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allowing the foreigner to avail himself of the advantage of the low duties At this session also was passed the act for reëstablishing the subtreasury, which had been repealed in 1842. In pursuance of a recommendation by the president in his annual message, a bill was reported early in the session, by the committee of ways and means. It passed the house April 2d, by a vote of 123 to 67. It passed the senate, August 1st, by a strict party vote, 28 to 24.

One of the principal provisions of this law, and that which, perhaps, was decmed most objectionable, and which was by some considered impracticable, was that which required all receivers and disbursers of the public revenue, including all postmasters, to collect and pay out specie only. The opponents of the measure apprehended that the employment of so large a portion of the specie of the country in the payment of duties and other financial transactions, would have an unfavorable effect upon the currency, and embarrass commercial operations generally. The expensiveness of the system was also urged as an objection.

an objection. The cost of the necessary rooms, vaults, safes, &c., in the different places where the revenue is collected, and the compensation of the numerous treasurers, assistants, and clerks, might all be saved by the employment of banks to receive, keep, and pay out the public moneys. How faithfully the provisions of the law have been carried out, we have before us no data from which the fact can be determined. So far, however, as it applies to postmasters, its provisions are but little, if at all observed.

CHAPTER LXX.

PRESIDENTIAL CAMPAIGN OF 1848. -ELECTION OF GEN. TAYLOR.

As early as the summer of 1846, soon after the early and successful battles in the Mexican war, and before the presidential question bad been much agitated, the name of Gen. Taylor began to be mentioned in connection with the presidency of 1848. At an early period of the next year, formal nominations of the general at public meetings had already become frequent. Several letters addressed him on the subject, with his replies, had appeared in the papers; and long before the close of the year, he was prominently before the people as a candidate. Although he was said to be a whig, he had in all his letters disclaimed party attachments and party preferences, and had scrupulously refrained from any declaration of his political opinions.

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Many of the old and firm friends of Mr. Clay were reluctant to abandon their long-tried candidate. Others, though they had no personal objection to Mr. Clay, doubting his availability, were for dropping him for "some man,” to use the language of a prominent whig editor"whose name had not been for years the watch-word of party divisions ; who commands, by his character and his acts, the respect and admiration of the whole country, and whom all men and all parties can support, without giving the lie to their past conduct. If there is any such man in this country at present, it is Gen. Taylor.”

It soon became apparent, however, that he could not obtain the unanimous support of the whig party. He was a slaveholder, and it was presumed that he was in favor of the extension of slavery, or at least that his influence would not be exerted against it. The acquisition of an extensive territory from Mexico was then in prospect; and a large portion of the whig party, being committed to the Wilmot proviso, were opposed to the election of any man for president who was not known to be in favor of applying that proviso to the territories of the United States. Another objection to Gen. Taylor was, that he was not a professed whig. Indeed he disavowed having any connection with, or affinity for any political party; and declared the purpose of being elected, if at all, as a no-party candidate. In reply to a letter from a committee of a democratic meeting in Tennessee, which had solicited an expression of his views in relation to the principles of that party, he refused to make any declaration of his sentiments, saying, that, even if disposed to do so, he could not spare the time from his official duties for such an investigation of political subjects as would enable him to make a reply satisfactory to himself or to the committee. He had been for nearly forty years in the military service, most of the time in the field, in the camp, or on the western frontier-situations unfavorable to investigation-and during which period he had not even voted for a chief magistrate or any other public officer ; having been during the greater part of the time beyond the limits of the states. If elected—which would be done without any agency of his own-he would serve the people honestly and faithfully, and in conformity to the provisions of the constitution, according to the construction and practice of the early presidents, two of whom (Wash ington and Madison) had participated in creating it and putting it into operation.

In a letter to Dr. Bronson, of South Carolina, he said: "If I were called to the presidential chair by the general voice of the people, without regard to their political differences, I should deem it to be my duty to accept the office.” But he said " he could not submit to the exaction of any other piedge as to the course he should pursue, than that of dis

charging the functions of the office to the best of his ability, and in accordance with the requirements of the constitution." In this letter he went so far as to say, that though he had never exercised the privilege of voting, had he been called upon at the last presidential election to do 80, he should most certainly have cast his vote for Mr. Clay.

Probably no other candidate for the presidency ever wrote so many letters relating to his nomination and election; and in all his correspondence he maintained the position first assumed, that he would not be the candidate of any party;" that “if he ever filled that high office, it must be untrammeled with party obligations;" that he would be the chief magistrate of the nation, and not of a party;" that he “could not in any case permit himself to be brought before the people exclusively by any of the political parties, that now so unfortunately divided the country.” He had no objection to being nominated by meetings or conventions, whether designated as whig, democratic, or native; but he “must insist on the condition—and his position on this point was immutable—that he should not be brought forward as the candidate of any party, or considered as the exponent of its party doctrines.” Again : if elected, he would “look to the constitution, and the high interests of our common country, and not to the principles of a party, for his rules of action;" and "if the whig party desired at the next presidential election to east their votes for him, they must do it on their own responsibility, and without any pledges from him.” And again, he said: “If nominated by the whig national convention, I shall not refuse acceptance, provided I am left free of all pledges, and permitted to maintain the position of independence of all parties, in which the people and my own sense of duty, have placed me : otherwise I shall refuse the nomination of any convention or party." And he said farther, that he did not intend to withdraw his name, though Mr. Clay should be the nominee of the national convention, or whoever might be nominated by the national convention of either party.

