.jpg?w=1)
Details
TAYLOR, Zachary (1784-1850), 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 six lines text, quarter red morocco protective slipcase.
COMPLETELY UNAWARE HE HAS BEEN NAMED THE WHIG PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE, TAYLOR INSISTS "I AM NO POLITICIAN" AND EXPRESSES A WISH TO BE "PRESIDENT OF THE NATION AND NOT OF A PARTY"
A very lengthy and revealing letter. Ironically, Taylor had been nominated by the Whig Party for President ten days before, but remained, at this date, blissfully unaware of the fact (due to his refusal to accept postage due mail!). "Old Rough and Ready," a national hero since his victories at Monterey and over Santa Anna at Buena Vista, candidly discusses his views of the presidency and his own qualifications for it. "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...." He adds that this is "as far as I contemplate going...defining my position on political matters & those who are not satisfied on said subject can support someone else, as there will be, I apprehend, no lack of candidates to select from...." He thanks Merrill for "the interest you take in my reaching the first office of the country" report on military matters, and a plan to attack San Luis Potosi, then speculates that Winfield Scott's army may already be in Mexico City, but "whether peace will result from our taking possession of that place, time must determine...."
Taylor, still in Mexico, had won the Presidential 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 was receiving a considerable volume of mail from admirers, Taylor had instructed the local postmaster that he would only accept post-paid mail. As a result, Taylor was unaware of his nomination for weeks, until the President of the convention sent him a second, prepaid notice.
COMPLETELY UNAWARE HE HAS BEEN NAMED THE WHIG PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE, TAYLOR INSISTS "I AM NO POLITICIAN" AND EXPRESSES A WISH TO BE "PRESIDENT OF THE NATION AND NOT OF A PARTY"
A very lengthy and revealing letter. Ironically, Taylor had been nominated by the Whig Party for President ten days before, but remained, at this date, blissfully unaware of the fact (due to his refusal to accept postage due mail!). "Old Rough and Ready," a national hero since his victories at Monterey and over Santa Anna at Buena Vista, candidly discusses his views of the presidency and his own qualifications for it. "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...." He adds that this is "as far as I contemplate going...defining my position on political matters & those who are not satisfied on said subject can support someone else, as there will be, I apprehend, no lack of candidates to select from...." He thanks Merrill for "the interest you take in my reaching the first office of the country" report on military matters, and a plan to attack San Luis Potosi, then speculates that Winfield Scott's army may already be in Mexico City, but "whether peace will result from our taking possession of that place, time must determine...."
Taylor, still in Mexico, had won the Presidential 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 was receiving a considerable volume of mail from admirers, Taylor had instructed the local postmaster that he would only accept post-paid mail. As a result, Taylor was unaware of his nomination for weeks, until the President of the convention sent him a second, prepaid notice.