The daily Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1841-1845, 1842-11-30
Secretary Tyler State Central Committee.
WoopsFIELp. Oct. 3. 1870


Dear Sir: The inquiries which you proposed to
me in obedience TO resolution of the late Conven-
ton of the friends of the present Administration in
relation to various political quest ons which agitate
the public mind, came to hand days since,
and now embrace The first leisure moment TO send
you my reply. | regret that my constant engage
ments since your inquiries were received, have pre-
vented me from sending you my reply at earlier
period, and now compel me to merely give my
views and opinions without the reasons or arg,l-
ments which operate on my mind in their support
The peculiar aud pressing engagements which have
been under for the last Two weeks which are well
known to the public viii, trust, be received as an
ample apology both for my delay and breyity.
In reply To your first, second and third inquiries
have to state that | hold Bank of the IT, States
both unconstitutional and highly inexpedient and
that entirely agree with c. n. Harrison in the OPT
Mon, that Congress does not possess the power to
| charter Bank for the purpose Of facilitating the
! operations of commerce. In the campo gn of 1870
while candidate for Governor mingled extern
svely with the people in ass meetings, ard wit
messed, and participated in, many particular discus
sons, and can say that so far as was able to OBJ
serve, Bank of the United States was not then
made question before the people, by the Wing par
ty in any shape. II true, that the friends of the
then administration frequently charged the Wing
| party with the intention Of creating a United States
Bank II they obtained political power but the charge
constantly repealed, and the votes and speeches
of both Gen. Harrison and President Tyler on the
Bank question were referred to as furnishing an am
pie reluation of the charge.
AS to your fourth, fifth and sixth nquiries | have
to state, that do not consider protective tariff as
con,ra-distngushed from a revenue tariff with Incl.
dental protection either equal just, or expedient
deem il highly improper for Congress- in adopting
tariff, to connect with it, in the same act a clause
for the distribution of tie proceeds of the public
lands. believe II TO be unfair and corrupt mode
of legislang. There is necessary connection be-
tween tariff law and the distribution of the pro-
ceeds Of the public lands. They are both great mea
sures of public policy, and each one should be
brought forward and acted upon independent of the
other. This is the only way the impartial Judgment
of the country, to each of these measures can he
obtained In connecting them 10 ether many are
induced to vote for both who would be opposed 10
and vote against one or the other, if separated
Any plan Of legislation which my smuggle a q eat
measure through Congress against the known will of
the majority, is corrupt and an-rcpublican and
should be discount, nanced in all legislative bodies
In my estimation, the proceeds of the public lands
cannot be legally or with propriety distributed so
long as the nation is in Debt, economical admin
istraon of the Government requires revenue ex
ceedng 70 per cent on imports.
In reply TO your seventh inquiry have to state
that in my opinion, Congress have no power TO inter-
fere with slavery in the slave-hoding States
As TO your eighth inquiry, believe the recent con-
duct OF the House Of Representatives of the United
States IN receiving report and adopting resolution
condemnng the President without hearing, was an
insult TO the Nation in the person of its Chief Mags
trate, an assault civil liberty, an attempt on The
part of the aocuser to try the accused and illegal
unprecedented, unjust and oppressive, towards the
President as an American citizen.
81 reply TO your last question, would beg leave 10
state, that do not telieve 1T constitutional or proper
ioi minority of the Ohio Legislature 10 secede mr.
resign, and thus leave that body without quorum
q" tic contrary, believe IT is revolution and moral
pcr'ry on the part of the minority of the members
oi r Ohio Legislature to consQire together to resign
az ncok up the legislative department Of the Go !
NGm"cnt, snd, IL sanctioned by the people, will put
an end TO our present form of Govern ment
Having given brief, but, trust satisfactory an
swcr to each of your several inquiries, | have the
honor TO be,
Yours with great respect and esteem,
WILSON SHANNON
JoHN MoELvAN, Esq