Wheeling times and advertiser. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1839-1849, 1840-10-08

GENERAL HARRHoN's SPEECH.
AT THE IA rToN CONTENTION.
sELpl0rH September. ls4g.

The Conventon WIS osganized by calling q, IN.
Chair. Es1iove'nct M,to.lfe of Kentucky. and an
pointing nineteen Vice Presidents. among whom xer.
Preston w. fauar. OF Louisiana. MAJOR A. Miller. of
Mississippi. Governor Bigger. OF Indiana. H,.Goycrnur
Vance. OF oaio. NC. w. Snethen, OF Louisiana, Sec
rStary.
A6er n btof ind happy address. welcoming the
Old Chiei 20 Dayton. frun Judge Crane. one ct the
Wee Presi Tents OF tho day, General HARRISON rsc.
and IA a ciear sDnorous voice that was heard nv every
man Oh the immense multitude before HIM. addressed
the Convention ior near two hours. The appearance
at the Old Hero WAS hailed by the mighty shouts III
thousands Tor several minutcs-Ile looks well. Is in
excellent health. and speaks with a fervor aud ANNA
nca belonging rather 90 youth than to age. Compared
with other men whom the writer Of thus has lately
eecn and heard. less ia years than the General. there -
not any marked difference Of manner or ma ,cr1 The
fire of hrs eve Is not diInrned by age. nor has the
strength of hrs manly intellect in the least. lie will
80 into the Presidential Chair. n veteran in wisdom
and experience and he will grasp the helm ur state
with a stedy hand and firm resolution. ready 10 al
minister the peoples government after the peoples
Will.
GEN. HARRISoN'S PEFCU
I rise fellow ciiizcns,- multitude was here nc.
i'a'od as IN" sea. when winds blow upon IT, aud it
was iuil hive minutes before the tumnlt OF joy. at Sec
iag and hearing the next President OF the 4. States.
could he calncd9Il rise, fcllow-citizens. to express TO
you from the bottom Off grateful heart nv wannest
thanks foe the kinl AMI Gathering manner m which I
have been received by the representatives of the Val.
" ofthe Mann. I rise 10 saw To YOU. that. however
magnificent my reception has been ON this occasion. I
um not ~ vain n TO presume that IL was intended for
the. that this glorious i%riumphnl entry was designed
Tor one individual No. know two well that per-
sous itnpertections To believe. that his vast assem-
blage has come mp here In do him honor IL is the
glorious cause of Democratic rights that hath brought
them here (lmmense cheering J II is the proud amir
Sersary ofonc of the brightest victories that glnws on
the pages OF our counfry's history, which hath sum.
inoned this multitude together Tremendous chez
ringD
Fellow citizens. Il was about this time &c the day.
~ years ago, this very hour. thus very minute. that
y"ur speaker, n cOmmanderin-chei Of the North Yves.
Setn Army, was plugged into an agony of Feeling. When
tue commanding fnpm orr gallant fleet announced an
action with the enemy. lis hopes. his fears were
destined to be soon quieied. for the tidIngs of victory
were brought TO him on the wings OF the wind. With
me eagle ofiriumph perching upon our hammers ON
the lake | moved CA 10 complete the overthrow of the
forrigR f'c. Tho anniversary cf that day can never he
f~ors'iion. Lr every American has cause to rejoice at
The triumph OF our arms on that mOmeutuus occasion,
hut tho brave aud gallant horo Of that victory is gone.
g'ne TO that home WHITTIER we are all hurr,ing, and To
ms memory let us do that reverence due TO the deeds
of 80 Illustrious q patriot. From Heaven. does his
soul look down upon Us and gladden. at the virtues
which still animtte has generous counirymen in recur-
ring To his noble and glorious career while on Garth
Great sensation for several secoInls)
| am fully aware. my fellow citizens, that YOU c1-
pet ron me some opinion sppn the various questions
which now aytate our country, from centre To circum-
ference. with such fierce contention. Calumny, ever
seeking TO destroy all that is good ia this world. hath
proclaimedIha, am averSo from declaring ay opinions
on matters 80 interesting TO you. but nothing can be
more false. lCheers)
Have I not declared, ovor aud often, that the Presi
dent of this Union does not constitute any part or por
ton Of the Legislative body Cries from every quarter
you have. YOU have) Have I not said, over and
often. that the Executive should not by any aci of his
forestall the action OF the National LegislaIurel you
have. YOU haveD
Have | not, time out of mind. Proclaimed my op.
