Southern Argus. [volume] (Columbus, Miss.) 1834-1842, 1840-02-04
GENERAL HARRISON'S POLITICAL.
OPINIONS

OEANlON6t
In the extract below, Of letter addressed /
> the Hon. Sherrod Williams, Of Kentucky
] 1886, the reader viii find marked out the |
curse which Genl. II Harrison, If elected, will |
ursue in reference to certain important Qnes- |
ions Of national policy. twill be perceived
hat on the subjects THE distribution Of the |
urplus revenue, Internal improvements ana
National Bank. General Harrison. in 1886. oc-
,upled precisely the ground which Genl Jack
on once maintained on those questions Did
l0nl 1ackson's former opinions on these
measures make him federalist4 Ifn0s. how
IAN Genl. Harrson's advocacy Of them make
lim one! 1t was an assumption, therefore as
mpudent as il was unfoundcd. IA the Van Bu-
rem meeting Of the 6th January last, to = rs.
solpe, 2 that the political principles and opinions
Of General Harrison are the principles and O.
pinions Of tae federal party in 1900 and further
that Genl. Harrison and Mr. 78ler hold and
in their al0N ultra form doctrines
in favor of National Bank, Internal Improve
ments BY the General Government. and Of
$ that dangerous and broad construction ofthe
Constitution which invades the rights Of the
States, and consolidates and imparts new pow.
ers to the federal Government"
John Tyler an ultra Authoritarian construc-
tionisl We blush for our townsman and fell
lowcitizons. Even the Richmond Enquirer
viii in secret, hold in utter derision this most
ridiculous, preposterous misrepresentation Of
the political opinions Of man who again and
aga a. and at long intervals, has held the high
est Offices which Virginia could bestOw.
But from whom emanates this charge A.
gainst Genl. Harrison ofbeing latItudinarian
constructionistl From the unninching sup
porters and ardent admirers of Cen. lac kson,
Martin Van Buren, and Col Richard 81. john
son IRON men who sustained senl. Jackson
in his vote for high protective Tariff in 1924
who approved Of the support then given by
him TO a system of Internal Improvem ents by
the General Government--who believed with
him that a National Bank was in many re-
spects convenient for the Government and use
ful to the people" and that such an institution
q compcfen; to al the duties which may be re-
quired by the government might be so organized
as not to infringe on our delegated powers or
the reserved rights Of the States"-who hal-
ed has project of a distribution Of the surplus
revenue as a measure Of consumatc wisdom
who loudly declared the doctrines of the Pro
ctanatioH to be the true doctrines Of the Con-
stitlaion, and proclaimed their readiness to
maintain th1m at the point Of the bayonet-yes
to march into South Carolina" (that was the
world and bring her under subsection to the
General Government.
These are the men who gTavelv assembled
themselves together at the Court House on the
9Th, and swallowed without fiinching a set Of
resolutions, cut and dried, at which the diges-
tive powers of an ostrich would have recoled.
If they or Their leaders or organ will UNDER
take to specify single Federal opinion, as
they call It, maintained by Genl. Harrison, we
will undertake to prove by record evidence that
Geni. Jackson not only stands in the same cat
egory, but that, in practice and theory, he has
been ultra latitudinariaR in all his construc-
tons of the constitution!
But to General Harrson's letter. 1t istas
follows.--Nash. Banner.
NORM BEND. May /, 1886.
SIR: have the honor to acknowledge the
receipt of your letter oft 9TH ultimo in which
you request me to answer the following ques-
tons:
LIST. " VIII you, ifelected president of the
United States, sign and approve bill distribu-
ting the surplus revenue of the United States
TO each state, according to the federal popula-
ton efeacb, for internal improvements, educa-
ton, and to such other objects as the legisla-
lures of the several states may see fit to apply
the samel"
2. "Wlly you sign and approves bill distri-
buting the proceeds of the sales of the public
lands to each state, according 10 the federal
population ofeach, for the purposes above spe-
clied!''
3. VIII You sign and approve bills making
appropriations to improve navigable streams a.
bove ports Of entry -
Ath g Win xrCat etor, and ay,rroro IF n h.a
comes necessary TO secure and save from de-
probation the revenue and finances of the ma
ton, and 10 afford uniform sound currency
to the people Of the United States) bin with
proper modification and restrictions,) charter.
ing a bank Of the United States ~
9th. What Is your opinion as to the con-
stitutIonal power of the senate or house Of rep
resentatives of the congress of the United
States, to expunge OF obliterate from the Jour.
mails the records and proceedings Of a previous
session! 2"
From the manner in which the four first
questions are stated, II appears that you do mol
ask my opinion as TO the policy or proprietys o.
the measures TO which they respectively refer
but what would be my course, if they were
presented to me (being in the presidential
chair ofthe United States) IN the shape Of bills
that had been duly passed by the senate sni
house Of representatives.
From the opinions which have formed Of
the intention Of the constitution, as to the case.
in which the veto power should be exercised
by the president, would have contented my
self with giving an affirmative answer to the
four first questions but from the deep interes
which has been, and indeed is now, felt in re
Iationtc al these subjects. / think it propel
to express my views upon each one separate
ly
/ answer, then, 1st. That the immediate
return ofall the surplus money which is o.
ought 70 be in the treasury Of the Unitet
States, to the possession of the people, from
whom Il was taken, IS called for by every prin
ciple of policy and indeed of safety to our in
stitutions and know of no mode Of dong j
better than that recommended by the presen
chef magistrate, in his first annual message t
congress, IN the following words: To dUOit
these eriEs u appears 10 ne that the most SAT
,ustidnd federal disposition tchich could be mad
IF ne surplus revenue Coud Be its appoTtion
nlent emOag The several sfates, according to I'll
rdsio Of representation"
This proposition has reference to state o
things which now actually exists, with the ex
ception ofthe amount of money thus to be dis
posed o--for it could not have been anticipa
ted by the president that the surplus above tn
lreal wants or convenient expenditures Of thu
/ government would become so large, as that re
tanning it il the treasury would so much di
minish the circulating medium as greatly t
embarrsss the business of the country.
What other disposition can be made of
with aview to get it into immediate circlla
ton, but topIace il in the hands Of the state Al
! thoritiest So great is the amount, and so "a
/ pidly is it increasing, that il could not be ex
pended for a very considerable time on the con
rarafivelv few objects n, which II eonld he an