- Jlexible and uncompromising opponent of any at- tempt on the part of Congress to abolish Slavery in the District of Columbia, AGAINST THE WISHES OF THE SLAVEHOLDING STATES.’? And again, not satisfitd with the strength of these declarations on'that subject, Mr. Van Buren goes on further to say: “*T do believe that the abolition of slavery in the District of Columbia, against the wishes of the slaveholding States (assumina THAT CoNGRESS HAS THE PowrER TO EFFECT IT,) would violate the spirit of that great compromise of interests which lie at the basis of our social compoct; and I am thor- oughly convinced, that it could not be so done, WITHOUT IMMINENT PERIL, IF NOT CERTAIN» DES- TRUCTION TO THE Union or THe States. Viewing de matter in this light, rr 1s MY CLEAR AND SET- ZEB OPINION, THAT THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT OUGHT TO ABSTAIN FROM DOING So, and that it is the sacred duty of those whom the people of the Uni- ted States entrust with the control of its action, so TO USE THE CONSTITUTIONAL POWER WITH WHICH THEY ARE INVESTED, TO PREVENT IT.”’ pe * Well, as we before said, ‘‘Free Soil?? Martin Van Buren was elected President in 1836; and in his inaugural message he gratuitously proclaimed to the world, that He WOULD VETO ANY BILL W HICH ConGRESS MIGHT PASS FOR THE ABOLITION OF SLAVE- RY IN THE District or CorumsBra. This threat of the veto in advance, was new. at that time, and even good Van Buren democrats rebelled against the Kingly mandate. William Leggett, an able writer, for many years assistant editor of the N. Y. Evening Post, thus expressed his opinions of the matter. “It would seem that we have elected Mr. Van Buren to the office of President, for the mere pur- pose that he may be the slavemaster in chief and a negro overseer. He pledged himself to exercise his veto power against anything which Congress might do toward the abolition of slavery for the next four years, without even pretending that it was beyond the constitutional competency of that body to act on the subject. This threatened use of the veto, by a man standing on the very thresh- hold of the executive office, is the most indecent abuse of power of which any American President was ever guilty.” _ After reading the above, no one can say that the Miller delusion exceeds in absurdity the. ferce played off at Buffalo, by which Martin Van Buren 4 TAYLOR PLATFORM. Khe Allison Letter. As much anxiety is felt to see the AL.ison let- ter, in which Gen. Taytor defines his position upon several matters of public intetest to which hie attention has been repeatedly called, we re- publish it. It will be seen that he is explicit upon the points embraced in his letter, and is in favor of the great cardinal principles of the Whig party. Upon the question of harbor and riyer improvement, he believes in carrying out | the wishes of the people as expressed through their representation, and consequently will not as Mr. Pork, has done,interpose the Veto power. nor discriminate between salt and fresh water im- provements: Baron Rover, April 22, 1848. Dear Sir: My opinions have recently been so often misconceived and misrepresented, that I deem it due to myself, if not to my friends, to make a brief exposition of them upon the topics to which you haye called my attention. I have consented to the use of my name as a candidate for the Presidency, I have frankly avowed my own distrust of my fitness for that high station; but having, at the solicitation of ’ many of my countrymen, taken my position as a candidate, I do not feel at liberty to surrender that position until my friends manifest a wish that I should retire from it. I will then most gladly do so. J have no private purposes to accomplish, no party projects to build up, no enemies to punish—nothing to serve but my country. I have been very often addressed by ‘etter, and my opinions have been asked upon almost every question that might occur to the writers as affecting the interests of their country or their party. I have not always responded to these in- quiries, for various reasons. I confess, while I have great cardinal \princi- ples which will regulate my political life, I am not’ sufficiently familiar with all the minute de- tails of political legislations to give selemn pledges to exert my influence, if I were President to carry out this or defeat that, measure... I have. no concealment.. I hold no opinion which I would not readily proclaim to my assembled countrymen; but crude impressions upon matters of policy, which may be right today and wrong tomorrow, are, perhaps, not the best test of fit- ness for Office. One who cannot be trusted with- ont pledges cannot be confided in merely on ac- count of them _ I will