The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1840-05-19
LETTER OF JAMES GARLAND,
TO HIS CONSTITUENTS,
TCoaaclded.l

TO HIS CONSTITUENTS,
Concluded.
Thus, felow-citzens, you will see that, either
through ignorance or by design, those who pro-
fess wish to open your eyes to the light, have
concealed from you the truth, and, although
guilty of no positive assertion of falsehood, have,
either through ignorance or design, suppressed
the truth which last, from whatever cause, is
equally fatal to your right understanding OF the
questions you have to determine
Ihaye greatly misunderstood the proud magma
nimity Of Virginians, if this course, obviously
calculated to deceive them, and msrepresent
one of their own sons, does not create in their
hearts a swelling fountain of that very sympa-
thy which it was intended to destroy To show
how noby General Harrison, in 1929, sacrificed
his seat in Congress to his and your principles,
subjoin the following statement from the Ma
tonal Intelligencer Of October 20, 1922:
1t is confirmed to us that Mr.. Galley is elected in
opposition to General Harrison. friend inform u.s.
ufich zee sorry to learn that he opposed par
iiculariy account Of his adherence to that princi
PIE of the Constitution, irhich to the people Of
the South their pre-enisting rights
here dismiss the subject, satisfied that nei-
ther calumny nor ignorance, can misrepresent
or be deceived as to the opinions of General Hair
rison on this question.
SO far then, fellow citizens, as objections are
concerned, the political opinions of General
Harrison are not more obnoxious than those of
Mr. Van Buren,, which leave them both precise
" upon the same ground The next inquiry is,
in what are General Harrson's opinions prefer
able to those of Mr. Van Buren,? answer by
quoting from letter addressed by General Har-
rison to Harmer Denny, on the I'd OF December,
1888, the following opinions upon the great ques
ton of Executive power, patronage and lnfiu-
ence, which constitutes the great issue between
the Administration and its opponents. He says;
Among the principles properly to be adopted by
any Executive sincerely DESTROYS to restore the Admin
s,raton its original simplicity and purity, deem,
the following to be Of prominent Importance:
81. 70 coNFINE HIS SERVICE TO SINGLE TERM"
Is there any republican who can doubt the
great value to our Institutions and safety to our
liberty which would result from the establish
ment of such precedent. 1t was a favorite
principle with all our republican Presidents, and
every friend of liberty should rejoice at seeing
the example set.
2 To DIscLAIM ALL RIGHT OF CONTROL OVER THE
with the exception of such part of
may be appropriated by law to carry the public
services, and that to be applied precisely the law
direct and drawn from the Treasury agreeable to
the long established forms of the Department"
Can any conservative republican fail to per-
ceve that this article contains the very gist of
the contest between him and the Adminstra-
ton, and that General Harrison's opinions are
in strict accordance with his own2 Would not
this loosening of the hold of the Executive up
on the public Treasury be an invaluable gain /?
80 THAT he SHOULD NEVER ATTEMPT TO INFLu-
ENcE ELECTIONS, either by the people or the State Lee
islatures nor suffer the federal officers under his
troll to take any other part in them than by giving
their own votes when they possess the right of vo-
ting"
Would not this be an important achievement
10 the purity of the elective franchise, and the
"a, rofp np,lor o1ncftopc1 Wnnld
save the communicating influence of official in
reference with the exercises of the most valua-
bic and important rights of American freemen
Surely it would, if the opinions of your Jeifer-
sons your Madisons, your Taylors, and host
Of most eminent and sagacious republican states
men are to be relied upon. If you wish to learn
its value, go to the city of New York on an
election day. and witness with your own eyes
fire hundred offce-holders, receiving salaries of
upwards of 100000, collecting and disbursing
millions of the public revenue, busily engaged
in controlling and directing public opinion; and
that, too, by means not the most honorable.
a. That in the exercise of the veto power he
should limit his rejection of bils-lst Such as are in
his opinion unconstitutional ID, Such tend to en-
croach the rights Of States individuals. Sd
Such as involving deep interests, may in his opinions
win of the people, to be ascertaned at the succeeding
elections"
This is brief but most clear and compre
hensive exposition of the design and Office Of
the veto power, and is in strict accordance
with Mr.. Jeherson's views. II manifests thai
respect for the legislation of Congress which
every Executive ought to maintain towards the
representative body. II would elevate the e-
gislature to its true dignity, and preserve its in
dependence.
IS. That he should never suffer the influence o.
his name to be used for purposes Of a purely party
character"
The magnanimity and value of this sentiment
is above all praise, and should be engraved in
enduring letters upon the heart Of every free.
man How much would it do to heal the angry
discussions which now agitate and divide the
country, restore tranquility to an excited people
and introduce that system of wise and discreet
legislation so necessary TO our welfare II is
the sentiment of a truly patriotic heart, and one
which should inscribe the name of its author on
the brightest page of the history of public bene-
faction.
sc That in removals from Office of those who hold
their appointments during the pleasure Of the Exccu
tive the cause of such removal should be stated if re-
quested, to the Senate at the time the nomination of
successor is made"
And last, but not least in importance:
That he should not suffer the Executive depart
ment of the Government TO become the source of Ie
gsation but leave the whole business of making law,
for the Union to the department to which the Consti
tuition has exclusively assigned it, until they have as
sumed that perfect shape where and when alone III,
opinions of the Executive may be heard
This is very clear and correct view or III,
powers and duties Of the Executive department