Rutland herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1823-1847, 1840-11-24


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might decide on his fitness for the Presidential
office. But my information is every way DIFF
ferent from yours. ! know that his opinions
on every subject on which he has been inter-
rogated, OF any importance, have been given
long before the present canvass commenced
His address to the People of the Cincinnati
District in 1929, disclosed fully his opinions
'as TO the character of the Government, and
the powers it might constitutionaly exert"
while his Nincennes speech, and his letter TO
Judge Berrien, published four years ago, are
foil and explicit on the subject Of abolition L.
What could any enquirer after truth have de-
sired than direct reference to these express
ions of opinionf But this will not satisfy his
opponents. They deemed it Of importance
to their party to appear not to be satisfied,
and therefore the charge of his being "in the
hands of Committee" and the "caged can
ddate." How utterly unfounded this charge
was, has been fully demonstrated to the whole
world.
4. have cause to thank you for ascribing
to me kind feeling towards the People of the
District of Columbia, although you do me too
much honor in supposing it to be parental. /
certainly do take an interest in their welfare,
although never aspired to be regarded by
them in the light of Of parent-and If did
not tell them whether / would interpose to
save them from the oft attempted invasion of
the fanatical Abolitonists," it was because
had good reason to believe that they knew full
well my sentiments on that subject My re-
corded votes in the United States Senate, and
my opinions spread before the country through
q r. Al r.
their knowledge of the fact that was a resi-
dent citizen of the State of Virginia, left me
nothing to explain to them on that head
have now, answered your enquiry, and adopt
the opinion af General Harrison, as expressed
in his letter to Judge Berrien Of Georgia, dat
ed 30ih Sept, 1886 in the following words
81 do not think that Congress can abolish
Slavery in the District of Columbia, without
the consent of the States of Virginia and Ma
ryland and the people of the District. 1t
would be breach Of faith towards the States
have mentioned, who would not certainly
have made the cession, il they had supposed
that it would ever be used for purpose so
different from that which was its object, and
so injurious to them as a free colored popula-
ton, in the midst Of their slave population OF
the same description. Nor do / believe that
Congress could deprive the People of the
District Of Columbia Of their property without
their consent. 1t would be to revive the doc
trine ofthe Tories Of Great Britain in relation
TO the powers of Parliament before the Reyo-
lutionary War, and in direct hostility to the
principles advanced by Lord Chatham, ''that
wha, was a mans own was exclusively and
absolutely his own, and could not be taken
from him without his own consent or his legal
representative. Whether | would veto bill
violatory of these opinions so plainly express
ed, if seated in the Presidential chair-a sta
ton which | neither aspire TO in the future, or
expect TO deyolve on me in any other way-it
would seem to be the merest work of SUPERB
rogaton to answer. You would not doubt my
course any more than you have cause TO doubt
the course Of General Harrison, under the cir
cumsiances supposed.
s. In reply to the LIST branch OF your enquiry,
quote and adapt the language Of General Har-
rison in his speech delivered at Dayton, "There
IS not, in the Constitution, any exprese grant
OF power for such purpose, and il could never
be constitutional To exercise that power, sdre
m the erent the poirer granted 10 Congress
could not be carried into effect without re-
sorting TO such an institution" The latter
branch OF your enquiry is folly answered by
my snsw er TO the first part. The Constitution
coniers on Congress, in express terms, all
powers which are necessary and proper" TO
carry into effect the granted powers. Now, il
1.-THE powers granted" could not be carried
into effect without incorporating Bank, then
il becomes necessary and proper" and Of
course expedient--a conclusion which pre-
sumo no one would deny who desired 10 see
the existence OF the Government preserved,
and KEEP, beni6oially in operation. Whetherl
would or would not exert the veto, II Will be
time enough for me To say when am either a
candidate for, or an expectsni of the Presiden
tial office-nei,her OF which | expect ever 10
be- II your question had been so varied as
to have enquired OF me what course would
pursue il elevated 10 the Vice Presidency,
and should be called upon TO vote upon hill
for the incorporation Of Bank, you should
have hal a direct emphatic answer. As it is
have only TO refer you 10 my speech deliver
ed in the house Of Representatives Of the
United States 1919, on the question Of issu-
ing a scire facias against the Bank, and nv
vote given in the Senate Of the United States
in 1882. on the question Of re-eharering the
late Bank.
8. That Congress has a right to impose du-
ties on merehzDdize imported none eau deny.
fI>R.. If duties we'll a