Zachary Taylor's Visit to Oswego and Syracuse
Syracuse Star
Wednesday, September 5, 1849
The President. - By the last accounts from Niagara, we learn that the President is at the Eagle Hotel, and daily improving. What will add, probably to his more speedy restoration, is the presence of his wife and daughter, tom, if we may be permitted to say so, should not have left behind him on any account. There is nothing like the presence of women by the sick couch. It often dispels disease and makes the sufferer well. May it be so with his EXCELLENCY.
Syracuse Star
Thursday, September 6, 1849
The President.
It is thought to be the present intention of the President, if his health will permit, to leave the Falls for Buffalo today, and dine there, to stay at Batavia on Friday, visit Rochester and remain there over Sunday, and come to this city on Monday. The Buffalo Courier, in speaking of his visit there says:
“He will ride through the principal streets, dine at the Phelps House, and afterwards exhibit himself upon the balcony.”
Such language as this in reference to the President we are sorry to see. Every man in the country, of whatever party, is bound to respect her Chief Magistrate, and at least treat him with common respect. To hold him up to ridicule in any way is a breach of decorum to say the least, and will find no favor, among those who are taught to respect “authorities,” and we regret it the more, when we see such see such things emanating from such so respectable a press as the Courier.
Oswego Commercial Times
Friday, September 7, 1849
The President.
____
The President arrived in this city by the Steamer Bay State, Capt. Van Cleve, at 4 o’clock on Thursday morning, September 6th, in company with the Oswego Committee, who waited upon him at the Falls on Wednesday. The President appeared on the deck of the Bay State, at about 5 o’clock, and left the Steamer about half an hour after, and took an open carriage, in which he passed through a number of the business streets of the city to the Railroad Depot, and left in the for the East at half past 6 o’clock.
On a telegraphic notice of his coming the evening before, many of our citizens wee out at an early hour, and in many places the streets were lined with people, and there was a large collection at the depot to greet and see the President, who we received all who approached him with much cordiality and frankness of manner.
The health of the President is improving, but he is still feeble from the effect of his late illness, and is no way equal to the fatigue and excitement incident to public receptions. He will proceed direct to Washington, in the most expeditious and quiet way. Dr. Wood of the Army, son-in-law of the President, and Dr. Wood of the Navy, accompany the President.
Among the distinguished gentlemen, who came down in the Bay State, were Gov. Letcher of Kentucky, Baylie Peyton and family, Mr. Buller, Editor of the Republic, and Mr. Spaulding, Member of Congress from Erie Co.
Our citizens regretted the short stay of the President, and all Western New York, will be disappointed at his sudden departure for Washington, but the necessities of the case leave no reason to murmur or complain.
Syracuse Daily Star
Saturday, September 8, 1849
President Taylor.
Through inadvertence, the notice we had prepared of President Taylor’s passage through this city Thursday morning, on his way to Washington, was not inserted in yesterday’s Star. He arrived here by the morning Oswego train, having taken the lake route from Niagara Falls to Oswego. It is understood the President is called to Washington by pressing official duties, rendering it necessary for him to forego his purpose of attending the State Fair, even if, in the present state of his health, it were prudent for him to gratify himself in this particular.
General Taylor remained here but a few minutes, awaiting the change of the cars &c. A large number of our citizens, however, availed themselves of the opportunity to pay their respects to him. Crowds of persons surrounded the car in which he was seated to get a glimpse at the old hero, and when the train started, three hearty cheers were given him.
The President looks somewhat feeble, though better than we expected to see him. His appearance impressed everyone favorably. If the expressions be an index of character, as we believe it is in this instance, he must possess a kind, benevolent heart. He has none of the roughness represented in the lithographic caricatures of him.
General Taylor expressed his deep regret that he was unable to attend the Fair. He said it was a greater disappointment to him then it possibly could be to others, since the great object of of his visit North, at this time, was to attend the great Agricultural Festival.
