Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1840-06-05

prncpe, that all their hatred to the present Chef Ma
aisrate could not drive them TO his support, and he
suffered a shameful defeat.
Brought out again by the same parties, 10 whlch Is
now added the whole strength ofthe Tariff Bank, Inter
nal Improvement, and all other sections OF the moley
Wing party, he presents the degrading spectacle ol
candidate for the highest office IN the wor!o-an once
bestowed by freemen for defence oil their rights ana
manly and open attachment to principle sIdIous1y con-
cealinp his opinions subjects OF vial importance
Still; worse still more degrading TO himself and his foi
lowers we find him surrendered 10 colnElttee VINO
have announced it as their determination, That Oeh
n make no further declaration OF OPINION while &C.
cunvnr his present position. Never was there time
which required explicit declaration OF opihioh
and never before has there been found man who oareu
TO announce the South, that he would make none
Is il come TO this that the South, that Virginia esPe-
cially, will worship yelled prophet: 1t IS Impossible
better would be "war, pestlence and famine than
SO base desertion oflong-cherished principles.
G,n I'm n. Harrison and a Standing .7rmy.
CORRESPONDENCE.
PETERSBURG, May 1e, ls4O.
Hon. Francis E. Rres:
naa- S;r.-A, meeting of the Democratic Vigilance
COMMITTEE held at Powell's Hotel Saturday even
inr the 18th instant, committee OF SIX, towl hessis
Nav Osborne, Wallace, Branch, Martin and Butts
were appointed with power to communicate win you
n oh,,,n documents which have It not IN our power
"a rot hcreand TO ask the aid of Mr.. J. w Jones ana
Gen Drom gooc if you should not have leisure to pro-
cure them. - ,:.:,
Sonoe nc the oldest of our committee have distinct
affection that about the year $500, Gen HARRISON
sJs snecch in Congress opposed TO the reduction OF
the Standing Army, and generally IN favor OF Tue Po
i;cv nnrsued by the elder Adams. We think that the
sneech alluded to will be found in old file OF the Au
r. B. H. MAY, Chairman.
HousE OF REPRESENTATIVES, J
May %, lc4O
To Dr. B. II. MAY,
Chairman Of the Democratic Committee Of ;.
Correspondence Of Petersbarg, a.
Sir-ln reply TO so much of your communication
as relates TO the political posture OF General HARRISON
in 1900 ue have to state, that We have examined the
journals of the House of Representatives, ana nave
also had reference files of the Aurora oil that per'od
II is known to Yourself and to your colleagues OF the
Democratic Vigilance Committee, that soon after the
adoption of the Constitution of the L. States, the re-
deral party manifested their principles and pohcy' not
only by atitudnous construction of the powers con
ferred on the Government, but by an undsgused ad-
miration Of British Institutions. They MANIFESTED
partiaty for Great Britain, and her interests IN prefer
ence to the nations of Europe-parcularly France.
So great were their paralities and preJud'ces 10 Ia
vor of every thing English, that Mr. Jefferson demo
minated their feeling an .'Anglo mama "a madness IN
favor Of England In this spirit originated Jay treaty
II was openly charged by the Republicans OF that day
that was the result of donorablc su5serrIcncy 10
the wishes of the British Ministry 1t was the source
of strongly marked political division IN the country
It was warmly condemned by the Republican party
| so much So that their representatives IN Congress
with Mr. Madison in their front, believed themselves
justified in refusing an appropriation TO carry u 'h'o
! effect
Whilst the Federal party were manestng their devo
ton the interests of Great Britain on one hand on
The other they showed exasperated antipahy to the
French Republic, then struggling into existence lhey
evinced strong disposition to engage IN war VIII
France The smallest indiscreons-the slightest er
rors of that enthusiastic naton the extacIes oil le
born liberty, were magnifed INTO horrId crimes
and the citizens of America, in direct inconsistency
with their own glorious struggle for freedom, were IN
stirated By Fcde rasm TO unite with the crowned head
of Europe in their infamous crusade against the very
existence of the French Republic. The whole policy
of the administration of John Adams was, man'festiy
to annoy and harass the French Republicans, and, II
very enmity the principles of their Revolution, te
impede their advancement to the establishment OF then
independence upon the great fundamental doctrine
popular sovereignty-the inaenablc right OF the peo
pie of every nation to abolish an existing Government
and TO introduce IN IT'S stead one OF eir own Tree ae
voluntary adoption
The Alien law, whilst it violated the doctrine of i'm
partial neutrality, whilst in open repugnancc to the
Constitution, it superadded judiciary to nagnfed EX
ecutve power, evidently designed to DANISH, a
the despotic will Of the President, some distinguished
French refugees who b. virtue OF the law Of nations
and in conformity with the genius OF cur free nstItu
tons, had sought asylum within our borders
The Sedilion Law, under which Cooper and Igor
were fined and incarcerated constituted distinctive
in their administration Of the Federal Government
Without equvocation denial, it advocated ane
adopted by the infurlate partzans of President, IN
;, heart monarchst, for the avowed purpose OF sup
pressing the voice of remonstrance and rcprobaton
for the lawless and unconstitutional purpose Of senc
ING the loud complaints of the constituent body agans
the obnoxious of their representatives, tn
the ndeensb!e purpose of preventing popular reason
from demonstrating that tie measures which II denoun
ced OF anti-Tcpublcan tendency and, pursud
mn ref pn1 absolute LeSDoIsID best 4 Sed
narchy Such feelings, and such course OF policy OF
the part ofthe Federal Party, who then, with outsrcch
ed hand and firm grasp, held the rens of Govern
, mcnt produced between America and France what wa
famarly known in that day by the term qtasi icdr.
Whether standing army should be created and sustain
ed for the purpose ofntmdatng France, making OF
her commerce, and evidencing our disapprobatlon 0
her revolutionary agony for selfgorernment was ques
ton which completely and thoroughly divided partie
during the Administration OF John Adams, and was Il
that day, of prepoDderating influence in the scale o
: American politics Let it be sufficient for the pre-
sent to remark, that the Republican Party opposed tn
creation and support Of the standing army OF John AID
. ans. The Federal Party originated advocated, an
enacted with the appreciation Of the President, the Sc
4 veral laws bringing this army into existence.
An act OF Congress. passed 10th July, l1s, entitled
il Gan act 10 augment the army Of tn" United States an
for other purposes. And again the Sd March, 1879
passcd entitled An act for the better organic
ing the troops ofthe United States, and for other pur
) poses.
In the succeeding Congress, at its first session, o
January 7th lsOO, the following resolution was move
d and seconded, viz:
. "ReSolred, That much of the act passed the lot
of July, thousand hundred and ninetyeght
entitled AN act to augment the army OF the L. s. an
for other purposes, authorizes the President OF tn
u. S 10 raise twelve additional regiments of infantry
and SIX troops of light dragoons and to appoint tw
: Major Generals, an Inspector General, three Briga
der Generals, and Adjutant General; and SO muc
Of the act passed the third of March, one thousan
seven hundred and ninetynine entitled 'An act 70
the better organizing of the troops of the l. s, ant
for other purposes, authorizes the appointment of
Commander of the army, and Quar'ermaser- Gene
raj, ought to be repealed
. "Ordered, That the said motion be committed to
: committee Of the whole House
i On the 9th January, $780, Mr. HARRISON the presen
General William Henry Harrison, the nominee Of tn
Harrisburg Convention for the Presidency made
Speech against the above resolution.
This Speech is to be found in Duancs Aurora Of th
c 9TH February, $780, and is therein thus reported:
"Mr. Harrison id:-The resolution has been so ab