Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1840-10-02
GEN. HARRIsON,s SPEECH,
AT THE DAYTON CONVENTION,
Held l0Ih Sent lS10

AT THE DAYTON CONVENTION,
Held l0M Sept. 1910.
! rise, fellow citizens tihe multitude was here as-
| tated as the sea- when the wild wind blows upon it,
and it was full five minutes before the tumu Of Joy,
at seeing and hearing the president of the United
States could be camcD--l rise fellow citizens, 10
| express to you from the bottom Of grateful heart
my warllest thanks for the kind and fatcrng man.
ncr in which have been received by the representa-
tvcs of valley OF the Miami. l rise TO say to you,
| that however magnificent my reception has been OH
| this occaslon am not SO vain to presume that it
was intended for that this glorious trlumphal ell
| try was designed for one individual No. | know
too well that PERSONS impcrftctons tobccvc that this
vast asscmblagc has came up here to do him honor
1t is the glorious cause ofdcmocratc rights that brot
them here. Immense chccrng.l 1t is the proud an
nvcrsary of one of the brightest victories that gows
| on the pages OF our country 3 history, which hath
summoned this multitude together. Tremendous
| cheering.
Fellow citizens, it was about this time of the day,
n years ago, this very hour this very minute" that
western army was plunged into agony of feeling
when the cannonading from our fleet announced an
action with the ensmy. His hopes his fears, were
destined to be soon qiicted for the tidnr. of victory
were brought TO him on tho wings of the wind With
the eagle of triumph pcrching upon banners Oh
the lake i moved on TO complete the overthrow Of
the foreign foe. The anniversary Of tha, day
never be forgotten, for every American has cause to
rejoice at the triumph of our arms on that momen-
tous occasion but the brave and gallant hero of that
victory IS gone, gone TO that h2ue viii Their we are
all nurrylnn, ana 10 MS fIlrnOrV1tt that
e-cncc due 10 the deeds of SO iustrious patriot
| From Heaven docs his soul look down upon u.s. and
gladden. at the virtues which still animate his gen rous
countrymcn in recurring to his noble and glorious ca
reer while on earth Great sensation for several
seconds.
am fully aware, my fellow citizens, that you OK
pect from me some opinion upon the various questions
which now agltatc our country, from centre to cir
| cumterencc, with such fierce contentious. Caumny,
ever seeking destroy all that is good in this world
| hath proclaimed that am avcrsc from declaring my
opinions on matters 30 Interesting you, but nothing
can be more false. Cheers
Have not, time out of mind, proclaimed my oppo-
son to citizen gong forward among the people
and soliciting votes for the Presidency Have not
many time and often, said that IN my opinion, no
man ought 10 aspire TO the Presidency of these United
States, unless he il designated candidate for that
high office by the unbouqht wishes of the people :!
Cheering If the candidate for high an office be
designated by portion or mSjorlty Of the people,
| they will have come to the determination of s,s-
tanning such n man from review of his past sections
and life and they will not exact pledges from him of
what he will do and what he will not do for their
selection of him proof enough that ne will carry the
doctrines Of his party. This plan Of choosing can
dldae for the Presdecy is n much bar against
corruption than the system of requiring promises. If
the pledglng plan is pursued the effect will be- to offer
the Presidential chair TO the man who will make mcst
promises. He who would pledge most, would be the
man to be voted for, and have no hesitation in de-
clarng my belief that he who would subject his course
to be thus tied up by promises and pledges would not
stop to break them when once in office. Cheering
Are my views on this topic correct, or they not
With one voice the multitude indicated they were
IT, fellow citizens, examine the history of all
pubcs, we shall find as they rcccdcd from the purity
Of Representative Government, the condition Of OBJ
tanning office was the making of promises. He who
bid the highest in promises the favored candidate
and the higher the bids, the more marked and certain
the corruption Look at the progress Of This thing in
our own republic. Were any pledges required Of your
Washington or your Adams? Adams was the can
didatc of the.fedcral party and as statesman WAS
al
his successor Thomas Jefferson, the high priest Of
constitutional democracy, called for pledges ,
, No. His whole life was pledge of what he would
do And if we 20 back to this o.! system Of selecting
guarantee of their conduct when elected to the Chief
MagIsracy Of the republic, the nation would advance
safely rapidly and surely in the path of prosperity
pledges hath been adopted. The Presidency haiti
been put up to the highest bidder in promise and
soc the result. 1t remains for You my fellow citizens
to arrest this course OF things. Cries OF VIC will
We will
While then, fellow citizens, have n yer hcsitatcc
to declare my opinions on Proper occasions upon tn,
grca, questions before the nation cannot consent tC
make mere promises the condition Of obtaining tn,
office which you kindly wish to bcstow upon me-
, NY opinions am free to express, but you already
have them, sustained and supported by the acts of
long and arduous life. That life il pledge of IN.
