Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1840-05-29
RICHMOND, Va, FRIDAY, MAY %, 1s4C
Views of the Presidential Election.

Gen. w. h. HARRISON quallled 10 carry oht your Pi
ciples. Is he the most capable, the most faithful to
vour Constitution, Is he the candidate who by the
extent of his civil qualifications, the purity OF his po-
tca opinions and the force Of circumstances is best
calculated to support the principles OF the Republican
partly
and services of Gen Harrison. We not IN search
of soldier but of statesman, to administer the Co.
yernment We know, indeed, that four years ago. The
Federasts adopted him their champion Tor no such
consideration They had respect for his civil quail
fcatons The very men who Reproduced the selection
of n "Nllitary Chieiain, than s'war, pesti
encc and faminc;' who denounced Cen Jackson,
although his military fame had completely ecpsed The
ACHE vements Of Gen. Harrison, are now the hrst to
adopt him as their candidate. They wanted hero 10
fight their battles; and they found him. as they ina
gined in the "Hero of the Thames, or the "liero Of
Tippecanoe." Four years ago they presented him to
the People, but he defeated lie was then considered
as being laid upon the shetland Mr. Clay would
have been nominated at Harrisburg; If the anti Ma
sons of Pennsylvania, and the Abolltionsts of Ohio
and New York, had not protested against Mr.. Clay,
and insisted upon the selection of General HARRISON
They thought also that some capital might be made
out of his military position The very last thing,
indeed, which would recommend the present no.
mince of the Federal Party, his talents and qua
lifcatons for the affairs of Government In these
respects, he is decidedly inferior to Mr. Van Buren,,
who had shone both as Senator and as Secretary OF
State; whose pen had guided the Republican party in
measures of that party in the Senate of the Union
AS Mr. Senator Iumpkn says lin his letter of the 9Th
inst the People of Georga) "the difference IN the
general character and qualifications of these two ndi-
vduals for the station under consideration IS tmmca-
smubie. MIR. Van Buren's talents character, deport.
mcnt and qualifications will to him the highest
respect and consideration in any official station what
ever On the contrary, Gen. Harrison can sustain
himself arherc, in high official station The one is an
experienced and able lcan-ccar IN his views, deci-
ded in his actions, who thinks for HIMSELF and express
his opinions without cquivocaton and reserve The
other is afraid to any questions; TO disclose any
opinions TO offend any ofhs partizans-bnt has thrown
himself into the arms of "Confdential Committee,
who keep his conscience and seal ms lips The one
thinks and acts for himsclf-the other would put the
Executive Office into commission, and yield to the
controlling councils of Webster and Clay of Wright
and of Sergeant.
We dismiss, however, the talents Of the
dila,es-and come to another question, still more I'M
porant in its results and more easy OF solution Is
w H. Harrison faithful to the doctrines of the Repub
lican party: Will he pursue those great principles,
which your fathers have marked down, and which you
have adopted as the landmarks OF the Constitutions
We shall prove that he has scarcely one principle IN
common with those of the Virgin State Rights School
that he is Federast in his creed, tcderast IN his
measures-that he is the advocate of National Tariff
Of National Internal Improvements, Bank man, ID
trbutionst, a National CoonIZationst; Federal POI :
tican Of the Webster School, and the candidate of tie
Abolitionists. We crave your attention, Feiow-cIt
zens TO the various proofs, which these Numbers will
deveope-and then say, for yourselves whether Cen
Harrison is the Politician to whom you, asNirginians
as friends to limited Constitution and friends to
your country, can give your votes as the Chief Aas's
trate of the I. States.
Cen Harrison was Federalist in the days of John
Adams--ohe Reign of Terror which brought the two
parties directly at ssue--fic had entered the army
der the administration Of Gen. Wash ngton, and left it
in the year 81 The first ctv office which he ever
wore was that of Secretary Of the Territory Northwest
of the river Ohlo--and this conferred upon him By
John Adams, on the Goth June, l79S
In December % he took his seat as Delegate 10
Congress from that Territory. He had 'the right VI
debating, hut not of voting. OF course, on all tie
great party questions which agated the courtry, his
name is not be traced among the ayes and noes.
