Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1836-03-18
,ETTER FROM GEN. HARRISON.



Gentlemen: Your letter, covering the
proceedings of the convention by which
was nominated their candidate for the Pres
dency of the United States, was received in
the due course of the mail, and the resolu-
| tons they contained are such as 10 create ia
nv bosom feelings of gratitude towards the
People of Maryland, which will be cherished
to the last moment of my existence. These
feelings were greatly increased from the
reflection that, with very few exceptions, |
was personally unknown to the members of
the convention, and exclusively OF some Of
her statesmen, with whom | have served in
the national councils, bat to a few others OF
her citizens With thousands Of those of
some other States | have been associated in
scenes where the difficulties and dangers 10
which we were in common exposed have
created feeling ofaulchment and partiality,
which is often found to warp the judgments
of good men, and induce them 10 bestow
their confidence and suifrGgcs on those pos
sessng inferior qualifications. Having no
advantages of this kind TO boas, OF in rela-
ton to any fellow-ctizens of Maryland, am
gratihed with the reflection, considering the
pre-eminent talents OF several OF those from
whom the selection might have been made
that | am indebted for the distinction with
which they have honored me, to the greater
length of my public services, and the belief
that, in the discharge of the ,arions and i'm
portant trusts which have been committed to
me, the confidence of my country has never
been betrayed nor its interests sacrificed
This is precisely the ground which | wish
to occupy. Conscious of many deficiencies
and imperfectlonS, have endeavored to sup
ply the place Of the qualities wanted by
unwearied zeal and undertaking fidelity.
How delightful is the reflection that by
an assembly so enlightened and free as that
of the late Maryland Convention. the char
acter in which so ardently desire TO stand
before my countrymen should be accorded
to me, In relation TO the freedom with
which the choice was made, gentlemen,
venture 10 assure you, that, should your
efforts to place me in the Executive Chair
OF this great nation prove successful, the in
tiuence and patronage of that Office shall
never be used to control or impair it, in any
OF your future deliberations. And that it, in
the year 1889, your own great emporium,
or any other place should be the theatre for
the exhibition of another national conven- !
tion, it shall be, as faI as my efforts can ef. .
feet it, what that Of 1885 purported TO be- |
IAN assembly fresh from the People, the true
representation Of their unbiased wishes the
faithful echo of their opinions
This declaration is made with a perfect
of the lule confidence which
is given to pledges of any kind, made By
persons situated as am. know that they
have been made and violated in every age
and in every country, where men have de.
pended for their advancement to the highest
offices on the good opinion Of their country
men. But in almost every instance the de-
ceiver has been found possessed of grasping
and Unsuitable ambition, (of which the germs ,
might have been discovered in his previous
conduct) and generally united with com I
maoding genius and splendid talents. There
Is ! trust, nothing in my previous conduct ,
TO show that possess the former character I
and utterly dsclaiming the latter, my sole ;
reliance, for preserving the good opinion of l
my countrymen is the preservation of that I
'haracter for fidelity to my engagements =
which the Convention, which you gentle
men, represent, as well as others of my fellow z
'ltlzens, have been pleased to allow 10 me.
with high consideration,
| am, gentlemen,
Your humble servant
WILLIAM II. HARRISON.
To WIN. Brady TYLER, President.