General Taylor proceeds directly to Washington, accompanied by Dr. Wood, Mr. Peyton, and other gentlemen.
New York Courier
September 11, 1849
The President in New York.
The wild whirl of enthusiasm which greeted the President, on his arrival at Syracuse, put it utterly out of all possibility to finish the letter which I began on board the beautiful steamer Bay State. About half-past ten, we made the port of Genesee, as it is designated, being the mouth of the Genesee river.
The wind was pleasantly off-shore, and the bright mooning made the sail a delightful one. The kindness and attention of Captain Van Cleve had provided General Taylor with two admirable and capacious state-rooms, removed as far as possible from all noise and bustle of the deck and saloons. He retired early; for he had during the day been subjected to more than usual fatigue.
The Genesee river is a picturesque one; it is deep but very narrow, and the majestic Bay State seemed almost to fill cup the defile - her nigh mast and graceful rigging far up in the air, and her illuminated saloon sparkling as she proceeded - now half hid in the deep shadows of the of the heights, and then distinctly revealed in the glittering moonlight. Several miles up the river, the boat sailed about leisurely, and at least reached the storehouse, which is Rochester’s recognition of the lake commerce.
A propeller bound for the upper lakes lay at the wharf; the sound of the falls of the Genesee was all that broke the silence, except the over-zealous cab and omnibus men. It was evident that the citizens of Rochester were not aware of the arrival of the President, or in such a pleasant evening they would have thronged the half, or, what may be presented, they, with true courtesy and kindness, forbore, in the precarious state of his health, any demonstration the effect of which at that hour of the night could only have broken his repose.
Our passage hence to Oswego was agreeable, notwithstanding that a strong wind sprung up, and the boat danced about merrily - but in the matter of progress the Bay State never minded the blow, but went right ahead - arriving at Oswego, as I thought, some time before it was necessary. The President had a comfortable night, and was “on hand” very early in the morning, that being Old Zach’s way of doing business, He is more ready than rough.
Mr. Bond, Mr. Platt, and the other gentlemen of the Oswego delegation, had made every arrangement for the President’s reception, in the quiet and comfortable manner which he desired; and after parting with Captain Van Cleve, to whom, for his kindness and gentlemanly hospitality, the President and his suite expressed warmly their obligations, General Taylor, accompanied by his physicians and Mr. Platt, rode through the city - the time before the departure of the cars too short to allow any but the most rapid driving. But even in this quick review, the President observed and commented upon the great business capacities of this wonderful little city.
It could not but itself upon his sagacious mind. A sea before it - the water-horizon revealing nothing but itself - a harbor, ample and capacious, needing only (just what Old Zack is prepared to give, I doubt not) the common sense of the Government to exercise itself in making the necessary defenses against various storms of fall and winter - a canal reaching to the Hudson - a water-power fed by the great and never-failing or faltering reservoirs of the Cayuga and Seneca - such a concentration of business capacities exist but in few other places, and the Oswego people have proved it.
There are mills in might and number enough to “flour” all your city, and ask for mouths to feed. The wharves were thronged with sail craft, and there is business enough for all. The wheat fields of of Canada come like “Birnam wood to Dunsinane” to the machinery of Oswego. There are corn-laws, irreversible as fate.
The citizens of Oswego appeared delighted with the presence of the President, and as many as could gather round the cars were constantly in attendance. The hour was so early that the news of his arrival had not circulated through the city, m but those who were there gave an earnest welcome to their President. The cars of the oswego and Syracuse railroad were soon in readiness, and we put off at a rate that sent us through field and forest, by pretty lake and winding river, as rapidly as was desirable. The speed of our progress seemed to delight the General, who was constantly remarking on the availability of the country for improvement, and the magnitude of the changes which time and industry had wrought.
