Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1836-08-23

codug 10 the Federal population Of cach Tor the pFro
SEES above specified? w
I'd. will you sign and approve bills making 'ppro.
prialons 10 improve navigablc streams above p"FS {"
entry? ,o. ,o.o,
d,h will you sign and approve IF it becomes n'ccS
sary 10 secure and from depreciation tne revenue
and finances Of The natun, and tn nlnrda UNIFORM SCUM"
currency 10 tie pcope of the United Satcs bill (wt
nron.r notifications and rcsrctons ciarcIIng bank
of The u. Stalcs'
,h What is your opinion 10 the constitutional
power Of the Senate House OF Representatives, 81 'nr
,onurrss OF the T. States, 10 e3pungc or "picra' ""
the journals the records and proceedings u"
session? :;
frank, plain, and full answer TO the foregoing "l"
rrs is respectfully and earnestly Solicited your answer
is desired as soon as pussibc intend this and your s
ever for publication.
have the honor to be,
Your humble nnd oh t srrvt,
SllERROD WILLIAMS.
WAsIlrNorox, April 2Olh 1886.
Sir-l have the honor to acknowledge the receipt 81 I"
letter from you asking my opinions and views upon
series OF public questions You have accomPai"e" 'e
submission of your n;crrogaiorcs with reference TO
the existing relations between ct voter and candidac,
and declaration Of your sense Of tho rights ana duties
growing out Of The
Concnrrrr as DO in the principle which incAlcates
md secures the most liberal interchange OF sentiments
between the clcc,or and tho candidate think 1t, never
teless lust and reasonable to protect myself against e
inference Of having assrntcd without limitation, 10 Tie
general proposition you have advanced lie duly Ct
candidate for the suragcs of the people 10 answer ny
all enquiries made by ecctor, undetermined as 10 Ills
course and seeking good Iaith information as TO the
opinions Of tho candidate touching The appropriate du-
ties Of the Office 10 be filled is one which chcc'luy &C
knowledge and will, upon all proper occasions, faithful
ly discharge.
The rights Of clcctor, the other hand, who has
already determined TO oppose the indivldua! TO "io h's
inquiries addressed, and who makes them with Inc
sole view Of exposing. at his time, and IT. the mode
he may select tic opinions Of The candidate 10 uniIrrJy
criticism and the candidate himself to prejudice in the
estimation Of portions Of his fllcwcz snnd IN my
Judgment, upon different fotlng. 10 snch inquiries
hold The candidate to be at liberty to reply or not as
Justice To- the country and 10 his character may III
his opinion, dictate.
AIy personal acquaintance with you is, you know,
very limited and, without stepping To inquire rs 10 your
objects in this particular chrrIuy assume them to DC
such as have first Described. do ls the readily
as your character and situation me that II THIS
impression is your course in regard 10 me
Presidential clcc;ion far am cn:ccrncG IS sel'o
and the information ycu SOCK Is not "sHrr Win VIC"
TO your ccEducl-ycu will say so 'rhfk'y.
Acting upon This assumption and tcitf, VIII chee!'
fully give you my ''or:ni"ns ard views upon me SUD
iec,5 which you have submitted tony consideration
In YOUR list Of cue sons Grd stv,ial width arc re"
under discussion in Congress- ard urcD hch it may
become my duty 10 vote as President o The SENATE re
fore tic termination Of Inc present session My rcry
10 your letter WILL therefore: be delayed Tor short f
but | will en,brocc early moment after Congress
rises ard in abundant fer the purposes Of you
enquiry, 10 scAd 1t TO you. .
lave the horror TO be- very 'rspe'Vy' yTu5 GSe'
ent servant, W. VAN Do1-Ii''
Tie Hon. SnERRoD WILLIAMS.
WAsniscros, June 9Th, 1886.
Hon MAEriH EAH BuRES:
Sr-l addressed you letter the eth Of April last
asking your opinion in relation 10 the several subjects
therein sarciird done 80 in good faith for the purpose
Of knowing your opinions those points, ana Tor le
purpose of determining upon the course that wou!G
take i'll the coming contest for the Presidency had
Tic honor the .Ui OF the month. To- receive Il
letter from YOU acknowledging the receipt Of mnc aud
in which you say you will the questions PrnPound
cd in my letter but that that answer would be deferred
until after the adjournment Of the present Session o.
Congress- because some of the subjects upon winch
asked your npun pending before The Senate, and
perhaps you might have lin the event the SENATE was
equally divided) TO give The casting vote must be per
ttcd TO say that the reason given by you Tor not an
swcrinr any questions is wholly and entirely uE5atlsac
tnrv / have always considered it the duly of a cand
date ior Office in the gift of the people, to inform those
whose suiragcs he seeks, Of his views and opinions al
to the consuonality and policy ol those measures IN
which they may be interested and particularly when The
candidate shalt be called upon BY those who have the
light to ask his opinion, aud not to decline giving Ills
opinion before his election, because, perhaps and per
chance he might have to vote upon those SUBJECTS, Oh
some one of tcn If The people knew in advance the
opinion Of the candidate they mg mt not place HIM III
condition 10 vote.
If the reason you assign for not answering my ques-
lions until the adjournment Of the present Of Con
rrcss be good ono the will continue 10 en-
is and apply with equal force until the fourth OF March
next for at the next session of Congress (whcther you
shall be elected President Of the United States or not
you may be called upon as President oil The senate, &c
vote upon all of the subjects mentioned IN my
letter am in good faith anxious to obtain your opinion
upon the points submitted in my letter. and therefore
again most earnestly and respectfully solicit your answer
practicable. ,
have tho honour to be, your obedient and humble
servant, sllEtkOD WlLLlAmo'
Sr-I find nothing in your last letter 10 change my de
cision in respect the time at which propose to reply
10 your first It is however due to both OF us That siouit
correct an error into which you have fallen.
have already informed you that would embrace ar
carly moment after Congress rises and in abundant sea
for the purposes OF your inquiry TO send you my an
swer. That determination remains not only unchanSed
but is confirmed by the statements yon have now made
You may therefore dismiss from your mind all apprchcn
sons Of not receiving it in full time for the object you
have in view. am. sir,
Your ob't humble scrv't,
NJ. VAN BUREN,
Hon. SHERRoD WILLIAMS.
ALBANY, August g. 1886
To the Hon. SuERKop WILLIAMS,
REPRESENTATIVE Cyagress from The Stai: Of Eeatacky
Sir ambrace The earliest convenient moment, after
the adjournment of Congress, 10 give you my opnions
and views" the various subjects to which my alten
ton was called by your letter Of the 9TH of April last
Tie irS OF these subjects relates 10 Inc ProPTety OF
law for the distribution of the surplus o the
United States among The States, according 10 their fed
era population, for internal improvements, education
and such other objects the Legislatures of the States
may see fit 10 apply the same
I'm my opinion Congress does not possess The power
under The Constitutions to raise money Tor distribution
among the States; and II distinction be maintain,
ed between raising money Tor such purpose and the
distribution Of an unexpected surplus, (of which ar,
not sa,isfed0 think it ought be attempted with
out previous amendment of the Constitution, defining
the authority and regulating its exercise Apprehcnd.
inc danger to the Union from the course of Federal