(Ed.'s Note: As is usually the case, Texas history has little to say about the personal lives of important figures in the past. Little is mentioned, for example, that many of the Alamo's defenders were fighting the Mexican government over the right to own slaves and to go back on their pledge of allegiance they voluntarily made to the Mexican flag and its constitution to settle and get free land in Texas. Zachary Taylor came in command of the U.S. Army that invaded South Texas and then took possession of northern Mexico while President James Polk negotiated for half of the Mexican territory. The following is an intriguing personal sketch of Taylor, the hero of Palo Alto, Resaca de la Guerra, Monterrey and Buena Vista before he became president.)
Chapter Title: Zachary Taylor
Chapter Author(s): PAUL FINKELMAN
Book Title: The Presidents and the Constitution
Book Subtitle: A Living History
Book Editor(s): Ken Gormley
Published by: NYU Press
"Zachary Taylor was born in Virginia in 1784, but was raised in rural Kentucky, where his father, a Revolutionary War officer and minor Virginia politician, moved in 1785. Through his mother, Taylor was related to both James Madison and Robert E. Lee.
In addition, before her untimely death, Taylor’s daughter was married to Jefferson Davis.
Thus, early in Taylor’s life, he was also the father-in-law of the president of the future Confederacy. Accordingly, Taylor’s familial connection to the Constitution was to its primary author, to a traitorous general who tried to destroy it, and to the West Point–trained former U.S. officer and former U.S. officer and former senator who led a treasonous rebellion against the Constitution he had sworn to support.
In addition, before her untimely death, Taylor’s daughter was married to Jefferson Davis.
Thus, early in Taylor’s life, he was also the father-in-law of the president of the future Confederacy. Accordingly, Taylor’s familial connection to the Constitution was to its primary author, to a traitorous general who tried to destroy it, and to the West Point–trained former U.S. officer and former U.S. officer and former senator who led a treasonous rebellion against the Constitution he had sworn to support.
Taylor came from a long line of planters, and throughout his life, he accumulated land and slaves. By the time he was elected president, in 1848, Taylor was an enormously wealthy man with sugar plantations in Louisiana and more than 140 slaves. While in the White House, he purchased another plantation with about 90 slaves..."
"Southerners had supported Taylor because they assumed he favored the spread of slavery into the West. As the historian David Potter noted, they 'regarded Taylor as their man,' and 'trusting him as a southerner, they had not even asked him to state his position on the territories.'”
Yet, despite his Southern roots and his status as a slave owner, Taylor thought expanding slavery into the territories was politically counterproductive and economically pointless. Having seen the new territories, he did not believe they were suited to an agrarian economy or slavery.
Taylor believed that the best way to resolve the political crisis over the territories was to avoid creating territorial governments and instead to move swiftly to statehood. He planned to allow the people of the entering states to decide the slavery issue for themselves, without Congress’s interference.
Once California was admitted, he planned to turn to the speedy admission of New Mexico. In this sense, his position mirrored that of the Democrats who were arguing for what would become known as popular sovereignty. However, there was a difference. The Democrats favored territorial organization without resolving (or mentioning) the slavery issue; this approach could allow slavery to take root in the territory at some future time. Taylor rejected this approach.
Mexico had banned slavery some two decades before the war with the United States. Thus, there were virtually no slaves in California or New Mexico. By moving quickly on statehood—and avoiding any territorial government—Taylor hoped to annex both places as free states. To the shock
of Southern politicians, Taylor also made it clear that he would sign a bill banning slavery in the new U.S. territories, if Congress passed such a bill.
Indeed, Taylor seemed prepared to stand up to the most powerful proslavery political leaders.
Southern radicals like Senator John C. Calhoun of South Carolina ranted about the need for a new fugitive-slave law. Unconvinced of its necessity, Taylor refused to consider such a bill until after California and New Mexico were dealt with. He remained adamant, moreover, that he would not allow for an expansion of Texas into what had traditionally been part of New Mexico. This expansion, he believed, was unconstitutional.
After the governor of Texas threatened to invade New Mexico and seize much of the territory, Taylor declared that he would personally sign an order authorizing the U.S. Army commander there to resist
such an incursion with whatever force was necessary.
Thus, President Taylor repeatedly demonstrated his resolve as a leader and his willingness to stand firm in the face of crises and challenges—even when his positions did not suit his own party."
Taylor believed that the best way to resolve the political crisis over the territories was to avoid creating territorial governments and instead to move swiftly to statehood. He planned to allow the people of the entering states to decide the slavery issue for themselves, without Congress’s interference.
Once California was admitted, he planned to turn to the speedy admission of New Mexico. In this sense, his position mirrored that of the Democrats who were arguing for what would become known as popular sovereignty. However, there was a difference. The Democrats favored territorial organization without resolving (or mentioning) the slavery issue; this approach could allow slavery to take root in the territory at some future time. Taylor rejected this approach.
Mexico had banned slavery some two decades before the war with the United States. Thus, there were virtually no slaves in California or New Mexico. By moving quickly on statehood—and avoiding any territorial government—Taylor hoped to annex both places as free states. To the shock
of Southern politicians, Taylor also made it clear that he would sign a bill banning slavery in the new U.S. territories, if Congress passed such a bill.
Indeed, Taylor seemed prepared to stand up to the most powerful proslavery political leaders.
Southern radicals like Senator John C. Calhoun of South Carolina ranted about the need for a new fugitive-slave law. Unconvinced of its necessity, Taylor refused to consider such a bill until after California and New Mexico were dealt with. He remained adamant, moreover, that he would not allow for an expansion of Texas into what had traditionally been part of New Mexico. This expansion, he believed, was unconstitutional.
After the governor of Texas threatened to invade New Mexico and seize much of the territory, Taylor declared that he would personally sign an order authorizing the U.S. Army commander there to resist
such an incursion with whatever force was necessary.
Thus, President Taylor repeatedly demonstrated his resolve as a leader and his willingness to stand firm in the face of crises and challenges—even when his positions did not suit his own party."
1 comment:
According to news reports, the moms in Portland showed up at a protest on Saturday where they linked arms to try to stop violence between federal agents and protesters
If local moms would do that here the first thy'd do is TAMALES and than everything would be fine THANKS MOM...
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