These repeated declarations of Gen. Taylor, that he would not be the candidate of the whig party, as a party, or assume any party obligation, were considered by a large portion of the whig party, as an insuperable objection to his receiving a nomination. A man “who would not be the exponent of whig doctrines," ought not to receive the nomination of the whig convention.

The democratic national convention met at Baltimore on the 22d of May, 1848. The president of the convention was Andrew Stevenson, of Virginia. The two-thirds rule, as in former late conventions, was adopted. The harmony of the convention was much disturbed by the conflicting claims of two sets of delegates from the state of New York, designated

“Hunkers" and "Barnburners," each claiming to be the regular delegates. Members of each delegation were allowed to advocate their respective claims. On the 4th day of the session, by a vote of 133 to 118, both delegations were admitted to seats in the convention, with power jointly to cast the vote of the state. Mr. Daniel S. Dickinson, of the Hunker delegation, made a formal protest against the admission of both delegations, as calculated to satisfy neither party. Mr. Cambreleng, of the other party, asked leave for the Barnburner delegation to retire, which was granted. The next day, the latter delegation having left, Mr. James C. Smith, one of their number, presented a protest against the action of the convention; and the delegation declined taking seats with the others, the former alone being entitled to them. Mr. Dickinson, in behalf of the Hunkers, said they could not vote in the convention, consistently with dignity and propriety. So neither delegation took part in the nominations.

Gen. Cass, on the first ballot, received 125 votes, being just one-half of the whole number cast; on the second ballot he received 153, being a large majority; and on the 4th ballot, 179; Mr. Woodbury, 38; Mr. Buchanan, 33; and Gen. Worth, 3. Having a majority of two-thirds, Gen. Cass was declared nominated. For candidate for vice-president, Gen. William 0. Butler, of Kentucky, received the unanimous vote of the convention, except New York, which did not vote.

The whig national convention met at Philadelphia on the 7th of June. John C. Morehead, of North Carolina, was chosen president of the convention. Disturbed, and even tumultuous as the democratic convention was said to have been, it was probably no more so than its whig rival. From the well known fact that the mass of the whig party was in favor of the Wilmot proviso, and from the dissatisfaction which prevailed, at the unwillingness of Gen. Taylor to commit himself to whig principles, as well as from the belief that a majority of the delegates elect were in favor of Mr. Clay, his nomination was regarded as almost certain. On the second day, a secret session was held ; after which, the ballotings commenced. Gen. Taylor received on the first ballot 111 votes; Mr. Clay, 97; Mr. Webster, 21; Gen. Scott, 46; John M'Lean, 2. another unsuccessful attempt, farther ballotting was deferred till the next day. A proposition made by the Ohio delegation, to exclude all candidates for nomination who were not openly avowed whigs, was, after a warm debate, ruled out of order. The Louisiana delegation stated,

, professedly by authority of Gen. Taylor himself, that he was in the hands of his friends, who were at liberty to withdraw his name if they thought proper, though he did not consider it proper to do so himself. He also con. sidered it the duty of his friends to abide the decision of the convention.

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The balloting was resumed the next day (June 9th,) Gen. Taylor receiving 133 votes ; Mr. Clay, 74; Gen. Scott, 53; Mr. Webster, 16; John M. Clayton, 1. The second ballot of that day, resulted in a choice; Gen. Taylor having 171 votes; Mr. Clay, 30; Gen. Scott, 63 ; Mr. Webster, 12.

The state of feeling which prevailed in the convention is exhibited in a report of a part of the proceedings, made by the delegate from the 8th district of New York, Isaac Platt, who vouches for its accuracy:

After the organization, resolutions having been offered proposing to commence voting for candidates, Mr. Campbell, of Ohio, moved to amend the resolutions by adding, that, to entitle a candidate to a nomination, he must have given “ assurances that he would abide by, and support the nomination ; that he would accept it; that he would consider himself the candidate of the whigs; and that he would use his influence to bring into practical operation the principles and measures of the whig party.” An angry excitement, great confusion, and numerous calls to order, followed; and the president declared the resolution out of order, from which decision Mr. C. appealed, and the question of appeal was debated by himself and others.

Mr. Fuller, of New York, having succeeded in getting the floor, offered the following resolution, which had been drawn up by Mr. Platt:

"Resolved, That, as the first duty of the representatives of the whig party is to preserve the principles and integrity of that party, the claims of no candidate for nomination can be considered by this convention, anless such candidate stands pledged to support, in good faith, the vominees, and to be the exponent of whig principles."

This resolution was said to have been followed by a greater excite rent than the first. Several of the Taylor men, it was said, “ becainc aearly furious, while their opponents insisted that it contained nothing jo wbich any whigs should object." This resolution also was declared nut of order. An appeal was made, and, amidst great confusion and exitement, laid on the table.

Mr. Allen, of Massachusetts, after the nomination, expressed the opinion, that, by this nomination, the whig party had been that day dissolved; still, he would make one more effort to apply the proper party test, and presented a resolution, a part of which only was read, and the reception of which was said to be correctly reported, as follows:

“Resolved, That the whig party, through its representatives here, igrees to abide by the nomination of Gen. Zachary Taylor, [cheers,) on sondition that he will accept the nomination of the whig party, and adhere to its great fundamental principles : No extension of slave terrizory by conquest (hisses and cheers, cries of order, sit down, hear him,]