Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1840-09-01

cal opinions and he reserves, you Will observe,
quite broad grounds within which 10 enirench hn-
self for he says regards the subject upon which
The Legislature may be called to ACT the pledges and
opinions should be required, rcquired al all Of the can
diates for Congress-" Now, Sir, Tor myself, believe
the questions generally that have been propounded
TO him. and which lie has has not answered. have been
such would necessarily require first the legislation
of Congress- He certainly has answered soG'c, and If
he has, he certainly has violated the doctrine he has
here laid down. Sir the gentemans doctrine reminds
me somewhat of Mr.. Leighs the Right of lnsruc-
ton. He acknowledges the right except in cases
wlere Of moral turpitude required to be per-
formed he Senator to be the Judge OF what to be consi
dered moral pltudecnnsequently rendering nsruc-
tons utterly valucess-or the Senator has only say
he considers whatever may he required to be done
involving moral turpude-ergo, he will not obey
MIR. HIS doctrine is equally plant. He recognizes the
rght Of the people to be informed, except upon sub
iects supon which the Legislature may be called to
act, of which he is necessarily TO be the Judge and
hr has only TO say when solicited for his opinion that
ii involves questions that must come before the Legs
latureersO, he will not give one, rendering his doc
rIne also utterly vaucess But, holding this doctrine,
how could he have answered Sherrod Williams letter
on lst May, T. Sloo's on 25h November, j. NJ Ber-
rien's ---; all in lS36-and Mr. Lyons on lsl
June, 1SIO--upon all of which occasions he
ddatc for the Presidency, and giving his opinions
upon questions which would first have to be acted
by the Legislature; BY the way, how could Mr.. IL.
y comply with that portion of the Constitution which
says the President "shall from time TO time give to the
Congress information of the State Of the Union, and
recommend TO their c0Rsdtraion such measures he
shall iudgc necessary md crPedieat' If it is danger
TO inform the people OF his opinions upon subjects
which have first to be lrgsated upon by Congress,
how can he recommend ''such measures he shall
4 Judge necessary and cxpcdirnt:" Whatever he re-
commcnds implicitly guarantee his assent If the
doctrine he lays down is correct in the case, it is
individually in the other. But how do find this
very consistent gentleman ~ days after his To
the kentucky Committee, and - days after his
swer TO the Wing portion of the New iork Legislature,
lei addressed LYONS
enqunng OF him, in part, upon the very subject of
Abolition, and which would necessarily require the le-
gslatIon of Congress before he could be called on to
act 10 this answer, WILL at the proper time refer;
the potion Of IT, in relation to Federalism, have re-
fcrred o) lbears date the lst Of June last and reads
as follows
''You have above ms apology for you with ap
parent acstct which impossible that should do a. well
from yor b'sh st"tnr soe'st a from the regard feel for You
between our families n for hes rraonS ndor induces me
I" that could have brought myself 10 answer tn" poll
I Mr. Lyons addressed him letter, not should |
Judge, of prraic nature, tending in the rca
ton u him, at that time exclusively, rs personal and
infinite friend, hut addressed him letter, intended,
shouli presume 10 meet the public eye, the cinrac
ter Of politician, and somewhat III the capacity OF
ewing Eiector for he says, 81 have been placed be-
fore the people %! THIS State for the Office OF Elector,
+ upon The Wing Ticket, and urges tins reason
. why Nh III. should reply 10 the questions in is letter
-uestons addressed 10 him the WhIg candidate for
The Presidency. Yet, SIR, MIR H., after saying, but
svcr such interrogatores, coming either from friends
or ocsaitcr saying al still later period that upon
the subjects upon which the legislature may be called
p act the pledges and Opinions should be required II
required at all, OF the candidates for Congress-
svers nterrogatores, upon the same subject, when
addressed by Mr.. Lyons and upon which the legisla-
tire would necessarily have TO act. And what are his
reasons for the change: Why, Mr.. L.. hgh Standing
il socie,y; -the regard feel for you, in consequence
o. the long and intimate friendship between our FAINT
les But for these reasons, candor induces me to say,
that could never have brought myself TO answer the
POLITICAL part of your letter at all Tells him also, 81
wish what have said above 10 b. pubiiShsd but
have objection that the facts should be stated and
f reference made TO me as having furnished them :
Why this caution One would suppose that there could
iot be much difference between The publication OF
ettcr and the publication of the facts it contains
With reference being made to the writer having
furnished them But Mr. President, there must have
iecn some in the estimation of MIR. H., he would
hcver have made tue dstncton and at the proper time
will refer TO IT.
