Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1840-06-19
(FI0m tic W~urrcnfon J~eficrsonian.)

(FTOm Tic Harrenton Jefersonian)
WiRRESToN, June 9Th, $40.
Mr.. EDIroR: The peculiar situation IN which ma
myself placed BY a late communication IN your paper,
constants me to bring my name before The public: an
ex,r,ct of a letter, purporting TO be from a gentleman
IN Washington TO Il friend in this place, has been pull
lishcd in The Jctirrsonan, and found an extensive CIR
culation through the medium OF the public journals
This extract rivcs an account OF a conversation on the
snh;cc, Of Abolition, held by General Harrison with the
r,.!'.r,ers an board a steamboat while travelling from
North BEND TO Cincinnati. The editor of the frede-
ricksburr Arena calls on the author oi tins letter 10
rive m his name and authority, or "be branded as a
base ANONYMOUS slandcrer:" and in the last Richmond
Enquirer, he is requested 10 say how he came to make
such n statement. In obedience TO these calls, an
nounce myself the author Of this letter, and give up as
nv authority Lieut.. J l.. DAVIS, residing at this time
near Winchester; u gentleman OF The most highly res
VEGETABLE family and come Xions. In thus introducing
his name. hazard nothing, for | am sure when he secs
this communication, from what | know of his lofty
bearing and higir.toned charactcrO he will come for
ward promptly and frankly and confirm the statement,
made, upon his authority, IN my letter. This letter
was written to my highly esteemed friend, MIR. James
A. Pavnr; of this county. was actuated by no III
motive towards Ilarrison's cause, for when the letter
went forth from my hands it was not designed for pup,
lica,ion; | simply told "a round, unvarnlshed tale, and
if il Injuries General Harrison, IT will be an injury just
" ciarreable upon himself. II is true, | was con-
suited with regard TO the publication of this pnrt of my
letter, to which | readily consented, as had the Ut
most confidence in Mr.. Davis's honor and verac'ty,
and knew he would cheerfully acknowledge his own
statement, which can be corroborated by the testimony
of another responsible person. But Is not THIS charge
amply sustained by Harrison own course Let the
public read Davis's statement III the letter already al
iudcd to, and then look at Ilarrison's circular 10 hrs for
mcr constituents, in lc22, when he was again a candI-
date for Congress. In this, they will find 4 laborcd cl-
fort to prove that he was no friend to slavery, and that
he treats The charge as Il shandcr. Here he says, also,
that he was opposed to the extension oil slavery west OF
the Mississippi, and refers the people of his district to
Judge Gatch's certificate TO satisfy them that ne tcdS
an .!hoIi;oniS aud now his friends are very busy
in denying what he took especial care to prove.
Certainly this great discrepancy between ms oTh de-
clara,ions and those of his friends, must be obvious 10 all,
however unwilling many may be to acknowledge II; but
.inone so blind us he that will not sec, and none so deaf
as he that will not hear" If General harrison IS not
an Aholtionist, he certainly acted with unpnrdonahlc
dnplicity towards those who honcrcd him with their
confidence. In either light he must stand condemned
before an enlightened and yirtuoIS people. am no
nartt2an: always acted with the Wings up 10 the
nomination OF General Harrison, TO winch 1 co"la not
pirc my adAcsion. General Harrison (who IS SAID to be
a Iciitrsonian Democrat, by those who would hate him
if they thought 500 is a Fcdrralist of Tie indclible
stamp of the elder Adams. II cannot be denied thai
he returned, on one occasion, from the seat oil Govern
mcnt 10 Cincinnati, with a black cockadc in his hat;
and il is a notorious fact that he advocated the most
ultra Federal measure which has ever been known
TO The people of this country: for III the heat OF lns
+ excitement against the Constitutional right OF a
sovereign State to protect her own peculiar and
local interests, he pronounced Gen. Jackson 5 Procla'
nation the best act Of his life. do not believe, my
self, that the Fcdcralists consider Harrison's capacity
i equal to the important duties OF the high and response.
bic station to which they would call him. Harrison
has lived nearly thrce.scorc and ten years, and his pre-
sent supporters have Just discovered that he Is a Staics
nun: "Tcll itnot in Gath, publish It not in the streets
of Askalon." The fact is, the Federallsts, in The vo'
Ience of their opposition to Martin Van Buren,, discard
ed Mc;r farourite because they did not consider him sut
fcientlv popular, and united upon ono whom they
hoped to run into Office under the captivating title %
"hcro.' They have hois,ed a banner, with the word:
umilttary chicftain' emblazoned upon it, and are now
claiming for their new idol, the homage of a free aG
intelligent people. They are trying 10 kindlc INTO a
blaze TIE diving members Of his military fame, and lc
revive laurcls long ago faded.
One importan: consideration by which they are go
vcrncd is the belief, (wcll founded, tooD that, slnu,c
| Harrison he elected, he would sanction their ilrorii'
measures of a National Bank, Protective Tariff, ana
Internal improvements. All of these measures au
opposed 10. | have always been an advocate of the
States Rights doctrine, and would support no man
f. uafricndly to It; for upon this basis, in my judgment
+ the peace, safety, and stability of our institutions rest
When General Harrison was first nominated, | had full
confidence in his honesty, al least; but must say, thai
even this has been greatly impaired by his subsequent
course. He has refused, under the most urgent solicit
tations, to express his sentiments upon one of the most
vital and important questions which has ever agitated
the councils Of this, or any other nation, and which, OF
late wears, has most seriously threatened the peace as
well as the property of the Southern people. In pur'
suing this course he has, at least, been %untdir; for he is
asking the sui!ragcs Of those very people whose plan
aad pro0rr questions he refuses to answer; contrary tc
the practice of all former candidates, and his own de
) clqrcd convictions, touching the obligations resting
upon all who seek office a. the hands of the people.
Suffer NE to say, in conclusion, that did not think
when General Harrison was frs, nominated for the Pre-
sidcncv, that 50 important a trust ought to be com
mitled 10 his charge, nor do | believe now, that he i:
qualified, in any r.spcd ]niatcrer, for the Chief Magls
tracy of this great Republic.
am, Sir,
Very respectfully, &c, &c,
Il EDWARD DIXON.
~TIPPECANOE CORRESPONDENCE
RIcuMnxn, April nth, 1SlO.
Dear Sir-Thc circumstances which this letter vii
explain, will excuse me, | hope, for %intrudrng mysrl
II nnpp rcur attention