The Ohio Democrat and Dover advertiser. [volume] (Canal Dover, Ohio) 1839-1840, 1840-07-17
From the N. Y. Evening Post.
DISHONEST CANDIDATE.

1t was good piece Of advice which an ex-
perienced lawyer gave to friend not very well
versed in jurisprudence. who was appointed "a
Judge in one Of the British colonies. "Never
altemptto give any reasons for your decisions,
said the old advocate. "f0r if yOl do you will
be quite certain TO give bad ones B."
Harrisons's fr ends have cause to regret that
some such adviser was not al his elbow when
he ponned the lett to the Committee Of the
wing members Of the New York legislature,
which we published yesterday. The reasons
he gives for not answering the questions which
the people Of the United States are asking, are
worse if possible than his refusal to answer.
One of the reasons he gives for not answer
ing is that unprinCipIed men will answer false
j.. He says:
| "The people of this country DO not rely Oh
| professions, promises aud pledges. They know
I that if candidate is nicipled he will not
scruple to give any pledge that may be required
Of him, and Us little will lie hesitate 10 violate
it,"
/ In other words. "ask me no questions and
| will tell you no lies" Is then General EIarrl>
son willing to proclaim himsefa DISHONEST
nun, who proess one thing and practice anoth.
cr? II so, he is certainly not fit be the cat.di>
date of any party. If, on the other hand, he
means to practice what he processes, where is
tho evil of making his professions public :?
, hfust no man tell the truth because some men
speak falsely? Must no man declare his orin-
IONS because some persons profess opinions
that they do not hold! Yet this is the drift Of
iIarrison'S doctrine. Again says General Elar-
rison
''As it regards the subjects upon which the
legislature may be called to act, tie pledges g.
opinions should be required, if required at all,
of the members of Congress"
Here we plunge into another difficulty. Ifa
candidate for the presidency is not to declare
his opinions because the danger is that he may
lie, why should "a member of Congress be cal
led upon to declare hisl Cannot member of
Congress play the knave as well as a candidate
for the presidency ? Are all those who canvass
for "a seat in Congress honest men, and all who
canvass for the presidency knayes and hypo,
critics?
Another reason gwen by Harrison for not de
c,Aring his opinions while candidate, is that
they might have an influence on the legislation
of Congress in case he should be elected. He
"wonM leave Congress" he says, "as much as
possible unttammelled by executive in the dis
charge of its legislative fincton." And again,
he says that the applications made to him for
his opinions relative TO matters Of legislation"
imply that in the opinion of the writers, "thn
presidential Office is the proper source and ORR
gin of al the legislation of the country" an o.
pinion which he thinks at war with every prin>
cipIe of the constitution. In other words, Gen
eral Harrison holds that it is not the business
Uf the President of the United States to trou-
BILE Congress with his opinion on any matter
which may be the subject of legislation.
The Constitution ofthis republic, in enumer-
atng the duties of the President, says:
"He shall from time to time give to the Com
gress information the state of the Union, and
to their consld Grafton such mea>
sures as he shall judge necessary and expedi'
ent"
General Harrison puts his veto on this clause
of the Constitution. He would not discharge
the duty publicly suggesting to Congress such
laws as he might think necessary, lest he should
'rramme them with executive influence" "
There is no greater nonsense than this. The
President has other means of making known
his wishes to members of Congress than by
messages and public declarations. A neglect to
proper laws in public manner
would not be the slightest security against the
use of executive influence. Messages and 9TH
er official declarations are intended for the peo-
pie as wei! as for members of Congress and
If they were abolished, the more dangerous
methsd Of private suggestion wouIis be res'rt'
ed TO.