The pilot. [volume] (Baltimore [Md.]) 1840-1840, 1840-04-17

mentS OF zen. HARRISON are known 10 De
those of distinguished lberality on this SUBJ
iect, for in his Cheviot speech he declares,
with as much business of thought as ee-
gance of expression, that 'eVen in cases
where the injurious operation of measure
of the general government is confined to
few, and it is beneficial to a large majority
of the States, it would be evidence of as
little foresight, as of moral rectitude in the
latter, to countenance the injury"
On the subject of Internal Improve
ments, General Harrison, | apprehend,
never gave so strong vote in affirmation
of the power of the Government, as Mr..
Van. Buren's vote for the erection of toll
gates on the Cumberland road, according
to his own admission, was; and if you
look into the recent report of the Secretary
of War, you will find that officer, as the
organ of the administration i'll this branch
of the public policy, distinctly asserts the
constitutional power of Internal Improve
ments in the federal government, Sin re-
gard to such works as are of general utlll-
w." while his statements and remarks shew
that appropriations for works even OF dit
ferent character have received the official
approval and signature of the President.
Gen. Harrison, in his letter to Sherrod
Williams, Esq, declares his opinion that
mo money should be taken from the trea-
sury of the United States to be expended
on Internal Improvements, but for those
which are strictly national" and inculcates
with great force, the propriety of for
bearance and Cancellation in regard to
power, the exercise of which, had pro-
duced, and would, doubtless, continue to
produce, iealousies and dissention.'
Let us see what foundation there is for
the assertion that Gen. Harrison is In ia
yor of A National Bank. We have already
seen that, in his address to the voters OF
the Cincinnati district in 1922, he express
" declared that che believed the charter
Given to the Bank of the United States was
unconstitutional" In his letter to Sherrod
Williams, in answer to the query, "wheth-
err. if elected President, he would sign
bill with proper notifications and restric-
tons, for chartering a Bank OF the United
States, he replies III the following very
specific and guarded terms-"l would, IF
| it were clearly ascertalned that the pubic
interest in relation to the collection and
disbursement of the revenue would male-
rally suffer without one, and there were
uneauivocal manifestations OF public oPln-
ion in its favor | think, however, the ex-
uerimenl should be fairly tried to ascertain
whether the financial operations OF the
Government cannot be as well carried on
without the aid'of National Bank. If it
is not necessary for that purpose, it does
not appear to me that one can be constl-
tutionally chartered. There is no con-
structlon which | can give to the constl-
tuition which would authorize IT, on the
ground of affording facilities to COM
merce."
1t is to be remarked that Gen. Harrison
here speaks, not of what he would recon-
mend, or is personally in favor of, but what
he would do, in The erent of bill for char
terimg a Bank, under proper notifications
and restrictions, being passed by Congress
and presented to him for his signature !;
and even in that case he says he would
sign it only under the special contingent
cies he enumerates, to wit, that it had been
clearly ascenained by experience to be
necessary for carrying on the financial
operations of the government, and tina
there were unequirocat manifestations o
public opinion in its favor, and, he adds
emphatically, that unless it should be
shown Ito be necessary for conducting
the financial operations of the government,
n he does not think one can be constitutional
Iu chartered" Connecting what Gen Har-
rison here says with the declaration in his
address TO the voters in his district in 1922,
f 1t is evident that his own leanings are de-
cidedly against National Bank. While
this is Gen. Harrison's position Oh the
question of National Bank, Mr.. Van
Buren, Isl we know, actively exerting all the
influence of his high Office to force upon
the country great Government Bank,
(under the disguise of his sub-treasury
scheme) controlled entirely by execut We
agency, and thus affecting in the hands of
hthe President that union of the moneyed
and political power of the government,
+ which has ever been held fatal to the lib
critics of free people.
This question Of Executive power is, af-
ter all, the great and paramount question
of the day, threatening, as it does, the ex-
istence of that civil and political freedom