It was soon evident that the fact that the General was on board the cars was known at Syracuse - for the people had gathered in great numbers - and Syracuse has no reason to reproach itself with want of enthusiasm, for it would be difficult to find a more animated crowd than that which spontaneously and very suddenly gather itself about the cars. In they came, as anxious to be the first as if they had been Old Zack’s soldiers at Buena Vista.
The only way to prevent the old General from being smothered and overborne with the affection of the people - which was evidently ready and somewhat rough - was to look the door; and even then the more adventurous took themselves in at the windows - a very elongating process, which it became necessary, notwithstanding the enterprises displayed, to arrest.
The Mayor of Syracuse, Mr. John A. King, the President of the State Agricultural Society, and several of the prominent citizens of Syracuse, were very earnest in their regret that the General could not stay to the fair, and he expressed to them his sorrow that the state of his health would not admit of it. He said that it had ben the great object of his solicitude in coming to this State; that he had looked forward with the utmost pleasure to the prospect of conversing with the farmers, and haring from them the history and progress of agriculture among them. He spoke of his own farm - so much neglected by his forty years’ devotion to public affairs much.
And I have seldom heard a sentence uttered with more eloquence, than when he said, simply and unaffectedly, “I have had to neglect my own affairs much, but I believe I never did those of my country.” The warm-hearted response was made by those around him, that he never had. For six long years at one time he had never seen his farm, though in the course of the march to Florida he had passed within eighteen miles of it. He said he wanted to see his home then, but his orders were to go forward, and he made a sacrifice which few others wood. I never saw more animation among the people than was evidenced at Syracuse. The great desire was to see “Old Zack,” and many were the warmhearted congratulations of those who had been so fortunate as to secure a good look at the old man.
The ladies and the children were especially noticed by him, and he had for them, whenever they came to him, kind words and wishes. I saw him specially introduced to the oldest clergyman of the oldest, I believe, in all this state. General Taylor received him with marked deference and courtesy. This unfeigned respect, in all places, burned by the illustrious Chief Magistrate to the ministers of our own holy religion, is a gratifying sign of the good times into which our Republic has come.*
But the hour for the departure of the train was more than past. Mr. Vandervoort, the gentlemanly conductor, had given every possible facility to the convenience of the General - and railways cannot, without danger to the “masses,” stop for any one. Amidst loud and repeated cheers, the train departed, and was off like an arrow - a simile which, applied to the flight of a railway train, is no poetry.
Among the General’s friends, accompanying him, was Governor Letcher; and I must be allowed to say here, parenthetically, that he has won friends wherever he has gone, by his right hearty good-nature and cheerfulness, and it is easy to understand why he obtained the immense majority when running for Governor of Kentucky, as he did in 1840.
I am sure every one who sung that most famous song, “Tippecanoe and Tyler too,” must recollect how boisterous (and harmonious) the chorus was “gone into,” when it came to:
Have you heard from Old Kentuck,
All honest and true,
Seventeen thousand is the tune
For Tippecanoe, &c.
Away sped the train, faster and faster, and it was very pleasant that it did not go just as fast, since every revolution of the wheel brought us nearer to Oneida depot, when a fair vision of breakfast, too long delayed, was more than floating in the mind. All earthly greatness shares in the leveling process by which times and seasons hinge on eating and drinking.
Reached at least, the journey, after the refreshment obtained, was resumed with that quiet disposition to be pleased which succeeds a timely meal, especially when, as in this instance, it had been delayed almost as long as the “good time” is in coming.
SENTINEL
New York Semi-Weekly Tribune
September 12, 1849
President Taylor’s Arrival in New York
President Taylor was induced, by the reception of important dispatches from the Seat of Government, to omit his intended visits to Buffalo and Rochester, and proceed directly to New York on is way to Washington. He accordingly left Lewiston on Wednesday afternoon in the steamer Bay State for Oswego, and arrived at Albany Thursday morning.