future course If am elevated by your sutiragrs tn
highest Office in your gift. Immense cheering TO
several seconds.
1t has been charged against me, fellow citizens TIM
am Federaist. While acknowledge that the or
ignal federal party Of this country actntcd in il
courseby no improper motives, deny that ever be
Y longcd to that class of politicians. [Trcmcndou
! cheering. How could belong to that party!
was educated in the school Of ant federalism though
too young to takean active part in the politics of tn
country when at III, erection Of the Constitution, tn,
nation was divided into two great parties, my honore,
i father had indicted Inc into the principles Of Const
, tutlonal Democracy, and my teachers were the Hen
rvs and the Masonso Of that period He who declared
: that seeds Of monarchy sown in the soil of tn
n Constitution, was leader in my school of politics
lie who SAID that IF this government be not mon
archy It has an awful squirting towards monarchy
= was my Mentor Ummense applause. Sometim
elapsed before order could b. restored hearing rhe.
n emphatic declarations of the Generally III know m,
II own feelings, If know my own Judgment, hrlicv
now as sad then, with the patarchs of the Jcicrso
J. man school, that the seeds of monarchy were indeed
7. sown in the fertile soil of federal Constitution
n and that though for nearly fifty years they lay dor
d and thriving plants, bearing blossoms and producing
81 ripe fruit The government is nop practical mon
orchy' Loud and long cheering indicating that tn
Is people felt the full force Of his decarnrion Power
power II matters not by what name i, is called Tn
IA head OF the government exercising pow
y esr may be named King, Emperor, President, o
i in,hun, great laughter stl ne is monarch. Blu
rs this is not all The President of these United State
EXERCISES power superior to that vested in the ha nj
NJ oil nearly all the European Kings. II is power ia
greater than that ever dreamed of by the old fcdcr,
to party.
ed hlsan ultra federal power-it despotism lChee
s., ngl And may here advert to an objection Thai Ina
to oe.n made against me. 1t has been said that ever
he arrive AZ tho dignhed station occupied by my oppc
ncht would be cad and eager 10 retain the now,
possessed by the President of the United States
Never! never! Tremendous cheering.l And hc
declare before the world that will use all tho now
and influence vested in tho Office OF President Of ii
s. Union, to abrldge tho power aud influence of the n
r, tlonal executive! III is impossible 10 describe Il
~ feelings produced by this declaration IL his fedc
to nlism No, no! In the conslituton-that olor;o
IS. charter ofour liberties there is defect; and that
ect is the term Of service Of the Prcsident-no lin
he ,ed; II the privilege ofbeng Presidcntofrhe IT, Stat
IT. had been limited to one term, the incumbent won
devote his time to the public interest, and there won
Ia be less cause to msruc the country shall not
r. madver on the conduct of the present adnstratie
lest you may IN that case conceive that am aimi
lie for the Presidency use il for selfish PURPOSES
should be an interested witness if ] should enter in
the subject. And Ipietge myself before hearen a
earth, II eifcted PreSidsn. Of these United States,
iay dora faiMfniu at the end ofMe term, that h;
nd .ritst NJ ne feet Of The people, (Hers tho muthu
Ir was so excited % " defy description