Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1840-06-02
POLITICS..
F,0a ne Loai.ruS NJ idrertiScr
ADDRESS
OJhe Democratic Ccafral Commiti's, TO ne People Q;
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Fellow citizens Devotion 10 political prInciric IS me
characteristic which distinguishes the freeman from
the subject the serf The principles which he al IN"
foundation of our free institutions will insure liberty
and happiness you and your posterity, If wisely and
firmly sustained Statesmen in representative go
vernmcnt agents OF the people, champions OF che
rlshed or established ples-organs through Whe"
the popular will is authoravely expressed ana IN me
conflicts of parties they necessarily priced IN pro,
portion to their fidelity and ability to illustrate defend
and carry ont the views Of those by whom tney are
supported. BY tramplng on their rights, England
drove your fathers into rebellion, and the holy ervor
with which they cherished the principles they contend
ed for sustained them through the ot the Revolution
that established your freedom In their Declaration
OF independence they proclaimed that 'goVerhments
derive their Just power from the consent OF IN"
governed and, in the constitution under winch
Won live they endeavorcd to form perfect
Union between the States of the conedrracy TO ''se-
the blessings of liberty TO themselves and their
posterty, and to establish Government which would
promote the general welfare and protect the States III
the full enjoyment Of their reserved rights Bat the
deliberations in Convention the provisions IN refer
encc to the election of President and Vice President,
proved that many of the members, unable TO dIveSt
themselves of prcludccS imbIbed under monarchy,
were fearful the people could not be safely trusted to
vote directly for high public officers. College 81!
Electors therefore provided for, whose members
were 10 vote according 10 their own discretion Tor two
individuals the person receiving the highest number,
being a maoritvD to be President. The attempt of
The Federal party elect Burr Jefferson pro.
duccd an amendment of the Constitution, yet Elect
rs were not dispensed with. From that period TO the
present the people, coniding in their ability 10
90 into elections of President and Vice President
without permitting themselves to be excited to the
commission of DEMONSTRATING full confidence IN
their own powers Of discrimination and capacity TO Sc
lee, suitable men for those exalted stations-havc pur
sued the policy of voting for Electors pledged to sup
port particular candidates, and cxacting from such can
didaes frequent full and unequvocal avowals OF their
opinions and principles. in your congressional cleo
tons Won invariably require candidates TO their
principles freely, and to respond to calls made on them
Tor their ailments all important subjects. Even
in elections for members Of the General Assembly OF
the State you have rgidy observed this republican rule
doubt with view to the selection OF representatives,
who would serve as faithful organs Of your feelings
wishes and principles indeed, Of your candidates for
the Legislature, Won have required fn avowas Of both
State and National potics-,hus showing i'at you
were unwilling to elect men who, as State Legisa-
tors might even cypress opinions at war with your
own.
candidates for The General Assembly; when you would
:cI iusul,cd were YOU to be asked to elect member
Of CONGRESS- without being furnished with frank and
full ayoal of his principles alter ahieFng 1" years
from the contest between Burr and Jefferson TO the pre-
sent pnciod-to the manly and Republican po!'cy o!
nadrinr Electors to vote Your WILL and requiring can
dda,cs tr the Presidency TO their princples--to
show their hands like mrn-yon are invoked to support
4 man who SAYS he answer no inquiry from trend
or foe on the subject Of Abolition; man, whose Con-
faentia Committee, Qor IS now admitted ne has one')
states that the polcv is thathc General make no FUR
ther declaration Of his principles Tor The pubic eye,
whilst occupying his present position.
The time was when General Harrison would have
deemed il degrading hesitate to speak out like ne
publican and freeman; when ne would nave mag,
mainly repealed the IDEA of concnaing his political
creed; when he was an open advocate OF rs'' wien
none bu, monarchists will quesonthe right OF Eiec-
tors to call Tor the sentiments ut candidate ior oAcs
In note addressed, September 10, le22, 10 paper
then published in Cincinnati, uhe lnqn'sitorD 3en.
Harrison sad ;.
SIN your last paper You recommend 10 the Gaha',
dates the ensuing election to publish ther po''lca1
creeds that the electors may have far opportunity
Of choosing those whose ScniimCns best accord WIN
their own. | HAVE EVER BELIEVED THAT
EVERY ELECTOR HAS RIGHT TO MANI
THIS CALL UPON THOSE WHO OFFER THEIR
SERVICES TO THE PEOPLE, AND THAT The
CANDIDATES ARE BOUND 10 ANSWER II.
This is one of General Harrison former s1prsS-
sons Of opiuon and you will soon be able 10 decide
what it il worth 1t is morc-a recognition OF right
which no freeman will surrender; and the crcnms'an
ces under which that recognition was made are no"
worthy Of particular consideration. At home, SUR
reminded BY VINO knew Aln Wel ip d
sea; in the General Assembly Of the Staen constant
Intercourse with the people, and asking their suiirages
every wear or iw0yet he did not pretend that 1t was
to be presumed his sentiments were understood even
by the voters OF the county IN winch he lived On
the contrary, when invited 10 avow ms sentiments
for the information of the public, in single coun.
tyJ he promptly pledged himself 10 comply with The
request admitted the right OF Il voter to make such
\ call and that the CANDIDATES WE'RE "BouSD TO An
swrR IT." Thunder such circumstances Gen Harrison
was forced to admit the rgh; OF voters TO nterroga'e
and The duty of candidate to answer, how can he now
be justified for reversing his opinions Ii when soil
citing the votes of the people Of one county he was
to answer inquiries, why is he not bound TO
answer when seeking the votes OF the people OF twey
Xix States IL his sentiments were not understood ny
The people OF his own county, how they be supposed
TO lie understood throughout mighty nation: II on
ordinary objects Of Slate legislation candidate IS
"gorxp to answer calls for avowals of his sentiments,
mus. not that duty be far imperative when he IS
aspiring TO the highest Office IN the Republic, ana
winn questions are involved in the contest which me-
mace the integrity of the Union: As these inquiries
cannot be satisfactorily answered. driven 10 the
conclusions that Gen. Harrison IS no longer what ne
v.os that he has parted with the open and frank cha
roccr of the soldier and is made to pcrsonae the Ma
chavclan, surrounded, if not by camp guard, by a
Committee oil Safety -
S,ncc he proclaimed himself the "LEADER of the
O,posi,ion his sentiments have been solicited on the
Carolina Virginia. New York, Alabama, Illinois, &c
In two or three instances his Committee of Safety res
bonded that as the National Federal Convention had
SET the example (which has been followed by the State
Conventions of that party generally, the policy IS that
The General mike no further declaration Of principles
for The pvbiic cDc sand when the following letter was
presented to him al his residence al North Bend, By
two respectable citizens he said: "nothing could m
duce him to answer such n;errogatores, coming from
e ther friends or foes.
LOUISVILLE, April = lo4O.
Dear Sr:--The destines of nations are occasionally
influenced by factions at first DISQUALIFICATION whose
!abors in the way OF agitation nothing IS apprchcnded
until they acquire amount Of power winch cannot DC
controlled The history of Abolitionsm IN the COLO
NAL possessions Of England may be cited as an ample
vcrfcation of these truths and as It IS now known n
between Tie opponents of the institutions OF the South
ern States Of this Union, in Europe and America con-
slant interchange of opinions is kept up producing
identity Of sympathy and of purpose, the question,
which has for some years disturbed The Le ss
St;onal elections IS mani:cstly important to be
overlooked by the friends Of our glorious Cn,on'
Concurr;nr in the sentiments aro"cd on THIS SUBJECT
br majority ne The House OF Representatives OF Ken.