Here he was received by Governor Fish, Hon. F. Humphrey, the Mayor of the city, the State Officers in Albany, Hon. John L. Schoolcraft, member of Congress elect, and other distinguished citizens. He was than taken to the mansion of Gov.Fish, who tendered him the hospitalities of the occasion, and spared no attention or kindness with was demanded by the impaired state of the President’s health and the fatigue which he had been obliged to encounter on the journey.
(Notes) Mention is made he was then escorted to the steamboat Isaac Newton, which was to convey him to New York , escorted by four light infantry companies. He made several short addresses. The most ample accommodations were provided aboard the steamer. He was placed in the bridal state room. On arriving in New York early the next morning, he remained aboard the steamboat for the rest of the day. After breakfast the next day he crossed over a ferry and returned to Washington on the train.
Ovid Bee
September 12, 1849
The President Recalled. - We learn that President Taylor has received dispatches, which require his immediate presence at Washington, and that he left Lewiston yesterday afternoon in the steamer Bay State for Oswego, and will proceed from thence directly to Washington. The citizens of Rochester will not be gratified with hearing one of the General’s interesting and instructive speeches. This many will deeply regret. What the deuce can this important business at this cost the government? The Secretary of State, in the absence of the President, could issue the formal Cuban Proclamation. We are certainly unable to conjecture what that important business is. We are inclined to think that time will not enlighten the public on that subject. The President evidently feels uneasy in the presence of those who voted for him, supposing that he was opposed to Slavery, and were mainly induced to do so on account of his not contracting the assertions of his political friends to that effect.
[Rochester Advertiser]
New York Semi-Weekly Tribune
September 12, 1849
Syracuse - The President - State Fair
Correspondence of The Tribune
Our citizens were surprised this morning by a Telegraphic Dispatch from Oswego, that President Taylor had left there in the morning train for this city, en route for Washington. He arrived at the former place this morning in the Bay State steamer and left immediately by the cars. Some 2,000 or 3,000 people were assembled at the Depot here when the cars, eager to catch a glimpse of a live President, who before his attainment to that dignity, had filled no unimportant place in the annals of our country.
Thousands of people will be greatly disappointed who expect to see him next week at the State Fair. Then necessity for this change in his movements is suppose to be connected with public affairs at the Seat of Government, where it is said his presence is immediately required. But of this we know less than you will in New York probably, long before this reaches you. His health is said to be restored, and unless a relapse of his disease occurs from the fatigue the would be compelled to undergo if he remained to the Fair, this hurried change seems to be explained by any present or pressing necessity on that score.
But there promises to be no lack of lesser magnates of the biped, quadruped and mechanical kids to attract the multitude who are expected to come down upon us next week. Our Hotel are already filled up, and the note of preparation which everywhere arrests attention shows that an epoch is approaching, to which in advance, and from which afterward, everything is to beard date. Yours, D.P.P.
Religious Recorder, Syracuse, New York
Thursday, September 13, 1849
Letter from President Taylor
The following letter received from President Taylor, is published under the direction of the Executive Committee of the State Agricultural Society:
To the Hon. John A. King, M.C.,
President of the State Agricultural Society, Syracuse
Niagara Falls, Sept. 5, 1859
My Dear Sir:-
I hope that no one in attendance upon, or in any way interested in your great Agricultural meeting at Syracuse, will suffer a disappointment proportioned to that which I experience in being compelled to relinquish the idea of being present myself.
In addition to the pleasure of meeting so vast assemblage of my fellow-citizens upon an occasion so interesting to all, who appreciate the true sources of national prosperity and greatness, I have been anticipating gratification and instruction from this highly favorable opportunity of looking upon the products, implements, and improvements of a pursuit in which I have over taken a deep and personal interest.
To attend this Agricultural Fair was a prominent object of my visit to your State, and until the last moment, I have encouraged the idea that I should do so, but the advice of my medical attendants, and the claims of business in the Capital, render it a duty for me, to relinquish my wishes upon this object.
Faithfully and Truly,
Z. TAYLOR
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