The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1840-02-25

] T"es1tui At Tue Ilmc OF and lnconlpeleht my DC
nominating the success retained al the mere iciH
sor. OF thesPrcsideni as may
best serve the Interests OF
| the party. See cores
pondehce OF Secretary Of
The Treasury, and prac-
lice Of the President
| 5h The President 5.h ITO the victor be-
should never suffer the long the spoils Of victo-
influence Of his office to rv." See motto OF Gov.
be used for purposes Of Marcy illustrated in the
| purely party character. practice Of the Admins
iralon.
| 9Th. That the Execu- oh The Executive
| Tive Department should prac icaly The source Of
not be made The source of aAbgislation under the
hgisidtioa, but thai The new system Of party dis:
whole business oil making cipline which requires
laws, for the people every member oil the
should be left 10 lh, Tree party 10 support the re-
ahd Independent action Communications oil The
OF The Legislature. President righor wrong.
See modern practice Of
| . All the above Repub- party discipline.
! iican maxinls are laid
| GOWN IN the letter of
General Harrison TO Ii.
| Denny, ESQ.,
| Alter running over this parallel Of the
principles and doctrines Of the two candidates
Tor the Presidency. in regard TO the iunda-
mental question Of the powers and duties of
The Executive Department, no one can hesi-
tate as 10 which of the two is the Republican
candidate. But, il may be asked, what guar
antee has Gen. Harrison 10 offer that he
would faithfully carry out the principles which
he has so properly laid down as the guides
and land marks Of Republican admnisra-
tion Besides a character, unstaned by
treachery in private or public life, he offers "A
security Of no small importance in the formal
and public declaration that if elected, he
would, under no circumstances whatever, al
low himself to be candidate for re election
Coming into office with this express renuncia-
ton Of all future personal aspirations, he could
have but one motive to actuate him in the dis
charge of his high duties--a patriotic devo-
ton to the interests and happiness Of his
country, and noble ambition to identify his
name with the permanence OF her free Re-
publican Institutions. The example which
Gen. Harrison has thus set, in contributing to
introduce a principle to which our wisest
statesmen have attached the highest impor-
lance, constitutes of itself a strong claim. to
the support of Republican people. II is
known that Mr.. Jefferson, at the formation Of
the Constitution, pronounced the re-eligiblity
OF the President TO be its capital, and posi-
bly, at some future day, its fatal defect How
impressively have passing events added their
testimony to the sagacily and wisdom Of his
foresight The first term Of Presidency
has now come to be almost wholly devoted to
securing the re election Of the incumbent, by
party combinations and arrangement, by the
surveillance and direction of popular elections;
BY turning patronage to the best account, for
its possessor, and by all the other resources of
party tactics, (even to the unseemly partici-
patton Of the Chief Magistrate himself in the
canvass,) to the great neglect and prejudice
OF the national interest. He who by placing
himself on the principle Of selfimposed in
eligibility after single term Of service in the
Presidential office, shall contribute TO make
it henceforward part Of the political usages
and common law of the country, will have
closed up one Of the most copious sources of
existing abuses, and have earned for himself
a lasting title to the respect and gratitude Of
his counirymen.
Regarding General Harrison, for the rea-
sons have mentioned, as the true Republican
candidate for the Presidency Of the two now
presented to the choice Of the country, | shall
unhesitatingly give him my support. shall do
so with the more cheerfulness, because, while
best consulting thereby, as honestly believe,
those great republican principles which have
ever considered to be inseparably united with
the happiness Of my country, shall assist to
confer its highest need IN All eminent citizen
who has rendered il the most signal and i'm
| portant services at time, when 70 serue
meant something far other than merely to re-
ceive the enoluments Of cfice--on one who,
having successfully enjoyed the confidence Of
| Washington, Jefferson, and Madison, would
be naturally prompted to emulate their high
example who, in all the various and delicate
trusts he has held, has ever shown that he pre-
| lerred his country to himself, and has retired
| from them all, amid the numerous and alluring
temptations they presented TO private gain,
with clean hands and unsupported honor,
neither guilty Of nfidelity himself, nor wink
ing at it in others, and who now in the hon
orable retirement Of private life, combining
the ennobling pursuits Of the sgriculturist, the
scholar, and the patriot-citizen, is emphatically
one Of The people, knowing how to appreciate
their interests, as well as to maintain and de-
fend their rights. cannot doubt that the
principles we have held in common will have
brought US to common conclusion but
whether this should be the case or not, you
will, am sure, do me justice to believe that
in forming the judgment have done, upon the
most deliberate and careful reflection, have
been actuated by no personal feeling, by no
mere party views, but by sincere and anx-
ious wish for the liberty, happiness and'honor
of my country.
| am very respectfully
and truly, your friend,
w. G. RIVES.