State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1831-1836, 1836-03-15
LETTER FROM GEN. HARRISON.
North Bend, Oh Feb. 1896.

North Bend, oh Feb. 1896.
Gentlemen Your letter, covering the
proceedings of the Convention by which
was nominated their candidate for the
Presidency of the United States, was re-
ceived in the due course of the mail, and
the resolutions they contained are such rs
to create in my bosom feelings of gratitude
towards the people Of Maryland, which will
be cherished to the last moment ofmy ex-
istence. These feelings were greatly in
creased 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 | served in the national councils, but
TO few others of her citizens. With thou
sands Of those of some other States have
been associated in scenes where the difficult
ties and dangers to which we were in COM
mon exposed have created feeling of at
tachment and partially, which is often
found to warp the judgments Of good men,
and induce them TO hestow their confidence
and suflrages on those possessing inferior
qualifications. Having no advantages of
this kind to boast ofin relation to my fellow
citizens of Mary land, | am gratfed with
the reflection, considering the pre- eminent
talents of several of those from whom
their selection might have been made, that
! am indebted Tor the distinction with
which they have honored me, to the great
er length of my public services, and the
belief that, in the discharge of the various
and important trusts which have been COM
mittcd to me, the confidence ofmy country
has never been betrayed, nor its interests
sacrificed. This is precisely the ground
which | wish TO occupy. Conscious OF
many deficiencies and mperfections, have
endeavored to supply the place of the quail
tiles | wanted by unwearied zeal and unde-
waiting fidelity.
How delightful is the reflection that, by
an assembly so enlightened and free MS 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, l
venture 10 assure you, that, should your
efforts to place Inc in the executive chair
of this great nation prove successful, the
influence and patronage of that Office shall
never be used TO control or impair it, in any
of your future deliberations. And that il,
in the year 1889, your great emporium, or
any other place, should be the theatre for
the exhibition of another national conven-
ton, 1t shall be, as far as my efforts can eff
feet it, what that of 1885 purported TO be,
San assembly fresh from the people, the
true representation of their unbiased wish
es, the faithful echo of their opinions"
This declaration is made with n perfect
consciousness ofthe little confidence which
is given to pledges of any kind, made by
persons situated rs nm. 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 coun-
trymen. But in almost every instance the
deceiver 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 commanding genius and splendid
talents. There is, | trust, nothing in my
previous conduct TO show that possess the
/ former character, and utterly disclaiming
the latter, my sole reliance, for preserving
. the good opinion of my countrymen, is the
preservation of that character for fidelity
TO my engagements, which the convention,
which you, gentlemen, represent as well
as others of my fellow citizens, have been
pleased to allow to me.
With high consideration, am, gentlemen,
Your humble servant,
WIN. II. HARRISON.
: To WIN. brady TYLER, President,
Robert w. Boie,
Renry V. Somerville, " p.os;dor,s
Reuben Tall,
Henry 5. Stiles.
Joseph II. Nicholson e Secretaries.
PRoMsEs. How many disappointments