The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1839-01-29
LETTER FROM GEN. HARRISON TO THE
HON. HARMAR DENNY.

HON. HARMAR DENNY
NoRTH BEND, Dee ., 1888.
DEAR Sta: As it is probable tina, you have by this
time returned to Pi,sburg, do myself the honor to
acknowledge the receipt OF your letter from Phladel
pha. containing the proceedings Of the National Demo
cratic AntMas Convention, which lately convened
in that city With feelings of the deepest gratitude,
read the resolution unanimously adopted, nominating
me, a candidate for the Presidency Of the United
States THIS is the second time that have received
from that patriotic party, OF which yourself dis
tngushed member the highest evidence OF confidence
that can be given to citizen Of our Republic would
attempt to describe my sense Of the obligations owe
them, If were not convinced that any language which
could command, would fall far short Of what really
feel II however the wishes OF the Convention should
be realized and # should be the choice of those who
opposed the present administration, and success
should attend their efforts, shall have in MY power
to manifest my gratitude IN manner more acceptable
those whom YOU represent than by any professions Of
it which ! could at this time make. mean by exert
ing my utmost efforts to carry the principles set
forth in their resolutions by arrestng the progress OF
those measures destructive TO the prosperity OF the
people and tending to the subverslon OF their liberties
and substituting Tor Them those sound Democratic Re-
publican DOCTRINES upon which the administrations OF
jefferson and Madison were conducted.
Among the principles proper TO be adopted by an tx
ecutve sincerely desrous to restore the administration,
TO is original simplicity and importance, deem the
following TO be OF prominent importance:
l. To confne his service 10 single term.
III To dsclam all right Of control over the public
treasure, with the exception Of such part Of may
be appropriated by law, TO carry on the public service;
and that TO be applied precisely as the law may direct
and drawn from tho Treasury agreeaby to the long es
tahlished forms Of that Department.
III, That he should never attempt to influence the
elections, either by the people the State Legislature
suffer the Federal officers under his control 10 take
any other part IN them than by giving their own votes
when they possess the right Of voting.
m thn pG the tn he's
limit his rejection Of bills LIST such in his
opinion unconstitutional 3D. Such tend TO encroach
the rights Of the States, or individuals. Sd such
involving deep interests, may in his opinion require
mature delberaon reference to the will Of the
people, to he ascertaned the succeeding elections.
V. That he should never suffer the influence OF his
Office to be used for purposes Of purely party cha
racer,
| VI That in removals from Office OF those who hold
their appointments during the pleasure OF the Executive
the of such removal should always be comnun-
Gated TO the person removed and If he request it. to
1 the Senate, at the time that the nomination OF sue
cessor is made,
| And last but not least in Importance
VII. That he should not suffer the Executive De-
paumen OF the Government 10 become the source OF
| Legislation but leave the whole business OF making
the laws for the Union to be done by the Department.
TO which the Constitution has exclusively assigned it.
until they have assumed that perfected shape where and
when alone the opinions Of the Executive may he heard
community OF power in the preparation Of the laws
between the Legislature and the Executive Depart
ments, necessarily lead to dangerous commuta-
tons, and greatly to the advantage Of President
DESTROYS Of extending his power Such construction OF
the constitution could have been contemplated by
those who framed IT, as they well knew that those who
propose the bills, will always take of themselves
the interest Of their constituents and hence the pro-
vision in the constitutions borrowed from that OF England
restricting the originating Of revenue bills to the mme
date representatives Of the people So far from agree
ing with the DISTINGUISHED character who
lately retired from the Presidency that Congress should
have applied 10 him for project Of a banking system,
think that such an application wonld have manifested
not only great subserency upon the part Of that body
but unpardonabc ignorance Of the chief danger 10
be apprehended from such an institution. That danger
| un9uesonably consists in union of interests be-
tween the Execution and the Bank. Would an ambi-
,Ious incumbent Of the Executive chair neglect so
favorable opportunity the preparing Of the law
would give hun TO insert in its provisions to secure his
Influence over IT. In the authority given to the Presi-
dent by the constitution " to recommend to- Congress
such measures as he shall Judge necessary and expe
dent 1t was certainly never intended that the measures
he recommended should be presented in shape suited
! for the immediate decision OF the Legislature The
sages who made the constitution, too well knew the
advantages which the Crown of Englard derived from
the exercise Of his power by its ministers, have in
tended 1t TO be used by chief magistrate, or the
heads Of department under his control. The boosted
principle of the English constitution that the consent of
the democratic branch Of the government was not only
necessary receive money from the people, but that it
was It's unavoidable preogave also originate all the
bills for that purpose is in theory the letter,
but rendered utterly false aud migratory in effect by the
participation Of the ministers Of the the details
! oil legislation Indeed the influence they derive from
setting as members Of the House Of Commons, and
from welding the immense patronage Of the crown
constitutional or usurped,) gives them power over
that body that renders plausible least the base fiat
ery or as Is more probable the intended of
S'r Walter Raleigh IN address to James the First.
| that the demand OF the sovereign upon the Commons
for pecunlary AID, was intended only "that the tax
might seem 10 come from themselves whereas the in
reference i. really laid by the sovereign himself
! Having thus given you my opinion Of some things
which might be done, and others which should not be
done. by President coming INTO power by the support
OF those OF the people who opposed the principles
upon which tho present administration conducted you
| WI! see that have omitted one which is deemed by
many OF as much importance any other. allude TO
me appointment OF members Of Congress TO Office by
the President The Constitution contains no prohbl.
ton OF such appointments, no doubt because its au-
thors could not believe IN It's necessity from the purity
ot character which manifested by those who pos
sessed the confidence Of the people IL that period II is
however an opinion very generally entertained By the
opposition party, that the country would have escaped