aim, the Gardiner claim, and many others.
From the Galphin claim Mr. Crawford, Secretary of War, received as
his share one hundred and fifteen thousand dollars. The lawyers
in Congress declared that the Secretary acted professionally, but
others censured him severely. Judge Cartter, then a Representative
from Ohio, was severe in his comments on the monstrous corruption
of the allowance of interest, the payment of which he said that he
disliked "both as an exaction of the part of the capitalists, and
on account of its origin with the Jews, who killed the Saviour."
President Taylor, although a Southerner by birth and a slave-owner,
took prompt steps to thwart the schemes of Mr. Calhoun and his
fellow-conspirators. Military officers were ordered to California,
Utah, and New Mexico, which had no governments but lynch law; and
the people of the last-named province, which had been settled two
hundred years before Texas asserted her independence, were assured
that her domain would be guaranteed by the United States against
the claim of the Lone Star State.
Socially, President Taylor enjoyed himself, and he used to take
morning walks through the streets of Washington, wearing a high
black silk hat perched on the back of his head, and a suit of black
broadcloth, much too large for him, but made in obedience to his
orders, that he might be comfortable. Mrs. Taylor used to sit
patiently all day in her room, plying her knitting-needles, and
occasionally, it was said, smoking her pipe. Mrs. Bliss was an
excellent housekeeper, and the introduction of gas into the Executive
Mansion, with new furniture and carpets, enabled her to give it a
more creditable appearance. It was said that she did the honors
of the establishment "with the artlessness of a rustic belle and
the grace of a duchess."
General Taylor found it difficult to accustom himself to the
etiquette and the restraint of his new position. One day when the
bachelor ex-Secretary of State called with a number of fair
Pennsylvania friends to present them to the President, General
Taylor remarked: "Ah! Mr. Buchanan, you always pick out the
prettiest ladies!" "Why, Mr. President," was the courtly reply,
"I know that your taste and mine agree in this respect." "Yes,"
said General Taylor, "but I have been so long among Indians and
Mexicans that I hardly know how to behave myself, surrounded by so
many lovely women."
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ZTaylor
ZACHARY TAYLOR was born
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