proceed however, now to respond to your inquiries. . First—\ reiterate what I have so often said— IT am a Whig, but not an ultra Whig. If elec- ted I would not be the mere President of a party. I would endeavor to act independent of party dom-. ination. I should feel bound to administer the Government untrammelled by party schemes. Second-~The veto power. The power given by the constitution to the Executive, to interpose his veto, is a high conservative power, but in my opinion, should never be exercised except in cases of clear violation of the constitution, or manifest haste and want of consideration by congress. In- | “yt err es io THO? deed, I have thought. that, for. many years past. the known ;opinions and, wishes of the Executive, have exercised undue and injurious influence upon the legislative department of the Government; and for this cause I have thought our system was in danger of undergoing a great change from its true theory. The personal opinions of the indi- vidual who. may happen to occupy the Executive chair, ought not to control the action of Congress upon questions of domestic policy; nor ought his objections to be interposed where questions of constitutional power have been settled by the de- partments of government and acquiesced in by the people. 1) ARI apt Third-—-Upon the subjects of the tariff, the cur- rency, the improvement. of our great highways, rivers, lakes, and harbors, the will of the people, as expressed through their Representatives in Con- gress, ought to be respected and carried out by the iixecutive. “eed att ee Fourth--The Mexican wat. gp) sincerely rejoice at the prospect of peace...‘ My"ffe has been devo- ted to arms, yet I look upon war, at all times and under all circuinstances, as.a arin calamity, to be avoided if compatible with national honor. The principle of our Government as well as its true policy is opposed to the subjugation of other na- tions and the dismemberment of other countries by conquest. . In the language of the great Waashing- ton, ‘*Why should we quit our own to stand on foreign ground?” Inthe Mexican war our na- tional honor has been vindicated, amply vindicated, and in dictating terms of ‘peace, we “may well afford to be forbearing and eyen magnanimous to our fallen foe. ge pete a aes: ca These are my opinions upon the subjects refer- red to by you; and any reports: or ‘publications, written or verbal, from any source, differing in any essential particnlar from what is here written, are unauthorized and untrue. Gere te . I do not know that I shall again write upon the “subject of national politics. I shall ‘engagein no schemes, no. combinations, no intrigues. ‘If the American people have not confidence in me, they ought not to give me their suffrages: If they do not, you know me well enough to believe me when 1 declare I shall be content. I am ‘too old a sol- dier to murmur against so high authority. _ 4 ty Ze TAYLO To Capt. J. S. Arison, * eotts | Ba'ron Rover, (La.,) July 15,1848. * Sin:—I have had the honor to receive your.com- munication of June 10th, announcing ‘that the Whig Convention, which assembled at Philadel- phia onthe 7th.of that*month, and of which you were the presiding officer, has nominated me for the office of President of the United States. Looking to the composition of the Convention, and its numerous and patrotic constituency, I feel deeply grateful for the honor it has bestowed upon me, and for the distinguished confidence implied in my nomination by it to the highest office in the gift of the American people. I cordially accept that nomination, but with a sincere distrust of my fitness to fulfil the duties of an office which demands for its exercise the most exalted ability and patriotism, and which has been rendered illustrious by the greatest names in our history, But should the selection of the Whig a To the Hon. J.M. MorxBERAD, dey oer han + | Convention be confirmed. by the . people, I shall éndeavor to discharge the new duties then devol- ving — me as to meet the just expectations of my fellow citizens, and preserve undiminished the prosperity and reputation of our common country. [ haye the honor to:remain, With the highest respect. Your obedient servant, Z. TAYLOR. Greensboro, Guilford Co., North Carolina. .. MR-FILLMORE’S REPLY. i" Arsany; (N: Y.,) June 17, 1848. §1r:—I have the honor to acknowledge the re- ceipt of your letter of the 10th inst., by which 1 am notified that at the late Whig Convention held at Philadelphia, Gen. Zacnary TayLor was nomi- nated for President; and myse!f for Vice President, and requesting my acceptance. The honor of being thus presented by the dis- tinguished representatives of the Whig party of the Union for thé second office