“Old Rough and Ready”: Zachary Taylor and the Presidential Campaign of 1848

Old Rough and Ready: Zachary Taylor and the Presidential Election of 1848

The story of the 1848 presidential campaign between Zachary Taylor, the unofficial nominee of the Whig party, and Lewis Cass, the Democratic nominee, is an interesting one to tell. Zachary Taylor had served the American military in campaigns within the War of 1812, the Seminole War of the 1830s, and the Mexican War of 1846-1848.[1] To some, Taylor was comparable to the great George Washington. When describing him, a spectator called Taylor a man “who reconciles the lofty merits of the hero with the simple virtues of a true republican.” Washington was a farmer and yet he answered his call to serve his nation through military combat. When the war was completed, even though he was asked to serve as a ruler to the new nation, he humbly refused and then returned to work on his farm. Many saw Taylor in that same light. In fact, “[f]or forty years he had been in active military service mainly on the frontier and had given little time to political matters.”[2] One thing that added some, not a lot but some, prestige to the Taylor candidacy was that he was related to former President James Madison.[3] However, Taylor had not been nationally known for an extended amount of time. It is believed that “[n]o other president, before or since…rose as rapidly as Zachary Taylor from obscurity to the White House.”[4] It was primarily because of Taylor’s victories in the Mexican War, including the Battles of Palo Alto, Resaca de la Palma, Monterey, and finally Buena Vista that galvanized popular talk of him becoming president.[5] Initially, he rejected the idea of becoming a president, but eventually, having already been compared to Washington, he succumbed to Washington’s line of thinking and yet again answered his nation’s call to service, this time political rather than military.[6] He promptly declared himself to not being associated with any party in particular.[7] Although he appealed more to Whigs than to Democrats, there was “fanatical opposition of the conscience Whigs of New England who objected to a Southern slaveholder.”[8] Eventually he accepted the nomination of the Whig party.

Zachary Taylor’s previous military campaigns were the basis for his eventual victory in the election. Taylor had served during the War of 1812, particularly in the defense of Fort Harrison on 4 September, 1812.[9] Also, Taylor was involved in the Battle of Okeechobee during the Seminole War on 25 December, 1837.[10] But particular in this election, Taylor was most notable for his service as a general in the Mexican War. A supporter promoted Taylor so much that he claimed that during the Mexican War, Taylor wished to end the war “glorying to forego the honors of war for the lovelier graces of peace.”[11] This would have appealed to those who protested President James Knox Polk’s entry of America into a controversial war. It is observed that “[t]he military theme was so pervasive that it even dominated most of the few Taylor items that also carried political content.”[12]Nearly all of the memorabilia, especially campaign buttons, promoting the Zachary Taylor candidacy emphasized his military successes.[13] His military exploits were promoted even in a song called “The Storming of Monterey.”[14] There were many “small daguerreotypes issued for the prominent political hopefuls of 1848 are undoubtedly the earliest photographic political campaign items.”[15] There is a famous poster that depicts Taylor riding peacefully surrounded by his military victories in the Mexican War.[16]

Zachary Taylor’s personal views on issues were less significant in garnering his election than his military exploits did. Taylor had supported the Bank of the United States and he opposed President Jackson’s vicious battle against it.[17] He also opposed secession as a way to answer the question of slavery.[18] Taylor was said to oppose the spread of slavery in the new territories.[19] To explain this, “while he owned slaves, he thought it impractical to talk about expanding slavery into western lands where neither cotton nor sugar could easily be grown in a plantation economy.”[20] And Taylor said that he “would exercise the veto on any bill containing the provisions of the Wilmot Proviso.”[21] But Taylor’s personal views were greatly overshadowed by his military feats in the Mexican War.

Bibliography

Primary Sources

"A Brief Review of the Career, Character & Campaigns of Zachary Taylor." Internet Archive. Accessed April 16, 2015. https://archive.org/stream/briefreviewofcareer00wash#page/16/mode/2up.

"Arguments in Favor of the Support of Taylor and Fillmore.” Internet Archive. Accessed April 15, 2015. https://archive.org/details/argumentsinfavor01smit.

Fischer, Roger A. Tippecanoe and Trinkets Too: The Material Culture of American Presidential Campaigns, 1828-1984. Chicago: University of Illinois Press, 1988.

"History Engine: Tools for Collaborative Education and Research | Episodes." History Engine: Tools for Collaborative Education and Research | Episodes. Accessed April 23, 2015. http://historyengine.richmond.edu/episodes/view/4457.

Strakosch, Maurice, and William Hall. "Notated Music Storming of Monterey." Storming of Monterey. 1848. Accessed April 23, 2015. http://www.loc.gov/item/sm1848.090520/.

Secondary Sources

"American President: A Reference Resource." Miller Center. 2015. Accessed April 13, 2015.

Dyer, Brainerd. “Zachary Taylor and the Election of 1848.” Pacific Historical Review 9:2 (June 1940): 173-182.

"Picture History : Zachary Taylor Campaign Poster, 1848 Election." Picture History : Zachary Taylor Campaign Poster, 1848 Election. Accessed April 21, 2015. http://www.picturehistory.com/product/id/28766.

"Rare Political Zachary Taylor Daguerreotype from the 1848 | Lot #25743 | Heritage Auctions." Heritage Auctions. Accessed April 18, 2015. http://historical.ha.com/itm/photography/daguerreotypes/rare-political-zachary-taylor- daguerreotype-from-the-1848-election-campaign-these-small-daguerreotypes-issued-for- the-prom/a/659-25743.s#Photo.

"Zachary Taylor 1848 Presidential Campaign Buttons. A Group of | Lot #25746 | Heritage Auctions." Heritage Auctions. Accessed April 16, 2015. http://historical.ha.com/itm/political/small-miscellaneous-pre-1896-/zachary-taylor-1848- presidential-campaign-buttons-a-group-of-nine-buttons-from-the-1848-zachary-taylor- and-lewis-cass-presi-total-9-/a/659-25746.s#Photo.

“Old Rough and Ready”: Zachary Taylor and the Presidential Campaign of 1848

Sunday, April 26, 2015

Zachary Taylor's Campaign