Property of
MISS FRANCES H. JONES
TAYLOR, ZACHARY, President. Autograph letter signed ("Z. Taylor") to Dr. A.P. Merrill in Natchez, Mississippi; "Camp near Monterey, Mexico," 20 June 1847. 4 pages, 4to, 248 x 200 mm. (9 3/4 x 7 7/8 in.), address leaf (separated, seal hole) present, with handstamp "Brazos July 1," and "10," fraying at one edge affecting a few letters in about six lines text, quarter red morocco protective slipcase.
Details
TAYLOR, ZACHARY, President. Autograph letter signed ("Z. Taylor") to Dr. A.P. Merrill in Natchez, Mississippi; "Camp near Monterey, Mexico," 20 June 1847. 4 pages, 4to, 248 x 200 mm. (9 3/4 x 7 7/8 in.), address leaf (separated, seal hole) present, with handstamp "Brazos July 1," and "10," fraying at one edge affecting a few letters in about six lines text, quarter red morocco protective slipcase.
"AS REGARDS MY BEING A CANDIDATE FOR THE PRESIDENCY, I CAN SAY IN ALL SINCERITY I HAVE NO ASPIRATIONS FOR THAT OFFICE...I AM NO POLITICIAN..."
Only ten days after he was nominated for President by the Whig Party Convention, "Old Rough and Ready," a national hero since his victory over Santa Anna at Buena Vista in February, candidly discusses his views of the office and his qualifications. "Your highly esteemed letter...has just reached me & I can assure you it was highly gratifying to find I had not been forgotten by one with whom I had been associated...in the same camp & profession for some time....I frequently look back to the time...[when] we were stationed together at the Bay of Saint Louis...." Taylor thanks Merrill for "congratulations at the success of arms, in which in common with others, I have been a humble actor," and for "the interest you take in my reaching the first office of the country...."
"As regards my being a candidate for the Presidency, I can say in all sincerity I have no aspirations for that office. Independent of want of inclination, I much fear that I do not possess the necessary qualifications for the office. I am no politician, near forty years of my life have been passed in the military service of the country, nearly the whole of which has been in the camp, the field on our western frontier or in the Indian country, I may say constantly engaged in my official duties & of course [I] have had but little time to attend to or investigate political matters or subjects. Besides, if I ever consider I am to be mixed up with the subject, I consider the time by no means an appropriate one for agitating the same, & regret it had not been deferred until after the close of this War. Or at any rate until after the adjournment of the next session of Congress. As my being a prominent candidate for an office which is so eagerly sought & coveted by so many, may possibly have the effect of injuring the public service as far as I am concerned in carrying on this War; my operations against the enemy may be embarassed....Besides very many changes may take place between this & November 1848...so as to make it desirable for the interest of the country that some other individual better qualified than I am should be selected for that station, and could be elected. I will not say I would yield my pretentions...but would with great pleasure not only acquiesce in such an arrangement, but would rejoice that...one citizen more worthy than myself...& no doubt there are thousands, had been elevated to that high station.
"If I am a candidate for the Presidency, it has been brought about by no act of mine...& if those...who have brought me forward for that position should succeed in electing me, I will feel bound to serve them & will do so honestly & faithfully to the best of my abilities in conformity to the Constitution....If I ever occupy the White House, it must be by the spontaneous move of the people, & by no agency of mine in the matter...so that I may be President of the nation & not of a party...."
Taylor goes on to report on military affairs with Mexico, his hope for reinforcements, his hope to attack San Luis Potosi and speculating that Winfield Scott's army, from whom he has not heard, may be in Mexico City: "whether peace will result from our taking possession of that place, time must determine, but I hope for the best...."
Taylor, still with the army in Mexico, was the clear frontrunner when the Whig party convened in Philadelphia on 9 June, and won the nomination over Henry Clay, Winfield Scott and Daniel Webster. After the convention, Taylor was formally notified of his nomination by a letter sent postage due. As he had received a considerable volume of such mail from admirers, Taylor notified the local postmaster that he would only accept post-paid mail. Taylor was unaware of his nomination for weeks until the President of the convention sent a second, prepaid notice.
"AS REGARDS MY BEING A CANDIDATE FOR THE PRESIDENCY, I CAN SAY IN ALL SINCERITY I HAVE NO ASPIRATIONS FOR THAT OFFICE...I AM NO POLITICIAN..."
Only ten days after he was nominated for President by the Whig Party Convention, "Old Rough and Ready," a national hero since his victory over Santa Anna at Buena Vista in February, candidly discusses his views of the office and his qualifications. "Your highly esteemed letter...has just reached me & I can assure you it was highly gratifying to find I had not been forgotten by one with whom I had been associated...in the same camp & profession for some time....I frequently look back to the time...[when] we were stationed together at the Bay of Saint Louis...." Taylor thanks Merrill for "congratulations at the success of arms, in which in common with others, I have been a humble actor," and for "the interest you take in my reaching the first office of the country...."
"As regards my being a candidate for the Presidency, I can say in all sincerity I have no aspirations for that office. Independent of want of inclination, I much fear that I do not possess the necessary qualifications for the office. I am no politician, near forty years of my life have been passed in the military service of the country, nearly the whole of which has been in the camp, the field on our western frontier or in the Indian country, I may say constantly engaged in my official duties & of course [I] have had but little time to attend to or investigate political matters or subjects. Besides, if I ever consider I am to be mixed up with the subject, I consider the time by no means an appropriate one for agitating the same, & regret it had not been deferred until after the close of this War. Or at any rate until after the adjournment of the next session of Congress. As my being a prominent candidate for an office which is so eagerly sought & coveted by so many, may possibly have the effect of injuring the public service as far as I am concerned in carrying on this War; my operations against the enemy may be embarassed....Besides very many changes may take place between this & November 1848...so as to make it desirable for the interest of the country that some other individual better qualified than I am should be selected for that station, and could be elected. I will not say I would yield my pretentions...but would with great pleasure not only acquiesce in such an arrangement, but would rejoice that...one citizen more worthy than myself...& no doubt there are thousands, had been elevated to that high station.
"If I am a candidate for the Presidency, it has been brought about by no act of mine...& if those...who have brought me forward for that position should succeed in electing me, I will feel bound to serve them & will do so honestly & faithfully to the best of my abilities in conformity to the Constitution....If I ever occupy the White House, it must be by the spontaneous move of the people, & by no agency of mine in the matter...so that I may be President of the nation & not of a party...."
Taylor goes on to report on military affairs with Mexico, his hope for reinforcements, his hope to attack San Luis Potosi and speculating that Winfield Scott's army, from whom he has not heard, may be in Mexico City: "whether peace will result from our taking possession of that place, time must determine, but I hope for the best...."
Taylor, still with the army in Mexico, was the clear frontrunner when the Whig party convened in Philadelphia on 9 June, and won the nomination over Henry Clay, Winfield Scott and Daniel Webster. After the convention, Taylor was formally notified of his nomination by a letter sent postage due. As he had received a considerable volume of such mail from admirers, Taylor notified the local postmaster that he would only accept post-paid mail. Taylor was unaware of his nomination for weeks until the President of the convention sent a second, prepaid notice.