, 1840-08-01

SUBJECTS, have been expressed from time L
time, as those subjects have arisen, and since
my name has been mentioned among those
from whom a selection might be made fol
the office of President, | have in several let
tiers to friends, fully and frankly avowed my
sentiments. Farther than this, | cannot sup
pose intelligent persons could desire me tc
go. The people Of this country do not rely
on professions, promises and pledges. They
know, that if a candidate is unprincipled he
will not scruple to give any pledge that may
be required of him, and as little will he hest
tate to violate it.. ] have already made
public the principles by which should be
governed if elected President, so far as re.
iates to the proper Executive duties of tina,
office. But almost innumerable applications
have been to made me, for opinions relative
to matters Of Legislation, or even to the pro.
per mode of conducting business in the two
houses of Congress. NV published letters
to Mr.. Williams and Mr.. Denne, will show,
that ! do not consider the President a con-
~stituent branch of the Legislature; yet it is
impossible 10 read the letters that have been
addressed to me, without believing that ma
ny of the writer's had adopted the opinion,
the Presidential office was the proper source
and origin Of all the legislation of the coun-
try; an opinion, in my judgment, at war
with every principle of the constitution,
and of deep and dangerous consequence
The prevalence o! such sentiments, more
than almost every thing else, would tend to
consolidate the whole substantial powerlof
the government in the hands Of a single
man; a tendency which, whether in or out
of office, | feel it my most solemn duty 10
resist.
nave declined therefore to give any fur
Their pledges o. opinions on subjects which
belong to the future legislation Of Congress,
because:
Ist. conceive for the reasons given In
my letters TO Mr.. Williams and Mr.. Denny.
that congress should be left as much os pos,
sibIe untrammeled by executive influence in
the discharge of its legislative functions; and
that a better guarantee for the correct con-
duct of Chief Magistrate may ne found in
his character and the course of his former
life, than in pledges and opinions given dur
ing the tendency OF a doubtful contest; and
that, although recognizing the right Of the
people 10 be informed Of the leading political
opinions of the candidates for office or trust,
yet as it regards the subjects upon which
the Legislature may be called to act, the
pledges and opinions should be required, if
requied at all, of the candidates for congress.
Cd. Because, the habit of considering a
single individual as the source from which
all the measures OF government should ema-
nate, is degrading TO a republic, and Of the
most dangerous tendency.
Sd. Because, upon all the questions in re.
gard TO which under any circumstances, it
would he at all proper for me to make an
syers, my sentiments have already been
fully and clearly given TO the public, in a
manner TO entitle them to credence. as
| conceive that no honest man would suffer
his friends to publish documents in his name
which were not genuine. or contracting opin-
ions which he was not then willing TO en-
dorse.
Accept, gentlemen, the assurance
of ICY high regard
w. II. HARRISON.
Messrs. Verplanck, Lee. Maynard, Duer,
Clark, Porter, ST. John, and Hubbard.
Admirably, "frank, full and explicit" we
admit. The letter frankly proclaims that
the candidates will make no revelation of his
OpluIOuss Is lui W the punt tI't TIC has ho-
thing TO say, and most explicitly gives the
people to understand, that although he re-
cognizes their right to ask questions, yet he
has no idea of answering them. In short, he
meets all the great questions, concerning
which the people desire to know his opinion,
with a most frank, full and explicit silence
His answer is as frank, full and explicit, as if
he had replied in SO many words that his
opinions are best known to himself.
Again, as the Express itself very justly
says, there is "no concealment Of princi-
Plies" here. On the contrary, he frankly de-
%clares, as his leading principles, that the bu-
siness of a candidate for the presidency is
to keep his principles to himself. "Mum's
the word,'' with the man who properly I'm.
derstands the duties ofsuch position. You
worm no secrets out of him by asking him
what the Scotch call "pawky questions."-
He is as close as an oyster.
For only consider the mischief which
such a man might do, if he were to open his
mouth and proclaim his opinions. The le-
g~islature Of the nation, according to General
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