The Evansville journal. (Evansville, Ind.) 1834-184?, 1844-02-22
WASHINGTON. JAN. 8, 1914.


WASHINGTON. JAN. 3, 1871
GENTLEMEN Il have received you letter,
requesting 'spermssion 10 present my name
TO the People, as a Candidate for the Office
of President of the United States, subject to
the future wise, deliberate action of the Wing
National Convention of 1914"
4
expression of the grateful feelings awakened
by letter, containing such request, SO
very numerously signed, and coming from.
among those who have known me through
! life No one can be Insensible to the dis
tinction of being regarded, by any respecta-
number of his fellow citizens, as among those
/ from whom a choice of President might be
made, with honor and safety to the country.
The Office of President is an office, the
importance of which cannot be too highly
estimated. lie who fills it, necessarily ex-
ercises great influence, not only on all do
mestic interests of the country, on IFS foreign
relations, and the support its honor and
character among the nations ofthe earth, but
on that, which is of the very highest import
10 the happiness OF the people, the mainten-
ance of the Constitution itself, and the pros
porous continuance of the Government under
it. Our systems are peculiar; and while ca
lpable, as experience has shown, of pr0duc-
ing the most favorable result, under wise and
cautious administration, they are neverthe
less, exposed 10 peculiar dangers. we have
SIX and twenty STATES, each possessing with
in Itself powers Of government, limited only
by the Constitution ofthe United States ;and
we have general government TO which is
confided high trusts, to be exercised for the
benefit of the people of all the States. 1t
is obvious, that this division of powers, itself
the result of novel and most delicate polit-
cal operation, can be preserved only by the
, exercise of wisdom and true patriotism. The
Constitution offhe United States stands Oh
the basis ri the peoples choice. Ii must re-
main on that basis, so long as ii remains al
all. The veneraton and love, which are en-
! tertained for it, will be increased, by every
1 instance of wise, prudent, impartial and par
entail administration.
On The other hands they will be diminish
ed by every administration, which shall cherish
d local divisions, devote itselfto local interests
seek to bend the influence of the Govern
ment 10 personal or partizan purposes, o
which shall forget that all patriotism is fals'
and spurious, which does not look with al
equal eye TO the interests of the whole coun
try, and all its parts, present and TO come
| hardly know what an American tatesmaT
should so much deprecate, on his own &C
count, as well ON account of his country, a
that the constitution of the United States
> now the glory of our country and the admi
ration of the world, should become weaken
ed in its foundations, perverted in its princi
pies, or fallen and sunk, in nations regart
and nations hopes, by his own follies, er
: rors, or Mistakes
!. The Constitution was made for the gooC
of the country; this the people know Il
q faithful administration promotes that good
Z. this the people know. The people vii
d themselves defend it against all foreign pow
6 er, and all open force, and they will righttul
. ly hold to Just and solemn account, those
: 10 whose hands they commit it, and in whos'
o handst shall be found to be shorn of single
$ beam of ils honor or deprived of a particle
of lis capacity for usefulness. 1t was made
for an honest people, and they expect it tc
be honestly administered. At the. presen
moment, it is an object of general respect
confidence and affection.