Southern Argus. [volume] (Columbus, Miss.) 1834-1842, 1840-07-28

Peter B. Porter, OF the Assembly.
D. B. St. John, !
]. Hubbard,
To Gen. VIM. II. Harrison.
NORTH BEND, Ohio, May %,
GENTLEMEN,
| have the honor to acknowledge
the receipt of your letter of the 25th
February, conveying the proceedings
of meeting of the Wing members of
the Legislature, convened in the capi-
tol of the State on the 22d of that
month.
] beg you TO believe, Gentlemen,
that | am deeply impressed with the
honor, which has been conferred upon
me by the distinguished body, whom
on this occasion you represent. The
great object of both my civil and mill
tary life has been to serve my country,
d, The utmost OF my abilities, and to
obtain is approbation.-The hope of
this has often cheered me in circum-
stances of great difficulty and embar-
rassment. -
You will pardon me, trust, If in
this letter, l go somewhat beyond the
mere purpose Of acknowledging the
receipt of your communication, and
use the occasion for making a few re-
marks, which circumstances seem TO
require from me, in respect to dec
laration of opinions, or pledges, as to
my future conduct, required of candid
ales for high offices.
My public life, not now a short one,
is before the country. My opinions
on important subjects, have been ex-
pressed from time to time, as those
subjects have arisen, and since my
name has been mentioned among those
from whom selection might be made
for the office of President, have in
several letters to friends, fully and
frankly avowed my sentiments. Far
Their than this, | cannot suppose intel
ligent persons could desire me TO go,
The people of this country do not rely
on professions, promises and pledges,
They know, that if a candidate is un-
principled be will not scruple to give
any pledge, that may be required o.
him as little will he hesitate to violate
it. have already made public the
principles by which l should be gov
erned; if elected President, so far a:
relates to the proper Executive dutie:
of that Office. But almost innumerablt
applications have been made to me
for my opinions relative to matters o
legislation, or even to the proper mod,
OF conducting business in the two
Houses of Congress. My published
letters to Mr.. Williams, and MIR. Den
ny, will show, that | do not conside
the President constituent branch o
| the Legislature; yet it is impossible L
read the letters that have been addres
sed to me, VIII bout believing that man,
of the writers had a; dopted the opinion
that the Presidential office was tn
proper source and origin CT al the lie
| gislation of the country; an opinion, II
my judgement, at war with every prin
ciple of the constitution, and of deer
and dangerous consequence. The pre-
valence of such sentiments, more thai
almost anything else, would tend tt
consolidate the whole substantial pow
er of the Government in the hands O
a single man; tendency which, wbeth
er in or out Of office, | felt it my mos
solemn duty to resist.
| l have declined, therefore, to Civ,
any further pledges or opinions OIL
subjects which belong to the futur,
legislation of Congress-because,
1st, conceive for the reasons givel
in my letters to Mr.. Williams and Mr.
Denny, that Congress should be lei
as much as possible untrammelled- b,
Executive influence in the discharg
of its legislative functions; and that
better guarantee for the correct con
duct of Chief Magistrate may b
found in his character and the cours
of his former life, than in pledges an,
opinions given during the tendency G
: a doubtful contest; and that, althoug
recognising the right of the people t
be informed of the leading politics
( opinions Of the candidates for office
: of trust, yet as itregards the subject
upon which the Legislature may b
called to act, the pledges and opinion
should be required, if required at al
of the candidates for Congress.
! I'd. Because, the habit Of consic
ering a single individual as the sourc
from which all the measures of Go,
eminent should emanate, is degradin
to a republic, and of the most daI
gerous tendency.
r 3D.. Because, upon all the question
;, in regard to which under any circun
e stances, it would be at all proper f
me to make answers, my sentimen
have already been clearly and full
: given to the public, in a manner
: entitle them to credence, as concei,
e that no honest man would suffer h
E friends to publish documents in h