Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1840-07-07

part by (i's) vote. if he (Alr. V. 3. Tor ins,ance) wcr,
- rf"l',sr 70 re.cstrh!.sh the Tariff or advocated Il sys.
ten 81 Internal improvements. This presupprses an
extreme danger on !!e part of Mr.. v. b. which is al
war with all his Geciarntions-Why should we appre.
mend u, IN the face u all his previous pledges-bu,
even admitting, Tor the sake Of argument, that his OPT.
mons @" mol on srcry question cruelty square of with
'ir. ihhirf 5 or oar own, does our voting for him ba.
our opposition 10 any measure which we may hereafter
d!snPprcve: Certainly motor whilst Nr. II. votes for
hr. van buren,, he gives his vote with a protestGado
against an. suct cnEiangrncy-ie loses not an atom oil
MS "iishl ""ppnse any measure of The candidate he
rorS i'f:-n'ay We not hope, that MIR. II. may on
iuftirf reflection, On the 'sOber, second thought
depart from all neutrality, and throw all his energies
INTO The campaign, for the election Of Mr.. Van Buren,.
DIR. IL. declines n reelection in his distr:ct-and
holds himself ready to resign forthwith, if his consti
luents should intimate a wish for (him) TO resign the
place. lhis IS a question which we most che Il. llly
leave 10 the people of the district TO decide
(fro" Mr.. H4"te's CIRCULAR, pamphlet yorm.J
10 my Constituents.
GENTLEMES:-l have received several letters from
friends, who desire TO know my opinions upon the Pre-,
sidential question, and whoinGuire into the truth Of the
report that | shall not be a cantida,. for collection
AS J nave not time to reply 10 these letters severally, !
beg leave TO make a general and public response to
them all.
Inc relation | bear to you will justify me, | trust, in
hereafter addressing you more ut length upon the pre-.
sent state OF parties, and my course IN regard to them.
or te present, | must content myself with u reply to
The heterogeneous propounded 10 me as brief as IS con.
s'stent WIN a clear exposure of my opinions.
nave taken no part III the Presidential canvass, be-
cansel do not approve of either of the candidates. |
clnm to be a Republican of the old Virginia school,
and do not recognise either General HARRISON or Mr..
' an Barren as an exponent of It's principles.
Noone supposes, | presume, that any candidate who
held tie opinions OF either ~ofthem, could stand a three
days canvass Tor Congress IN an Republican District
IN Virginia. understand both as having approved the
Proclamation and Force Bill. ! believe both to be in
favor of protective Tariff. Gen. Harrison supported
this policy in resolutions troduccd into the Ohio Lee
gisiature, and in public declarations; and MIR. Van Blu
rem voted not only for the Tariff Of l>2S, when he was
instructed, but also for that oflS2l, when he was under
no such obi CATION.
Both are committed | think, to the power of the Ge-
neral Government over the subject of Internal I'm
provement; but General Harrison the more deeply Of
the two. lie, | believe, voted for the system in all Of
It's forms; and, although Mr.. Van Buren, often voted
against such measures in the Senate, yet he did not al.
ways do SO; and lie has signed bills as President,
which, IN my opinion, involve the principle. Such
are the Cumberland Road bill, and the flarbor bill OF
ISIS.
refer here not only to he general policy of the lat
ter bill, but to particular items which ii contains. In
IT'S general bearing It is liable, believe, 10 all the OBJ
JectIons which apply to any other system of Internal
Improvements. If we have the power to construct,
harbors for commercial, or for other than naval pur.
poses, do not see why we may not make roads and ca
mails also.
But this bill contained an item for the improvement
Of the Hudson river above and below the port Of Al
bany. Now, this would be embraced even within the
limited negative placed upon the system in the Mays
vile veto, # | understand the principle Of that message.
pom the Currency question, however, there is o
marked dltfe renee in their opinions. General Harrison
will sign a bill for a United States Bank, should Con.
gresS pass it; whilst Ar. Van Buren, would not only veto
such a charter, but advocates what is commonly known
as the Sub Treasury system. 1t may be asked, why
then, will you not vote for him, as he agrees with you
on that important measure: In 4 fiscal point of view,
no one desires more earnestly than myself an entire Sc.
paral,on between this Government and banks of issue.
