The pilot and transcript. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1840-1841, 1840-11-24
no 1y1LIIAM HENRY HARRISON.

fee in their government BY this mark Of con-
idonce they do not suppose that they have ele-
waited you above the dignity OF citizenship, but
they have chosen yeu to represent to all the world
that dignity which every American is conscious
of possessing. Entertaining such views, do
not hesitate to address myself Immediately to
you. Incomparably as you are my superior IN
all those qualities of mind which. in their excel
lence, constitute intellectual grestness,and great
ly as you ars distinguished by the popular pre-
ference, vet, sir, our common citizenship makes
us equals.
1t is as true IN intellectual and moral, as 10
physical things, that mankind are made for mu-
tual dependence and support. Perhaps there is
no man in the community who cannot add some
thing to the common stock of knowledge, as well
as to the means Of subsistence or the appliances
of comfort. Great men, therefore, can never be so
great as to be independent of the most obscure.
In the exercise Of the intelligence, well as in
the supply of their physical wants, they mnst
seek aid from the humble, Mordecai, at the
kings gate, was the saviour or the king. In
deed, even inanimate nature watches over the
safety of man, and the proudest of human kind
must stoop to learn of mere matter, things too
hard FOR his intelligence. The trembling of the
forest leaf fortells the tempest; the rumblng of
the earth beneath us gives warning sf the desc
lation preparing in its caverns; the fowls of he
air, the grass of the field, the vapour floating in
the upper sky; all these are sentinels upon the
out-posis Of human life, the ceaseless telegraphs
Of good or evil.
If, then, the indications of unthinking nature
arc thus worthy of regard, the words Of the
humblest man should never be despised, when he
seeks to communicate to his fellows, his sober
thoughts upon matters of mutual interest.
Greatly as l esteem you, sir; much as admire
your character, and large as are my expectations
Of your success in the conduct of public affairs,
do not forget that you fallible man, liable to
the mistakes that grow out of imperfect knowl-
edge, and exposed to the evils which assal all
men through moral weaknesses; and well do
know that great efforts will be made to nislead
your Judgment, and to turn to selfish account
whatever of infrmity may, by microscopic
scrutiny, be detected in your character hope
you will net mistake these remarks for depreci-
alton, either Of your abilities or your disposition
They are such as would have addressed to
Washington, had lived in his day. They be-
long TO human nature, even when most elevated
and refined.
Permit me, sir, to lay before you the views
and feelings of large and very respectable por-
ton Of the community over whose political desti
Aies you are to preside, upon some points imPOr
tant to be well understood.
We have passed through fearful crisis
thanks to the God of freedom, we have passed /
it safely. Even the most sanguine patriot trem-
bled for the perpetuity of our liberty, when COM
PEELED to draw differences for the future, from
the facts of the past. Hitherto all republics,
with unimportant exceptions, had decayed and
died, by a process so uniform as to create fears
that it was natural. Men began to look beyond
the accidental causes of such dissolution, and to
seek in the very elements of the republican con-
stitution the necessity of REORGANIZATION. Under
the influence of such inquiries, many were the
predictions of our ruin. Indeed our national |
disintegration was rather proclaimed result
fundamentally ascertained than Prophecied as a
probable event Our own people dreaded the
shock which all history taught them to expect,
and fearful forebodings Of the future mingled
with the pride Of the present But the danger
has come and gone. Our liberties have survived
the contest in which previous republics were de-
stroyed; the democracy have triumphed over the
abuse Of the democratic principle, the majority
have restrained themselves, the people have de-
monstrsted their ability to govern, by accom-
plishIng with incredible celebrity and without
CONFUSION or violence the most difficult and de-
licate Of all the functions of government, tho
rough political reformation.
t You, sir, the representative OF this
mighty moral act. As President elect, YOU en-
body the political sentiment of the people; you
are the chosen agent by whom the details Of the
reformation are to be effected. The people
: them, and that you may do So, they warn you
against the fatterers who would persuade you that
, you have created the sentiment you represent:
/ that your personal virtues and well earned re-
putation as soldier have united the country in
your behalf, and that the people rather in
debtcd to you for their salvation than you to
them for your distinguished position.
Such an opinion is altogether at variance with
facts. You owe your election to causes higher
. and more complimentary to you than the sud-
denly awakened impulses of giddy crowd tic
killed. with martial coneeits, and anxious to dc
D homage to successful soldier. Nor do you
e owe your present elevation to any deep feeling
Of gratitude for previous services, which has
unexpectedly developed itself in your behal
throughout the length and breadth of the land
t 1t has often been said that Republics are un
grateful Perhaps, sir, it would be better fol
republics If they so, at least long as the
present IDEAS of recompense general. II
ths great Offices of the sountry are the prizes,