position TO a citizens going forward amoag the people
aud soliciting votes for the Presidency Have not
many a time and often said. that, in nv opinion, no
man ought TO aspire 10 the Presidency Of these United
States. unless he - designed asa candidate for thai
high Office by the unbot wishes of the peoplel (Chee.
ring 1.-THE candidate for SO high an office be design.
ed by the will OF n portion or a majority of the people.
they " i'll come To the determination OF sustaining such
n man; from a review of his past actions and life. aud
they will not exact pledges from him of what he will
do aud what he will not do. for their selection OF him
- proof enough. that he will carry out the doctrines
eli his party. This plan of choosing a candidate for
tho Presidency - "A much surer bar against corruption
than the system ofrequiring promises. 1.-THE pIedging
plan is pursued, tho effect will be, 10 offer the Pre-i.
dental chnir ioihe man who will mabe the most pnm.
iseS (Laughter) lilo who would pledge most.
he who would promise most. would he The man To be
voted for, aud ! have no hesitation in declaring my
belief. that lac who would subject his course 10 be
thus tied up by pledges and promises, would not stop
q break them when once IN office. Cheering Are
my views on this topic correct. ar are they not
(wih one voice. the multitude Indicated they WERE
IT, fellow citizens, We examine the history Of all
republics, we shall md That as they receded from the
purity Of Representative Government, tho condition
ct obtaining Office was the making OF promises-lIe
who bad the highest IN promises was the favored can
dIdate. and the higher the bids. the more marked and
certain the corruption. Look nj tho progress of this
hing in our own republic. Were any pledges equired
of your Washington or your Adams' Adams was the
candidate of the fedcral party and as n statesman was
bound To carry out the principle, Of his party. Was
his successor. Thomas jefferson. The high priest of con-
suiutiolal democracy, called on for pledges' No
Ills whole life was a pledge of what he would dOi
Md il We go back 10 this old system of selecting men
for the Presidency. whose past career shall be a guar
antee Of their conduct when elected To the Chief Mag
istracy of the republic, the nation would advance
safely, rapidly and surely ~ the path OF prosperity.
Bot Of late years, the c~orruPting system Of requiring
pledges hath been adopted. The Presidency hath
been put up to The highest bidder 10 promises. and we
see the result. IL remains for you. my fellow citizens.
20 arrest this course Of things. (Crics OF we will.
we willy
While then. fellow citizens. I have never hesitaied
10 declare my opinions on proper occasions upon the
great questionsbefore the nation ] cannot consent
20 make mere promises the condition Of obtaining the
Office which you kindly wish 70 besiOw upon me. My
opinions am free To express. but you already have
them, sustained and ~suppoted bythe acts ola long
md arduous life. That hfo isa pledge Of my future
course, If am elevated oy your suffrage TO the highest
office in your gin. Qnmense cheering for several Sc
oOnds)
Ithas been charged against me. fellow. citizens, thai
I am n FederaiisL While I acknowledge that the
original federal garty Of Ibis country was actuafed an
ats cOese by no improper motives. I deny that ever
belonged 10 that class Of politcians-(TTeInendous
choering) How could ] belong 10 that pauyl | was
educated IN the school ofanii-Eederalism and though too
young TO take on active part in the politics Of the
country, when. at the erection Of the Constitution, the
nation was divided into two great parties. my hOnored
father had indicted me into the principles Of Consitu.
tiUnsl Democracy, and my teachers were the Henrys
and the Masons Of that period. lie. who declared that
the seeds Of monarchy were sown Ia the soil Of the
Constitution, was a loader in my sob"ol Of politics. lie,
who said, that "f this government be noia monarchy.
az has an awful sluinting towards a monarchy "wa4