The Alien and Sedton Laws had been passed at pre-
vious session He rarely took the floor, except some
measure which was connected with the interests OF his
own Territory But we do trace him on one question
which scarcely inferior in importance and equally
memorable party movement, ~ those celebrated
acts II related to John Adams Standing Army,
which had been got up by the Federal Party, on the
pretext of "Frcnch Invasion : This was
odious in the eyes of the whole Republican Party. II
called forth indignant rcmonstrance from the Viz
GINA Legsature--in the shape of instructions which
were addressed in January 1900, Alessrs Stephen
Thompson Mason and Wilson c. Nicholas, our Sena.
tors in Congress At the very time when this Protest
was under the consideration of the General Assembly,
powerful effort made by Messrs Gallatn, John
Randolph and the other orators in the Fl. OF r. to
duce the army 1t was resisted by 1Iessrs. Oils, llar-
per and the other Federasts-and il this occa-
SION that Gen Harrison took the floor, behalf of the
Federal Administration. The act had passed in July
%, TO raise u Gdditional regiments of Infantry,
troops of Light Dragons, to appoint Major Generals,
3 Brigadicrs, &c. &c &c. 1t all hands consi-
dered strong party measure.
1t was during the same session. that Gen. II. sup
ported the proposition 10 form the Indiana Territory
out of part of the Northwestern Territory. The mca.
sure was finally passed towards the close Of the Scs
sion.-On the llth May, 1900, Congress adjourned :;
and eight days AFTER The official Gazette the
appointment of VIM. Henry Harrison delegate 10
Congress from the ~ w. Territory to be Governor of
the Indiana Territory" FIe was appointed by John
Adams, in the midst of The Reign at Terror, and at q
time when that Administration ayowed as It's rule OF
appointment the adhesion Of its nonNnees.
Gen. H. appears TO have been iavoritc of President
Adams. He rewarded by the appointment, first of
Secretary TO the Northwestern Territory, and next as
Governor of Indiana. But this is not all. We have
his own admission made 26 years after, of his attach
ment to Mr.. Adams In the year 1s2G Mr. John Ran
dolph and Gen. Fl. met in the Senate of the t. s.
and in Debate which took place on the 10Th March,
1876, the appropriation for the Cumberland Road,
which hlr. Randolph opposed with the great body OF
the Republican party, the friends of Federal power,
with GEN HARRISON supported it. !See Gales u Sea-
tons Congressional Debates, Vol H. part l., p. 800
1t tue Of his speech, that Mr. Randolph sketches
''Now y the orlv difference between the "cnrm7n itgG
andsmy self Is ,hand H. va That gentleman aud 'EI-
differ fundamentally and totally, aud DID differ when ~
C"hsnss-lr delegate from the Territory
Northwest the river oho, member Of The other Aonsc
the Site OF Virginia. he open, Jealous, frank
porter the Sedion Law and Black cockade Administration;
aud zeaou flank and opponent Of the Eack
cnckade and Sclton Law Administration. We differ iuntamcn
tally and totaywc never can agree about measures or about
men-I df dictate 10 the genteman-ct agree to
gentlemen ought do, especially natives Of the
each other politics. He, aCknow-
ledge, now, and the bu;, unless there is
false the philosophy The schools in the
time these will change their Places land the prophecy
lied in the erston Of Gen. Jsckson end the down
fall of J. ca. Adams and his Party
Sin the OF this debate, MR. HARRISON said h;; he
could refrain making his aknow Judgments the gentle
Virginia for the notice he had pleased take
him He has been pleased that in the administration
Mr. Adams Federlst and he that conclusion
from the pursued by the session of l799lS00 At
that session. the gentleman and myself for the first tme-he
in the station of Repre- enave from Virginia. aud the
humble OF DELEGATE from the Northwestern Territory Hav
ing vote did not think proper take part the discus
Of the great political questions which divided
ties My business procure the passage of the bills which
had introduced for the benefit of people represented The
gentleman had of knowing political principles
less he obtained them private conversation Is spon
Of intimacy ruth e gecmon probable that lie might haze
heard me express semenis arOra6e 10 the then