Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1835-06-23
Ttce FreSidents IF nc National COnrcution.
10 RICHARD NJ. JOHNSON, Esq, of Kentucky.

GREAT CRossISes, 9th June. 1885.
Genhtmen ! have had tic honor to receive your let.
tex Informing me that | have been nominated bv the
recent Republican Convention at Baltimore. as a cand;.
date Tor the office of Vice President.
For tins expression of confidence from the Republican
Pnrtyof the Union. l have not Language too press nv Urn.
titudc. For the exalted talents, pure character and sonnd
principles OF the gentleman, whose name was broupbt
III competition with mine, no man can have a higher re-
spcct than my self; and had he been preferred by the Con.
Tcntlon, IL would have afforded me the highest pleasure To-
give nm my cordial support. To my greater age md Iopr-
= pnp"c oeifice, ana not 10 superior quaIihcatiGrs, can
L attribute INC preference of the Convention; and II ary
INJURY should accrue TO the Republican cause from n, :,
preferences, no man will deplore it more than myself.
AS, however, the Convention were undoubtedly brt-
Ter Guailhcd To Judge on that point, than one or a lew
indtyIdunis possibly can be-, | have but to accept the
ProiIcred nominations, and resign myself To the will
oil the people, as II may be expressed at the polls
The qualification l feel at the honor done inc is not un.
mingled with Fcgret-a regret, arising not from The pre-.
ference OF another BY 4 portion OF the Convention, but
from te error under which they appear to have labored
IN relation To my political principles. | do moi know
inyself, IT my principles do not accord with those of
thomas Jefferson, the Patriarch OF Republicanism and
ms disciples who constituted the late Convention. In.
ring almost the whole period comprised in the Admins.
Tations Uf Jefferson, Madison and Monroe VIVA - mco,.
per OF congress and gave them my cordial support
From the earliest moment, ! uniformly acted with the
Republican party founded ON the principles asserted by
virginia IN I|Jo, and never withheld my support on any
occasion, from either of the distinguished men. who. m
succession became the representatives OF these princi.
pies at the head of the Government, save only In the
struggle OF 1914, 10, and 10, for the establishment of a
A'duOndl DaDk. PRESIDENT Madison then, and many of
my Republican associates in Congress, who concufred
with ne IN principle, felt themselves constrained to vicld
UP ,their objections to what they considered the high
est la~--puDlic Necessity. continued To believe i,e
remedy worse than the disease. had voted aysins, tta
Ie-chsftcr OF the old Bank Of the United States. in 1911.
from a conviction OF It's dangerous tendencies as well
a. its uncoustitutOnality. Upon the same grounds fell
constrained 10 vote against the establishments of the nrc.
sent Bank in 1916, although advocated By the Admistra.
ton to which was attached. / voted against the bill
10 rc.chartcf this Bank in 1852. In 1884. 1 voted for
MIR. Folks resolution, declaring, that the Rank Of III.
United States ought not TO be re-cllartercd and 4 defend.
90 inc PRESIDENT 3 measure in regard to the removal of The
rsolc DeP'si'cs, at every point at which it was ussail-
co. WIN a view TO sever the connection between the Co.
Vcfninent and the Bank, and TO make sure of a final deli.
Verance from tie Institution. Indeed, I have never WA
vercd IN my opinion against its consitutiouality. and
have never seen the moment when / would have given
my vote for any similar Institution ~ cannot concciy,
how the opinion got abroad that was in favor OF the
q BE- from te circumstance, that 1 did not, viii the ar.
dor OF younger politicians, pledge myself against eycrv
possible substitute for the present -G jack.
son N one OF us annual messages, suggested tho out
make loans, as j understood IT, and in his veto message.
he declared that hc could have furnished a plan which
would not DC liable 70 constitutional objections. Many
ot his fucnds believed that it would he absolutely ncccs.
sary 10 have some substitute, and suggested a variety Of
schemes. 10 all these | listened, without riyinp nv
assent 70 anyi and never for a moment did / harbour a
thought OF proposing or supporting any one, except in
the event Of failure ln the experiment TO use the State
Banks; and then only such a scheme az should be cn.
hrcly Tree RON constitutional objections, and have the
appreciation Of the Administration aud the Republican
party.
The recent Developments Of tie power Of doing mis-.
chici possessed By a National Bank, and the uncontroi-
liable tendency to use this power y, direct the politics Of
the country, have satisfied me that no such institution
should be tolerated, under any circumstances. The IA.
cility and success with which Inc public business has re-.
Gently been done through the State Banks. have. In M
opinion, proved TINT a National Institution is az unne.
ccssary as /. is unsafe and unconstitutional.
lnifla''op 70 tf Isrh, ny views appear also not 10