Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1840-07-14
Gen. WIN. HENRY HARRIsoS.

NORTH BEND, (O.O May II, lSlO.
Gentlemen-I have the honor TO acknowledge the re-
ceipt Of your letter of The 25th Feb, conveying the pro-
ceedings ola meeting of the Wing members of the le-
~gislature, convened in the capitol of the State on the
22d Of that month.
beg YOU to believe, gentlemen, that l am deeply
impressed with the honor which has been conferred
upon me by the distinguished body, whom on this &C.
casion you represent. The great object of both my
civil and military life has been, TO serve my country to
the utmost of my abilities, and 10 obtain its appreciation.
The hope of this has often cheered me IN circumstances
Of great difficulty and embarrassment.
You will pardon me, ! trust, if IN this letter ! go
somewhat beyond the mere purpose OF acknowledging
the receipt of your communication, and use the occa-
sion for making a few remarks, which circumstances
seem to require from me, in respect to a declaration OF
opinions, or pledges, as to my future conduct, required
Of candidates for high Offices.
My public life, not now a short one, is before the
country. My opinions on important subjects, have
been expressed from time TO time, as those subjects
have arisen, and since my name has been mentioned
among those from whom u selection might be made
for the office of President, | have in several letters to
friends, fully and frankly avowed my sentiments
Farther than this, l cannot suppose intelligent per-
sons could desire me to 90. The People Of this coun-
try do not rely on professions, promises and pledges.
They know, that if a candidate is unprncipled he
will not scruple to give any pledge that may be re-
quired of him, and as little will he hesitate to violate 1t.
| have already made public the principles by which |
should be governed if elected President, so far as re-
lates to the proper Executive duties of that office. But
almost innumerable applications have been made to
me for my opinions relative to matters of legislation,
or even TO the proper mode of conducting business in
the two Houses Of Congress. My published letters to
MIR. Williams and MIR. Denny, will show, that | do not
consider the President q constituent branch Of the
Legislature yet it is impossible to read the letters
that have been addressed to me, without believing
that many of the writers had adopted the opinion,
that the Presidential Office was the proper source and
origin of all the legislation of the country an opinion,
in my judgment at war with every principle Of the
-.t.t, a~l ~ To- o~l
The prevalence of such sentiments, more than almost
anything else, would tend to consolidate the whole sub.
stantial power of the Government in the hands of a
single man; a tendency which, whether in or out of Of
flee, / feel it my most solemn duty TO resist.
have declined, therefore, TO give any further pledges
or opinions on subjects which belong TO the future le
gislation of Congress, because:
LIST. / conceive, for the reasons given in my letters tc
Mr. Williams and Mr.. Denny, that Congress should
be lett as much as possible By Executive
influence in the discharge of its Legislative functions
and that a better guarantee for the correct conduct of
Chief Magistrate may be found in his character and the
course Of his former life, than in pledges and opinions
given during the tendency of a doubtful contest; anc
that, although recognizing the right Of the people to be
Informed of the leading political opinions of the candi
dates for Office or trust, yet as II regards the subjects
upon which the Legislature may be called to act, the
pledges and opinions should be required, if required al
all, of the candidates for Congress.
I'd. Because, the habit Of considering a single indi'
vidual as the source from which all the measures of go.
vernment should emanate, is degrading to a republic,
and of the most dangerous tendency.
Sd. Because, upon all the questions in regard to
which under any circumstances, it would be at all
proper for me to make answers, my sentiments have
already been fully and clearly given to the public, in
a manner to entitle them to credence, as | conceive
that no honest man would suffer his friends 10 pub.
lish documents in his name which were not genuine,
or contracting opinions which he was not then vii,
ling to endorse.
Accept, gentlemen, the assurance ofmy high regard,
w. III. HARRISON.
Messrs. Verplanck, Lee, Maynard, Duer, Clark,
Porter, st. John, and Hubbard.
Admirably, "frank, full and explicit we admit
The letter frankly proclaims that the candidate will
make no revelation of his opinions, is full to the point
that he has nothing to say, and most explicitly gives
the people to understand, that although he recognizes
their right to ask questions, yet he has no idea of an
swering them. In short, he meets all the great ques.
tons, concerning which the people desire to know his
opinion, with a most frank, full and explicit silence.
His answer is as frank, full and explicit, as if he had
replied in SO many words that his opinions are best
known to himself.
Again, as the Express very Justly says, there is emo
concealment of principles here. On the contrary, he
frankly declares, as his leading principle, that the bu-
siness Of candidate for the Presidency is to keep his
principles to himself. "Mum's the word" with the