Herald of the times. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1830-1846, 1836-08-25
ADDRESS
TO TIE rREEMEN OF RHODE ISLAND

try, believing that the time has come when
FREQ interchange Of sentiments, in regard To-
the approaching Presidential election, is de-
sired by the freemen generally, feel assured
that you will approve of their endeavors 10,
promote that object and to bring about, AS far
as possible. general good understanding up
on subject so interesting TO us all.
There are now before the public foT can
didatcs for the Presidency---and as it is not
probable that any new candidate will be pre-
sented at this late day, it has become nearly
&C ertaa that in one Of those four we arc to see
the next President of the United States. TO
which one Of them shall we look, or, rather,
which one of them shall VIC endeavor to shun?
For, to our apprehension, it is infinitely more
important that the country escape the tolls of
u dangerous intriguer, than that any particu-
lar one Of the other three candidates should
hare preference over The other two. Com
paratively small as this State is, it would be
unreasonable for us 10 be too tenacious Of our
own particular prefercBcc-if such we have.
If we may not obtain what we should deem
to be the greatest good, still We may have it
in our power to avoid the greatest evil by u
hitting with those Of our sister States who
cordially agree with us in principles, although
they may differ from us in their preferences
as to men. This is orr serious opinion; and
VIC sincerely believe that the course which it
indicates is the only safe and prudent one
for us to pursue. That this is the case, a brief
reference to some of the most prominent traits
Of political character exhibited by the rcspec-
tive candidates will sufficiently manifest.
/ Nh. WEBSTER.
I Ofths gentleman we can say nothing that
i is not already known to the whole people Of
the United States. It would be no dlspar-
agemcnt to any other candidate to acknowl-
edge tho pre- eminent abilities and qualifca-
tions of DANIEL WEBSTER for the Presiden-
cy. lie is in the hands of the people. Should
they elect him, they will do honor TO them
selves and the country. Should they prefer
another candidate, we may still have cause to
congratulate ourselves, if that other possess
equal integrity and fidelity to his country, al
thosgb he Hay not be equally distinguished.
Come what will rs to tile political fortunes of
Mr.. Webster, this country can mover repay
the debt it owes him for having cast the mgis
of his great talents over the Federal Con-
sthutioa,st the most perilous crisis of its fate;
nor for long series of pure and statesman
like services, which have given him a title to
stand forward rs one of our noblest benefac-
tors, when History shall make up her faithful
record Of the past.
II GEN. HARnIsOS.
Il This candidate tuntil of late) has been as
sailed and abused by bis political adversaries
with bitterness proportioncd to their fears
of his success. But no mans character could
be more triumphantly vindicated than his hns
been by the more noble minded even Of his
political opponents; several of whom, having
been long intimately acquainted with him
have, in the most public manner, frankly and
hoaorably expressed their respect for his tai
ents, their warm esteem for his private Writ
ucs, and their admiration Of his public servi-
lces. We find that in those States where Gen.
Harrison has spent the greater part Of bis
life, and Is best known, the people are devo-
tedly attached to him, md are every day CIV
! ing new evidences of that attachment.
II is to be regretted that all the frcencn in
every State cannot be fully acquainted with
the characters and qualifications of all the
candidates whose claims they have to decide
upon. Several memoirs of Gen. lIarrison's
life asl. public services have been published
at different times; but, except very few of
them, they have not reached this State. Fl
would be no more than an net Of justice to
him, and the performance Of duty to the
public, before whom he has beon placed, if
some candid and competent individual would
take the trouble to make u summary state
ment of the principal wen authenticated facts
IN his history, from pcrusal Of which the
public might bo enabled to form a correct
judgmcnt ofhis claims TO their confidence and
favor Ms it is not our purpose 10 adopt here
for ourselves, or to recommend n particular
candidate, but merely to state our impressions
generally respecting them all, so far as may
be necessary to justify the course we have
taken the liberty to recommend, we shall con-
fine ourselves to few brief notices Of Gen.
TIurrison's public life-
II In 1871, at tho age Of IS years, he was
commissioned by President Washington as
an officer in the U. S. Artillery, and served
under Gen. Wayne (acting as his nid)'during
the whole of the desperate Indian War Of tha,