in the gift of the people—an honor as unexpected as it was unsoli- cited—could not fail to awaken in a grateful heart emotions which, while they cannot be suppressed, find no appropriate language for utterance. Fully persuaded that the cause in which we are enlisted is the cause of our country, that our chief object is to secure its peace, preserve its honor, and advance its prosperity; and feeling, moreover, a confident assurance that, in Gen. Taylor, (whose ‘namie isipresented for the first office,) I shall al- ways find a firm and consistent Whig, a safe guide and an honest man, I cannot hesitate to assume “any position which my friends may assign me. Distrustingy as 1 well may, my ability to dis- charge satisfactorily the duties of that high office, but feeling that, in case of my election, | may with safety repose upon the friendly aid of my fellow Whigs, and that efforts guided by honest inten-, tions will always be charitably judged, I accept the “Sjomiination so generously tendered; and [ do this the more cheerfully, as I am willing, for such a ‘eause and with such ‘a man, to take my chances of sucéess or defeat as the electors, the final arbi- ters of our fate, shall in their wisdom, judge best for the interests of our common country. Please accept the assurance of my high regard “and esteem, and permit me to subscribe myself Your friend and fellow citizen, MILLARD FILLMORE. Hon. J. MorEwEAD, . Barnburner Opiniome? Gen. Taylor. At a Barnburner’s State. Convention held at” tica last February, at which John Van Buren was most conspicuous, the following resolution was unanimously adopted. We wish our readers would note the Janguage in which it is clothed : ~ Resolved, That Gen Taylor by his masterly cor- ~respondence, with the War Department, no less than by. his heroic conduct and indomitable cool- nes and courage on the field ofbattle, has shown himself to be, not. only a distinguished military > pehieftain, but,a man of great mental and moral - «power, and. whose life has given evidence of a strong head, an honest heart, and a republican simplicity of character. : it must be done by act of Congress. Hear that noble Statesman and true friend of Liberty, Thomas Corwin, of Ohio : Wasutnaton, 20th July, 1848. Dear Sim :—Your letter of the 14th inst. reach- ed me half an hour ago, and J avail myself of my earliest leisure moment, to reply. I have seen in papers from various parts of the country, contra- dictory conjectures as to the vote of this and that person, and amongst others myself. I have never doubted as to my duty as a voter, since the nomination was made. It is true I did not'wish Gen. Taylor. _I preferred others to him. But a Convention of Whigs was called, express-. ly for the purpose of agreeing upon one of the five or six persons named. I was in favor of that Con- vention, and as it was fairly conducted, I feel bound to sustain its nominee. Had the man been named that 1 wished, and the friends of Gen. Tay- lor had refused to sustain him, I am sure 1 should feel warranted in charging them with bad faith.— I cannot apply one rule to myself, and a diflerent one to others. Had the Convention named a man who was not a Whig, or who was infamous and unworthy, I should feel in that case, absolved from any obligation to support such a man. But Gen. Taylor does not fall within either of these elasses. He is a Whig. He is above suspicion or reproach in his personal character. He has proved himself worthy of every public trust confi. ded to him, and that I think is a reasonable guar- ranty that he will not fail in this. 1 know the non-slaveholding States object to Gen. Taylor, that he lives in a slave State and owns slaves.— Did not Mr, Clay live in a slave State? Was not Mr. Clay aslayeholder? Yet we are proud to vote for him, and I would do more and sacrifice more to place him in the Executive chair than I would for any manin America. And so would thousands of the purest and best men in the free States. Thus, this objection is not insuperable, as we have seen. The non-slaveholding states would ask this question : Will the man proposed, (whether he live in afree or slave State,) use his power for the extension of slavery to territory where it does not now exist? On this point what is Gen. Taylor’s power? No more, I answer, than yours, unless he should exert it through his veto. Willhe do this? I answer, according to his pledges he cannot. He has said in his letter to Captain Allison—‘‘ The personal opinions of the individual who may happen to occupy the Execu- tive chair, ought not to control the action of Con- gress upon questions of domestic policy, nor ought his objections to be interposed where questions of constitutional power have been settled by the va- rious departments of the government, and acqui- esced in by the people.”’ If slavery is extended any where in territories, Is it not a question of ‘* domestic policy ? Clearly it is.— Has it not been settled that Congress has the con- stitational power to prohibit slavery? The Mis- souri compromise, and various other similar exer- tions of Congress, recognized by every department of the government, answer this question in the af- firmative. All know that this has been ‘ acqui- esced in by the people.’? Thus, then, it is clear that the people, if they wish to restrict slavery to its present limits, have only to elect the proper 6 men to Congress, and their will will be law, un- controlled by, that. much abused veto power. In- deed, the doctrine.of Gen. Taylor on the subject of the veto, as laid down in the letter above quo- ted, (intended for publication and therefore to be considered a pledge) is in’ my judgment, of more value as a principle, in our system, than any which have been udyocated by the’ Whigs, since - the revolution. ‘This despotic power, by its use and abuse, has for the last few years, extended its tyranical grasp to every, even the minutest questions of legislation. It has ranged, uncon- trolled, over. our whole system of domestic policy, from the establishment of a Bank, down to the erection of v harbor at the mouth of a creek. Every act of the Congress of a free people, has thus been made to share with the judgment or ca- price of ONE MAN. Such a government is an accurate definition of a’ despotism. It is true, it only continues for four years in one hand, but it is none the less a despotism while it lasts, and if it is to. be longer tolerated, will be continual, the only. change being the transfer of absolute power, from the hands of one petty tyrant to his successor — An honest man, as Gen. Taylor is admitted to be, with such opinions and reasonable intelligence, which even his enemies concede, cannot make a | bad or dangerous President. I have been asked— how can you, who denounced the Mexican war, vote forits hero? My answer is, to me, plain and obvious : Gen. Taylor was an officer of the regu- lararmy, He took his commission wken a youth: He contracted to fight when and where his coun- try called, and to obey the orders of his superiors in command. ‘The President was commander-in- chief. He ordered, Gen: Taylor obeyed. He acted as Scott and hundreds of others did. » It was,| and is the view of their duty, taken by all officers) of the army and navy. It is a very different ques- tion. with volunteers. The government requests— _ it does not, cannot. command—a citizen to volun- teer his services, in a foreign war. The govern- ment can compel the militia ‘* to repel invasion;’’ but it cannot force beyond the United States line, .asingle man, except he is in the regular army.— In a speech, for which I have ever been so much condemned, by men who never read it, I took this distinction. ‘It is too obvious to escape any one, who chooses to think. Tintended to say a word concerning Gen. Cass, but I have not the time, and need not tax'your pa- tience further. I will only add that in myjudgment his views of public policy are more pregnant with danger to the Republic, than those of any promi- nent politician ever yet promulgated in this coun- try—and if carried out, as I fear they would be, should he succeed, would be fatal to the happiness of the people, and end in the total subversion of our present form of free government. His wild schemes of wars, of conquest, and unbounded an- nexation of all neighboring countries, and all sorts of population, are frought with evils, in my judg- ment, quite too obvious to need ‘illustration, to say nothing of the reckless disregard of rights which they imply. That he entertains thes¢ notions sin- cerely (as I ain willing to admit,) only renders him the more dangerous. ‘If he were notin ear- nest. he would only be a demagogue, as might be expected, when such pretences have served the purposes of an election, to change (as he has re- cently on other subjects) his opinions. Between two such men I cannot hesitate. 1 know I differ with good men, and good Whigs, but I must obey my convictions of duty, ‘and cheerfully yield to them ‘the same right.’ “99%! 0 @8-O9nt tows gs Truly Pa ce a sek HO. CORWIN. J. M. Crements, Blooming Grove, la. Gen. Faylor’s First Letter. The following is among the earliest, if not the very first Letter which Gen. Taylor wrote in re- gard to the Presidency. And it contains this dis- . tinct and unequivocal avowal :—‘* lama Whig, and shall ever be devoted, in indwidual opinion, to the principles of that party.’ ‘This declaration is not contradicted, but fully confirmed, in several of his subsequent epistles, and by the current testi- — mony of a hundred living witnesses, Gen. Tay- lor ¢s a Whig, aud devoted to the principles of that party, , OP ag Wm. E. Russetx, to whom the letter is address- ed, is the editor of the New Lisbon (Ohio) Palla- dium, who publishes the letter in his own paper, as follows : ; HerapQuaRTERs, Army OF OccuPATION, Matamoras, July 21, 1246. Dear Sir ;—By yesterday’s mail I received your letter of the 19th June, and have given the subject to which it refers much. serious reflection and consideration. I feel very grateful to you, sir, and to my fellow citizens, who with, you have expressed the very flattering desire. to place my name in nomination for the Presideney ; but it be- comes me sincerely and frankly to acknowledge i you that for that office 1 haye. no aspirations. whatever. Although no politician, having always held myself aloof from the clamor of party politics, [am a Whig, and shall ever be devoted in individ- ual opinion to the,principles of that party. | Even the subject which you have a-your letter opened to me, were acceptable at any: time, I have not the §leisure to attend to it now;. the vigo- rous prosecution of the war with Mexico, so impor- tant to the interests of my country, demands eve- ry moment of my present time, and it is my.great desire to bring it to a speedy and honorable termi- nation. tat 4x4, ta ave With my best wishes for your health. and pros- perity, am sincerely yours. Z. TAYLOR, Wm. E. Russenr, Esq. Maj. Gen’l, U.S. A. John @. Adams for Gen. Taylor. Let the Abolition, Cass and ‘* Free Soil’’ press- es slander the Aieecter ‘of Gen. Taylor as they may, it gives us readers the views and opinions of- such. worthy minds as those of the venerated J. Q. Adams.— The following letter from the Hon. Charles Hud- son, (a man whose character is beyond the reach of suspicion even,) is the third that has appeared from members of Congress intimate with the great departed, in corroboration of the assertion which has been unjustly questioned. How mortified would the Sage of Quincy be, were he here -to witness the conduct of a son who has despised his counsels ! . * aot Wasuineton, July 26, 1848. Sir :—In answer to the inquiry contained in your favor of the 2ist inst., I have the honor to uch pleasure to lay before our © say, that hearing from many of our friends that Hon. John Q. Raaine was infavorof Gen. Tay- lor for the Presidency, I took occasion to introduce the subject of the candidacy in conversation with him, by asking him who the Whigs would run — His answer was Gen. Taylor. I expressed some dissatisfaction at such a nomination, and he re- plied—that he preferred him to any other southern man ; that he believed him to be the only man who could break down this corrupt administration, and close this miserable war; and would do more to curb the spirit of conquest, and check the spread slavery, than any man the Whigs could elect In another conversation with him on this subject, he expressed the same general views, and said that Gen. Taylor asa soldier, was bound to obey the orders of the President, and could not as an hon- orable man, resign his commission in time of war, when his country wanted his services.. These conversations were held with Mr. Adams some time in January, as near as I can recollect. Very respectfully, your ob’t serv’t, : CHARLES HUDSON. Joun W. Proctor, Esq. Gen. Taylor’s character as drawn by Gen. Persifer F. Smith, a leading Democrat of Louisiana. Gen. Taylor’s military exploits are not the cau- ses of his popularity ; they are only the occasions for the display of sound judgment, energy of cha- racter, | nd pure sense of justice, and inncor- ruptible sty. He has as much reputation for what he has written as for what he has done, be- eause even where the composition is not his own, the sentiments, motives and feelings are , and ev- erything he says, as everything he does, is mark- ed by the purity and loftiness of his own character. I have never heard of any one, however corrupt or-base himself, that, aftér five minutes conversa- tion with Gen. Taylor, has dared to propose or even hint at anything dishonest or mean. And no intercourse in the ordinary events of common life can give the true idea of the loftiness of his character. 