Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1840-06-09
I,ir party for the highes, office in the gift Of

modern Wing party for The highest office in the gift
the people.
RELYING, as we do, for the success of our cause, uao
m. oreat principles of constitutional right and popula
liberty we do not feel called to make direct ssu
with the supporters of Gen. HARRISON on the questio
Of his claims to the title of Hero We cannot how
ever but remember the expressed apprehcnsuns Of til
party that support him, uttered by their great leader
few wears since that the elevation nf Military Chief
tain Ia The Presidency would be of fatal tendenc
1 than uwar pes,ilence and famine. 1t is true, W
misht question his claim place in history gren
military leader and this issue we might call for tn
universal Judgment Of his country Acis should spea
! far themselves and most especially military exploits
and the General who requires from his snbaerns hei
written testimonials to prove the wisdom OF his con
duct the fact of his presence IN danger or the value
his services his country, can scarcely aspire to TIT
dignity of hero. Are we mistaken IN the fact tina
doubts and questions surround the military reputation
of General WIN. H Harrison? Did they not exs
even in his camp and among his most brave ant
efficient officers? Did they not reach the Congress
Of the United States, and, at time when the trans
actions were recent and the means OF information full
nauco the Senate TO refuse to him those honors which
were unnnimouslv awarded 10 others with whom hi:
name was 'associaed' Did he not leave the military
service othis country at the most gloomy period of
desperate war; thus making his own act, and the time
chosen for IT, a confirmation OF these doubts and qurs
lions: To General Harrison we would render sric
and impartal Justice, and We PROFOUND these inquiries
| because the history of the times not only suggests
them but furnishes positive and affirmative answer
to each Will his friends reply that proving
their candidate not to be military cheitain' Be il
So Their inconsistency in claiming for him that cha
racter as a merit and qualification for the Presidency
is not the less apparent, if they shall be found to
admit that the claim has foundation in fact and his
tory
B.vond this single claim the support Of free pco-
pie MS distinctive Of the Federal candidate for the Pre-
sdencv VIC are unable speak from any ground yet
assumed by himself his friends In reference 10 his
principles opinions and acts beyond ms military chief
,ainship there organized silence, as studied rs
is SINGULAR The country has been told II would
seem by authority that lie is 20 write more 'ior the
public eve" until after the Presidential election, and
lis supporters very carefully follow this example oi
their selected leader Is public history is certainly
not history of civic triumphs nor has life spent IN
public employ mostly civil presented him us the
author of measures, leading supporter OF
the measures of Others essentially connected with the
principles of our Government, with the interests OF
our people We are compelled, therefore, to dismiss
General Harrison; and, beyond what we have already
said to follow the example he has set and his friends
sanctioned, say nothing, because, we are forced to
presume, nothing is 10 be said We leave him, there.
fore with his Federalism established beyond question
and with his questionable claim 10 Il military rcputa
ton.
Once more, repeat, are rot alarmstS; but our
dug TO the Democracy are here to represent, would
10 the desperate efforts hch their opponents every
where making to carry the approaching election and
TO rain possession of the General Government. II
they were to succeed in the accomplishment, Of then
object and thus be enabled TO carry into execution Their
schemes of policythose especially which relate I" The
management of the public finances by the agency of
treat lnonied insttuton-there is danger that our Re
publican institutions, though they might preserve then
FORM would not long retain their purity, their simp
cty or their strength But our confidence IN the dis
-. - 49,, IL, t.z,,
and We confidently trust and believe that they will not
only the coming danger but thu, they Will meet il
with all the necessary measures OF prccaution
The history of all Republics is rcpc,c with in afuc-
tive lessons to every American citzcn-lcssons prcu
arly applicable TO Government like ours, formed b,
a union Cf independent States.
One and perhaps the most important of all these les
sons is the constant danger OF foreign influence cX
ertcd through the power OF money. The approaches
of this influence have been gradna! and impercepIbie
until within the last few years, within which the pro
qrcss has been rapid and the diffusion almost unver
sal. The ordinary operations Of trade between com
mercial countries reciprocal and Sa!utary. Eaa
! bling each to exchange the commodities OF which j
has surplus, for others which II wants, the indus
trous, The convenience, and The comforts Of all ar
promoted, the wealth of ALL both individual and ma
tional increased hcalthiul and useful intercourse
cured and harmony Of feeling produced, without an,
necessary sense Of dependence. H. however, the re-
cy7ocal relations of trade be- chang" for the relation
OF borrower or lender: II one country, or ITS citizens
become borrowers from another country, its citizens
for purposes not commercial, the consequences ar
wholly different, and the truth, that thc borrower is
servant to the lender of money, viii be found 10 hav
its application strong and much dangerous
] w. than when that dependent relation exists between
| citizen and citizen Of the same country.
/ We are not to be understood condemning, in al
cases, loans between country and country or hctwee
the citizens of different countries The demands arts
ing from state Of war, and perhaps other great cxi
rcncics, frequently render such loans by nation III
dispea sable, while the transactions Of commerce ar
: constantly creating credits between commercial men
all countries In the first class of eases the war mus
be prosecuted, the other great nat ona cxgency met
and the relation odebtor endured, until returning peace
or renewed prosperity, shall have wiped out the deb
In the second the operations Of commerce are ancipa
ted, and ordinarily depended upon with safety to ba
lance the accounts and terminate the unpleasant rela
ton. TO no transactions of these classes any OF on
subsequent remarks intended 10 be applied
very different deScrptio OF foreign loans aud 70
reign debts have become common in our country, an
these it is wish to draw the public attention
We refer 70 loans made by banking institutions eithe
to relieve themselves from embarrassment Mt caused i
improyiCcm' expansions in banking, enable her
10 extend hr!r operations beyond the limit inte nded
those who granted their charters: hv companies an
associations, TO enable them to munopolize an entir
branch o! internal trade, embark in some cnte
prise OF questionable psoducivcnes and by the State
of the lnion without the provision, hy taxation
Vi Il certain IuNu 10 meet the lDtt
rest upon their loans
4 We think we not mistaken in the assnmpto
that all the early State loans sought in our ow
market and from our own countrymen. We believe
ALSO that one Of the first acts of the borrowing State
was to establish and set apart fund TO the pay
ments of interest upon the money borrowed. Til
safe policy prevailed for series Of years and until de
leerous examples, proceeding not from the States
The Union, but from interpretations, II creations of tn
State and Federal Governments, produced the change
III" consequences of which we consider fearful an
alarming.
The Bank ofthe United States the first 10 ma;
the standard Of lis credit in London the measure of il
business in the United States Other leading State il
stitullons followed this practice of evil tendency, an
none Of the interpretations which once adopted th
Standard failed to make their interests conform to it.
/ Thus change in the value of money in foreign com
tries would become the Of bank expansions
con.rartons i'll the United States far the bushes
Of III" Bank Of the United States, and of many Of tn
larger State banking institutions, were concerned
long period of general peace, and Of great prospe
rty in all the branches of trade and industry, renerc