Beschreibung:

TAYLOR, Zachary. Autograph letter signed ("Z.T") to Dr. Robert C. Wood, "Camp near Monterey Mexico," 3 August 1847. 4 1/8 pages, 4to, wear to folds on separate leaf slightly affects signature, may be missing one leaf of text, otherwise in fine condition. TAYLOR VOWS THAT, IF ELECTED, HE WILL SERVE "HONESTLY AND FAITHFULLY TO THE BEST OF MY ABILITIES IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE PROVISIONS OF THE CONSTITUTION" A lengthy, very revealing letter from the Mexican front to Taylor's son-in-law, surgeon Robert Crooke Wood. Taylor had won a brilliant victory on the battlefield of Buena Vista six months before and had already been sought by both Whig and Democratic Parties as a potential Presidential candidate for the 1848 race. The General, writing to a family member, is revealingly reluctant to enter the political arena: "On the subject of the presidency I have never mentioned the matter or alluded to it, to Mrs. Taylor, nor to any of my family but yourself & although Mrs Taylor has never mentioned or alluded to the subject or Betty or Dick. Yet I am satisfied the first would prefer my having nothing to do in the matter; & she cannot possibly dislike the idea more than I do." Taylor, concedes, though, that he will accept the Presidential nomination if the people want him: "if the good people think proper to elevate me to that high office, I will serve them more as a matter of duty than of inclination & will do so honestly & faithfully to the best of my abilities in accordance with the provisions of the Constitution." Still, Taylor confesses strong (and sensible) reservations: "There are very many objections owing to the salary altho, it appears to be a large one yet hardly an incumbent leaves that office with[out] being... bankrupt; & the necessary expenses of which are daily increasing attending said office. Besides the appointing power to me would be very unpleasant. Every applicant for an office, if he did not succeed in getting it would be my enemy the balance of his life; if I could make all rich & happy I would not have so much objection to serving." The General also notes concerns about the nature of the campaign: "I expect...to have my public & private character assailed in the most violent manner from one end of the Union to the other through many of the public journanals [ sic ], & in many other ways, by the aspirants for said office, & their unprincipled advocates & creatures, all of which I must bear with, without complaining & without wincing under it. The election I apprehend will be among the most bitter. I expect everything I write or say to be distorted & misrepresented to suit the views of particular interest views & wishes of particular parties." Taylor comments on the recent promotion of Jefferson Davis: "I hardly expected Col. Davis would accept the Brigr. Genls. appointment. I very much doubt if his wound would justify his taking the field now or for some time." He also acknowledges the diplomatic mission of Nicholas Trist (1800-1874), "sent out by the President of the U. States with ample powers" to conclude a peace, "had reached Genl. Scotts column... & I had succeeded in opening communications with the Mexican authority on the subject of his mission; we have not heard the result of the same, but something like negotiations may be going on..." Trist began talks with the Santa Anna shortly after Scott's Army entered Mexico City on September 14, 1847. By February of 1848, he had concluded the details of the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo which ended the war.