Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1840-07-13
NoRrH BEND. O. MAY % IS

NoRTH BEND, o., Nav %, 1910.
Gentlemen - have the honor to acknowledge
the receipt OF your letter Of the 25th February
conveying the proceedings ola meeting of The
wing members OF The Legislature, convened in
Ire Capitol of the State on the 22d of that month.
'tgyon tob believe, Gentlemen, that am deep
y impressed with the honor, which has been con-
tered upon me 10y the distinguished body, whom
on lhis occasion you represent. The grent object
OF both my civil and military life has bt en- to serve
my country 10 The utmost OF my abilities and to
Obtain ITS appreciation. The hope OF this has of.
len cheered me IN circumstances of great Difficult.
ty aud embarrassment
You will pardon me, trust, lin this letter go
somewhat beyond the there purpose of acknowl.
cdglnS the receipt of your communication, and
use tie occasion foi muking few remarks which
circumstances seem to require of me, in respect
10 declaration OF opinions, or pledges, us to nv
future conduct, required OF candidates for high
Offices.
MY public LIE, not now a short one, is beio e
the country. My opinions on important subjects
have been expressed frGm lime 10 lime, as subjects
have arisen, and since my name has been men.
toned among those from whom selection might
be made for the office of President have in sew
era letters to friends, fully and frankly avowed
my sentiments. Farther than this, cannot sup.
pose intelligent persons could desire me 10 go -
The people Of this country do not rely on proes-
S'S''o, p,SH'iSSo picuBSs. lHey KNOW tnut III
candidate is unprincipled he will not scrupe 10
give any pledge that may be required of him and
as little will he hesitate TO violate it, have nj.
ready made public the principles by which |
should be governed, if elected President, SO far as
relates to the proper Executive duties OF that of
nee. But almost innumerable applications have
been made to me, for my opinions relative to mat
ters OF legislation, or even TO the proper mode of
conducting business in the two Houses of Con-
gress My published letters TO Mr.. Williams aud
Mr.. Denny, will show that do not consider the
PRESIDENT constituent branch of the Legislature
yet It is impossible TO read the letters that have
been addressed 10 me, without believing that ma
ny OF the writer's had adopted the opinion, that
Tie Presidential Office was the proper source aud
origin of all the legislation of the country; an
opinion, IN my judgment, at war with every
principle OF the constitution, and of deep and
dangerous consequence. The prevalence of such
sentiments, more than almost any thing else
would tend to consolidate the whole subs antia
power Of the government in the hands of a single
man tendency which, whether ia or out o.
Office, feel II my solemn duty to resist
have declined, therefore, to give any further
pledges or opinions on subjects which belong L
The future legislation of Congress because,
Isl. conceive, for the reasons given in my lie
tiers 10 Mr. Williams and Mr. Denny, that Con
gress should DO left as much possible unram
melled by executive influence in the discharge o
its legislative functions; and that better g,iaran
Tee for the correct conduct of Chief Magistrate
may be found in his character and the course O
his former life, than IN pledges and opinions givel
during the pendency OF a doubtful contest an.
that although recognizing the right of the peopl
TO 90 informed of the leading political opinions 0
the candidates for offices Of trust yet as il regard
the subjects upon which the Legislature may b
called to act, the pledges and opinions should b
required, IT required at n of the candidates 10
Congress.