1 remember you asked me at .the time he was put in command at Corpus Christi, whether he was equal. to the circumstances. I told you of his sound judgment and inexhaustible energy as I had learned them in Florida, but I did not then estimate properly the other high points of hischaracter. Inthe campaign on the Rio Grande, I saw him tried under all circumstances, and he always came out pure gold. .y Gen. Taylor's character as drawn by the celebrated ~ Captain Braga of the US. Arn. The citizens of Mobile, on the 4th of July inst., caused a splendid sword to be presented to Cap- tain Bragg, of the United States Army, as an ex- pression of the high estimate of his gallantry and poos conduct on the bloody field of Buena Vista. he ceremony took place in the theatre, which was crowded with a fair audience. The presenta- tion speech was made by G. F. Lindsay, and in reply thereto Capt. Bragg said : For all the success which has attended me in pana a those duties, [in the battles of Mexico, | have been indebted to the confidence and kind- ness of my commander, and the gallantry and de- yotion of those who served under me. Passing by the incidents of Fort Brown and = of ‘i 4 Monterey, to which you have so eloquently allu- ded, I may be pardoned for saying, in reference to the battle of Buena Vista, that the credit which thas been awarded me for the part performed by -by his troops, an my command on that occasion, has had. its origin in the disinterestedness and generosity of our old chief, who is ever inclined to bestow on others the honor justly due to himself. To Gen. Taylor, and to him alone, belongs all the glory of that achieve- ment. And I but express the universl opinion of those who have served under him, in saying that no other living man could have gained that victo- ry. So great was the confidence reposed in him d no other could have command- ed it, that his presence on any part of the field was sufficient not only to change despair into hope, but to give assurance of victory, and dispel all doubt of of ultimate triumph. Gen. Taylor’s character as drawn by Col. Jefferson” Davis, a Democratic Senator from Mississippi. Col. Jefferson Davis, who, from the connection existing, is not very likely to be influenced by oth- er than true and proper motives, is re presented by the New Orleans papers .as haying used the fol- lowing language concerning Gen. Taylor : After complimenting hs fellow companions from other States, he for a moment dwelt upon the virtues of the old hero who had led them all to victory, and to’ whom they looked up as children to.a parent, Col. Davis said that General ‘Taylor had shown himself the distinguished soldier of the age, yethe was equally remarkable for his kindness of heart and simplicity of his babits, his strong judgment and excellent sense. He alluded to that hour of the battle of Buena Vista, when the day seemed, if not lost, to be going against our arms, when Gen. ‘l'aylor, amidst the thickest of the iron hail, rode upon the plateau, and calmly sur- veyed the scene. Vast as were the consequences of that hour, he appeared to fear no danger, ex- pect no harm. ‘The excitement of the carnage over, the same. soul that could remain unmoved when his friends were falling like leaves around him, who could look unblanched upon the front of the thundering artillery, became the poor sol- diex’s most sympathising friend; and the eye, so stern in battle, was as mild as the tender-hearted matron’s. as drawn by the Hon. U.S. from Del. Senator Foot, of. Gen. Tayior's character John M. Clayton, Senalor of the The Hon. gentleman, (Mr. Mississippi,) als attacks Gon. Taylor on the. ground that he lacks qualifications. In justice, however, to his own noble heart, the Senator ad- mits that Gen. Taylor is a pure, honorable, high- minded, and patriotic man.. But he finds, fault with Gen. Taylor on account of what he suppo- ses to evince a want of great learning. He rea- sons from General Taylor’s confession that he was not a politician, that he is not competent for the Presidency. That is, [ think, his chief objection. The gentleman certainly did also find much fault with one ortwo of Gen. Taylor’s letters. 1 shall not deny that his letters, like those of other great military commanders, written in the hu of acamp, andona barrel, a box, or a drum-head; have not the beauty of finish and the rotundity of period which the gentleman s0 well knows how _ allie =” to give to his own letters. But for strong sense and appropriate language to convey it, no man can excel those of Taylor, in which he found it important to attend to the manner as well as the atter of his composition. We laugh at the sto- ry that Gen. Taylor cannot write his letters.— That from their enemies is a new tribute to their excellence! Gen. Cass is, we admit, a knowing and a learned man; but General Taylor is a wise man. J agree with the poet, that ‘¢‘ Knowledge and wisdom far from being one, Have oft-times no connection. Knowledge dwells In heads replete with thought of other men— Wisdom in minds attentive to their own.’ Gen. Cass has great erudition, and has writien books. But in the essential qualities of wisdom, justice, integrity, humanity. and moral as well as physical courage, Taylor approaches nearer to the character of Washington than any man who has occupied the Presidential chair since hisday. And with regard to the champion of the gentleman from Connecticut, (Mr. Niles,) who has indulged himself ina sly fling at General Taylor, I will give my opinion with equal frankness. Mr. Van Buren is a cunning man, and it has often been ob- served, that no cunning man was ever yet a wise one. Exception is taken to Gen. Taylor’s qualifi- cations, because he has been compelled, in his country’s service, to pay more attention to the cartridge than the ballot box ; and in his letters has modestly expressed his diffidence of his abili- ty to discharge the duties of President of the Uni- ted States. But let me call the attention of the _Senate to what Gen. Washington said of himself in his inaugural address. He says to Congress : ‘‘The magnitude and difficulty of the trust to which the voice of my country called me, being sufficient to awaken in the wisest and most expe- rienced of her citizens a distrustful scrutiny into his qualifications, could not but overwhelm with despondency one, who, in inheriting inferior en- dowments from nature, and unpractised in the du- ties of civil administration, ought to be peculiarly concious of his own deficiencies.’’ Taylor is the man of modern times who has rivalled this admirable modesty, and his friends so far from regarding it as a fault, view it as one of the brightest among the features which adorn his heroic character. General Taylor’s Brevity. Heap Quarters, ARMY or OccupaTion. Near Buena Vista, February 22, 1847. Sir: In reply to your note of this date, summo- ning me to surrender my forces at discretion, I beg leave to say that I decline acceding to your request. With high respect, I am, sir, Your obedient servant, . Z. TAYLOR, Major General U. 8S. Army, commanding. ~Senor Gen. D. Anronto Lopez ne Santa Anna, Commander-in-Chief, La Encantada. ‘the Florida campaigns, displayed the 8 General Taylor’s character as drawn by the Rev. Mr. Lamb, one of his Chaplains. At the conference of the, Congregational and Presbyterian ministers of Hillboro’ county, N. H., assembled on the 14th of June, the Rey. Mr. Lamb, who was formerly a chaplain in the army under Gen. Taylor, at Fort Jessup, said that the opening for him to do good in the army was through Gen. Taylor, and that through the General’s in- fluence a temperance society was formed, by means of which 600 drunkards were reformed ; that the General told him that it was all a sham for a man to pretend that_he could not stand the damps and heats of the South without spirituous liquors. Gen. T. was a total abstinence man; and. the only commanding officer who did not drill his troops on the Sabbath. Mr, Lamb also stated that Gen. 'T. attended his church. regularly, and used no profane language. . Mr. Lamb closed by saying that he was no politician, nordid he wish his remarks to be viewed ina political light ; he mere- ly made them to show the way for doing good by - tracts, by the temperance cause, and by the preach- ed word was opened by Gen. Taylor. General Taylor’s character as drawn by the Rev. Mr. Hart, pastor of the Congregational Charch, North Haven, Conn. ek Tas ee We have seen an officer, whose name was al- most unknown, who at the early age of eighteen tenant of infantry, who, in the war of 1 ind in- ies of heroic daring and soldierly science, which have since been matured to a perfect devolopment, ta~ ~ king the foremost positions among the Captains of this or any ether age. Braye in the hour of dan- ger, humane in the moment of victory, kind and courageous in the various scenes of his warrior-lile, he posseses the qualities which attract the atten- tion and demand the admiration of mankind. Plam~ almost to an excess, in his manners and costume, he still commands the homage and confidence of * his troops. iapressed with the sentiment of his. own invincibility, they never waver in the fiercest” conflicts, and under his guiding genius fresh te-~ ~ cruits bear to the battle field the cool courage and” unawed spirit of veterans. In the battles of Palo” Alto and Resaca de la Palma, along the blazing” lines of Monterey, and amid the bloody and terrific’ scenes of Buena Vista, he still displays the same - fruitfullness of resource and energy in action, which distinguished the great commander. His brilliant victories have been heralded through the land, and the name, .which nineteen months ago- was hardly known and hardly uttered, has been heard on every lip, and uttered with all the famil- iarity of a household word. | . entered the army of the United States ai lieu-