Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1836-08-05
LETTER FROM GEN. HARRISON.

The following letter from Gen. VIII.
LIAM II. HARRlsoN was written in reply
to one addressed to him by the Hon. Sher.
rod Williams, member of Congress from
kentucky, requesting his views on several
or the great questions which now ngi'a,e
the'country. II is foil, frank and decisive.
sound in doctrine and eloquent in expires.
sion, md must prove highly satisfactory to
mis- friends and suppor,ers:-
NORTH BEND, MAY I, 1886.
Sir: I have the honor to acknowledge
'fhe receipt Of your letter of the 7lh ulimo,
in which you request me TO answer the
following questions:
ist. ':W,ll you, if elected President of
the United States, sign and approve bill
distributing the surplus revenue of the U.
States 10 each State, according to tie fed
erai population Of each, for internal inn
provement, education, and to such other
objects as the Legislatures of the several
States may see fiji to apply the samc!'
I'd. "Will you sign and approve a bill
distributing the proceeds of the sales
of The public land to each State, ac-
cordng to the federal population of each,
for the purposes above specfied?"
Sd. "Will yon sigu and approve bills
making appropriations to improve navi
gable streams above ports Of eniry?"
All. "Will you sign and approve (f i,
becomes necessary TO secure and save
from depreciation the revenue and finances
of the nation, and to afford uniform sound
currency to the people Of the United States)
a bill. with proper notifications. charter
ing Bank of the United States ?"
5th. "What is your opinion as to the
constitutional power of the Senate or House
Of Representatives the Congress of the
United States, TO expunge or obliteratc
from the journals the records and proceed.
inge Of "a previous session."
From the manner in which the four first
questions are stated, it appears that you
do not osk my opinion as TO the policy or
prepriety Of the measure 10 which they
respectively refer; but what would be my
course, if they were presented to me being
in the Presidential chair of the United
SlaIes) In The shape Of bills, that had been
duly passed by The Senate and House Of
Represent atives.
From the opinions which have formed
ofthe intention Of the Constitution, as to
Soc cases 10 which the veto power should
me exercised by the President, would
have contented myself with giving an affir-
native answer to the four first questions !;
bnt. from the deep interest which has been
and indeed is now, felt in relation to all
these subjects, / think it proper to express
me views upon each one separately.
I answer, then, list. That the immediate
return of oil the surplus money which is,
o. ought TO be, in the Treasury of the U,
States, TO the possession Of the People,
fom whom it was taken, is called for by
,very principle of policy, and, indeed, of
tafety to our institutions, and know Of no
mode of doing it better than that rccom-
gnended by the present Chief Magistrate,
in his first message to Congress in the fol
lowing words: ITO ap3id these epiis, IL ap.
pears TO me that the most safe, just, and jed
o~al disposition that could be made of The
surplus revenue, could be its apportionment
e.n,ong The several STATES according to the
. alto Of representation"
This proposition has reference to a state
Of things which now actually exists, with
the exception of the amount Of money thus
70 be disposed of-for il could not have
been anticipated by the President that the
surplus above the real wants or convenicn;
expenditures Of the Government would be-