The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1848-08-25

)ato suffer that reumstanos IL 1. existed to weaken
the moral power Of their nanmity on the great ques
ton which had brought them together.
My opinion, In favor of the power Of Congress to
abolsh slavery in the District Of Columbia has been
president and every days Election has but served
to confirm my conviction OF its correctness at the
same time, express myself strongly against the ex-
the New York delegation at Utica, referred to my
continued opposition to that measure The subject
was only Incidentally introduced and there was,
sequenty, but little care taken in regard to the
terms in which the suggestion made
The form Of expression which employed has, it ap-
pears led many honest and intelligent men to assume
that the remark related exclusively to the past and
was not intended to convey my present views on the
matter This construction though. perhaps not un.
warranted by the words employed in fact erroneous;
and is due to truth to fair dealing and to oil who
take interest in the matter that the beet should
now be placed in its true light.
1t is not to be denied that many Of the which,
i13' and before operated to produce the
then expressed NO longer exist and it, when writing
to the New York delegation at Utica could have an
icipaed what has since occurred should have felt II
my duty to discriminate between the reasons which
had passed away, and those which yet remain. But
when my letter to them was written, nothing could
have been further from my expectations than that
should again be candidate for the presidency;
aud, Of course 1t was not intention to say what my
conduct would be on this or other matter If again
an incumbent Of that place.
have spoken in a former part of this letter. of the
three leading features of the policy in regard to slave
ry adopted by the fathers OF the republic History if
true must record the fact that the north has hitherto
faithfully sustained her part in the maintenance
more
nculcates forbearance on the point referred to-
wish to the forbearance which has long charac
terized her conduct in this matter, still farther
tinued Approving of the platform which the conven
tion has adopted, and conscious from my Impressions
of right md duty p regard to it, that shall be among
the last to abandon it, prefer not to ct efforts
to sustain IL, with issue which all must admit to he
in some degree at least affected by different consid
tions.
In my Judgment all that is necessary to insure sur
cess IL dspassonate but steady and firm action Let
the great principle we are now contending for be once
rQ. al De nH IND hAa 1rtJ
the institution of slavery in the District of Columbia
viii fall ofitself Other and important interests
Will intervene, and induce the inhabitants them selves
to labor for its removal
must not, however be understood. either by what
n9wsay or by what was said in my letter to the New
York delegation at Utica, repeating the declaration
that would If elected withhold my approval from
bill for the abolition Of slavery in the Dst.ict
could not now give such for the reason
that the circumstance by which the question is now
surrounded are widely and materially different from
What they when the declaration was made and
because, upon question of expediency crcumstancas
must control At that time, the was ho-
nestly entertained that there was danger of a servie
war in consequence of the extent to which the agita
ton of this question had been pressed.
Participating in this apprehension, and believing
that such declaration. in advance of any action of
Congr IS upon the subject would have a ealutary in
fuepce in allayng excitement, and wardinp of the
danger which menaced the peace Of the slave holding
States did not hesitate to make it, Whilst, on the
one hand all grounds for this apprehe have pass.
ed away we are, on the other, threatened with sub
version Of the spirit and character of
through the successful entertainments Of the SLAVE
power If under such circumstances, two bran
of the national legislature should decide that dus "a
gard for the public interest the passage of
such law should not il President thi ok il within
tne me OF duty to arrest passage by the exer
Among the difficult subjects that occupied the at.
tenton OF my illustrious predecessor, whilst was
member CT his cabinet and of myself whilst President
that OF river and barbor Improvements by the aid of
the federal government occupied promne Mt position
Whilst the conviction very general with our.
selves and Others, that large class of them was de-
serving Of aid from that quarter and that it could he
extended to them without exceeding the prescribed
powers OF the government all strongly impressed
with deep sense of the liabilities to abuse to which
the legislation Of Congress upon the subject was un
| avoidably exposed The matter was one of frenncnt
ana earnest conference between President Jackson
and myself during the first two years of his first and
the whole of his last term. The result was conyc-
ton that no better could be adopted thar to
approve such bills were satisfied came within
the class referred to- and to do all could be right
iuy done by the Executive to preven abuses by an
popriations for objects that not entitled to the
aid OF the federal government. The appropriations
n Sr river ana naroor improvements contained in acts
OF congress- approved during our respective admins
trations will show the results of that conviction and
Know OF nothing that would prevent me from pur-
suing the same course If should again occupy the
Office of President ~ ~
The subject is one of vast importance and we'll de.
serving the attention bestowed upon by the Chicago
convention OF last year. have not before me the
letter addressed by my lamented friend, Governor
Wrlght TO That body but was strongly and favor
ably impressed by the views he expressed upon the
| general subject.
The views which have for many wears entertained
in regard to the best disposition by Congress of the
public lands have been recently set forth in nv pub
Iished letter to the industrial Congress- They
were
First. That Congress ought to act upon the princ-
pie that the United States have greater interest in
the early settlement and substantial improvement of
the pubc apos than In the amount Of revenue which
may be derived from them.
Secor dy. That the accumulation of large tracts in
few hands, she uld be discountenenced; aud
Thirdly That liberal facilities ought to be afforded
for the acquisition Of small portions by such of our
citizens wherever residing as are in good faith di
rOuS OF possessing them homes for
their families. These opinions were Announced sr f,r
back as 1885 whilst candidate for the Presidency
set fortb also, in my letter to the Industrial
the recommendations had. whilst President made TO
Congress and the acts had approved to promote the
sustained upon the subject of the disposition of the
public lands are in harmony with the resolution of
the convention, with this dference-that whilst the
convention propose free grants Of limited quantities.
for actual settlement the furherest that had gone
was to Of portions of them at prices
little If anything more than sufficient to sefray the
expenses Of survey and location The policy to which
have SO long adhered, and for the success Of which
have been sincerely solicitoul makes the early and
as far as practicable, substantial settlement of the
public lands the principal and the revenue derived
from the 'aes OF them secondary, and comparative
regard the question of revenue as only important
because it affords prospect of securing regularity
II plan can be devised by which these objects would
in all reasonable probability, be as well egected a.
ton from the settlers the ren Of that con-
sideraton would, with me- be noobjecton t. the mea
sure. from report OF the Committee on Public
Lands which has lately been forwarded to me IL an.
pears that the sales of the public lands have been
pledged public creditors for one of the loans Of
the last year. If this is so, Congress will without
doubt II any plan for the free gift of apy portions of
the public lands to actual settlers should hereafter
mo favor IN their eyes see that the objection arising
rom TINS cause be, in some proper way obviated
Come what may, the good faith the nation must al
ways be scrupulously maintained
My opinions in regard to DIT elective dut;es and tbe
best sources OF revenue, veryIfuy give in nv let
ter to the indiana in S43 which was exten
sively published and they are the same now 4 on
that occasion gave my for regarding the svs
tenn OF taxation In force In the States viz direct tax
upon assessed property as more equal and equitable
than system OF duties on imports gave also nv
reasons for believing that duties imports would for
along time continue to be used the mode by which
the federal government would collect its revenues in
proierenc to resort to direct taxation Athonrh the