Nor, when viewed IN It's political aspects, am | behind
any III the wish to divorce the power OF the banks from
the patronage of this Government. But what avails
the Sub-Treasury, in this latter point OF view, FIVE are
10 subject the State Banks to The control ofthis Govern
ment, under the form ola bankrupt law-hundreds OF
State Banks would be shus placed under the power Of
the General Government, and, IN certain contingencies,
hundreds OF millions IN money would be administered
by federal agents. What sor. Of divorce is that which
makes the State Banks dependent upon this Govern
mcnt for their very existence, and which subjects them
10 lis regulation
And yet the President recommended, in 1897, a uni.
form law concerning bankruptcies Of corporations and
other bankers, Through whose fundamentally a saluta-
ry check might be imposed upon the issues Of paper
money"
never entertained a doubt Of the dangerous ,cnden-
cy of such an attempt to transfer the regulation ofthe is
sues Of the State banks to this Government, from the
day that the recommendation was made. But, with
great Difference 10 the opinions of the President and OF
other high authorities, | thought the proposition so ex-
trayarent that there could be no danger of It's adoption,
and that he himself would, upon "a sober second
thought reject II. But recent events have admonish.
ed me that It may become 4 measure of serious and dan.
rcrous imuIinency. There is another question, how
ever, connected with the currency, of more danger in
nv opinion: mean the l.. States Bank. a bankrupt
. 1T, - u,,,In3 H.. tho rbar,.r ,T /, hui, ,n,
continue throughout the period prescribed for It's exist
encc.
The Banking system would be thus recognized with
\ mower which il would DO almost VAN 10 resist: For
this reason should vote for Mr.. Van Buren,, If | voted
at all. but cannot consent TO vote for either. | will not
indulge the shadow Of a preference, and thus disarm
mvseIf of all power to oppose him hereafter upon great
and fundamental questions-questIon OF the most VI
tai interest 10 you and to me. What right should ]
have hereafter to oppose either OF these candidates who
might be elected in part by my vote, If he were to pro-
pose TO reInstItute the farm or advocated a system OF
Internal Improvement:
If [ belleve that their principles authorized such n
course when voted for them, could complain If they
afterwards pursued it: Its in vain TO say that ! should
be excused for opposing them by alleging that voted
in the alternative of evils. My vote, with a previous
knowledge of their opinions, would dIsarm me of all
moral power in opposition. Who Roc talks TO the peo-
pie of this election as a choice between evils: The
friends of each candidate represent him as taultless to
their constituents, and they wall be charged by them
with desertion if they should oppose their man for do.
ing after the election what they knew he had done be-
fore it.
For one, ! am not prepared to take the responsibility
of the future acts Of either of them, nor am | willing 10
identify myself with either. We belong to different
schools in politics: | am a strict constructionist, and
they, as | believe, are latitudinarians-Mr. Van Buren,
being rather the less so Of the two. Neither Of the can
didaics, ! suspect, would thank me for identifying them
with the States right creed; for neither could be elected
# he held it. know that there are Republicans who
would pass muster as such with the straitestof the sects
in virginia, and who think ditferently-some selecting
the one, and some choosing the other. Those who en-
terrain such opinions are justified in voting according to
their political preferences. speak not of what should
be the course of others; | am only giving the reasons
which will govern my own.
1t is known TO you, that have generally acted with
those Of the State Rights party, who opposed General
Jackson after the Proclamation. | was with them IN the
uloomiest period of,heir political depression, and Ifthey
had made no mere personal issues, OF if they had made
these issues upon men Of their own way of thinking, !
should be with them now. But, if the vote for the Pre-
sidency is to be made the test of political fellowship,
nd Is Con Harrison is to be their candidate, must