But to the reasons Now cir, certainly do mean
/, question Mr. LIS singh standing in society: ! am
SIRE il is greater than he Justly merits but, do Mr.
President ask every intelligent and rejecting man in
cur country aye, sir, would ask Mr. l.. himself and
would not fear his answer. if the for this change
OF Mr. II. jus, and satisfactory. Is Mr. LIS high
Standing 10 be entitled TO respect by the Wing
candidate for the Presidency than respectful conInn
nicatlon from organized association in the State of n
York; than communication from 'the Democratic
| Central Committee of Kentucky, representing the
10 have been seeking information, not of Mr.. Harrison
judiridudily, but of Mr.. Harrison Me Uhjg candi
dnie for the Presidency All were seeking 10 know
his precise views upon questions OF vital import
Under this only true aspect OF the case, what had
HIS high standing in society,", his "long and ntI-
mate friendship and connex"n between our families
to do with the matter Why, Sir it is absolutely
farcca and humilIang to contemplate the position of
Mr. H., when reflect that man who would Thus
should be the candidate of great and respectable
party in this country for the highest Office in the world
1t was but the other day was perusng the able letters of
Cato, published in England in l72l and in of them
addressed TO the burghers of England, was torclby
struck with the doctrine there laid down of the right of
the constituency TO know the opinions Of the candidate
for their suffrage II exceedingly opposite to the
present OCCASION will refer it, at the right and du
" fthe echoldcrs and burghers of G Britain,
mine into the conduct and TO know the opinions and in
tnntons Of such offer themselves to their choice.
How Of them be truly represented, when they
know not who represents them: Sir, ii is somewhat
strange that now, about 100 wears after the Ecesl
government earth, where halo has, were, bee
thrown around every safeguard guaranty to the peo
pie their supremacy as the only fountain OF sovereignty
those safeguards too, rendered sacred by the stamp
of precedent and of time that should be quot.
ing you authority like this to sustain of the
most nestimahc rights of the people, now attempted
at hi, late day to be disrcgarded By who is
candidate for the highest Office in the gift Of this very
people; and by man, too, who has expressed 10 the
people of his adopted State, in the most unqualified
terms, the recognition Of the right he sets at de-
fance, in his letter Of 1919, 10 which have refer
red where he says, g" have believed that every
| Ecctor has right 10 make this call upon those who
offer their services TO the people, and that the cand
date is bound To answer it. He then i candidate
for the Senate Of Oho-but now, when candidate for
the Presidency he will 'makc further declaration
of his principles for the public eve, he Will answer
neither ''frirnds foes We must. in the language of
the Trio Committee "Receive the nomination Of Gen.
Harrison with something akin to generous eonfdtnre.
Yes, MIR President, the People must trust Mr. iar-
Int Mr. larris friisf tho 10 an
lit be, Sir. that they will bow the knee and sue
cuaib dogmas, worthy and worthy only, to be adj
dressed by HE power Of absou.isn. TO dcbased and
NAL subjects: Sir, torrent Of ind gnatinn ought 10 he
hurried against tins old by free People, that would
cause his knees to sntc together in fear and trembling
Ike Bcshazza At his feast, ard in the midst of his
sernaton he should hear Proclaimed in voice Of thun
der the indignant rebuk" Of his countrymen-ron have