Evansville weekly journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ind.) 184?-18??, 1848-05-04

DEAR SHINY opinions have recently been
50 often misconceived and misrepresented that
deem il due 10 myself, if not to my friends TO
make brief exposition of them upon the top
les 10 which you have called ny attention.
Ihave consented 10 the use Of my name as a
candidate for the Presidency. have frankly
avowed my own distrnst OF my fitness for that
high station; but having, at the solicitation OF
many of my countryinen. taken my position
as a candidate, do not feel AT liberty 10 sur
render that position until my friends manifest
a wish that should retire from it. viii then
most gladly do so. have no private purposes
to accomplish, no party projects TO build up,
no enemies to punish-nothing to serve but
my country.
have BEEN very often addressed by letter.
and my opinions have been asked upon almost
every question that might occur to the writers
as affecting the interests of their country or
their party. | have not always responded to
these inquiries for various reasons.
confess. whilst have great cardinal princi-
Piles which viii regulate my political life, am
not sufficiently familiar with all the minute
details of political legislation to give solemn
pledges to exert my influence, if / were Presi-
dent, to carry out this or deleatthat measure.
Ihave no concealment. hold no opinion
which | would not readily proclaim to my as
sembled countrymen but crude impressions
upon matters of policy. which may be right
to-day, and wtong tomorrow. are, pcrha ps,
not the best test of fitness fer Office. One
who cannot be trusted without pledges can
not be confded in merely on account of
Them
l will proceed, however, now to respond TO
your inquiries.
First reiterate what have often said-I
am a whig. but not an ultra whig. ii elected
would not be the mere President ola party
would endeavor to act independent of party
domination. | should feel bound to admins
ter the Government untrammelled by party
ssche mes.
Second.-The veto power.- The power Civ
en- by the constitution to the Executive to in
terpose his veto. is high conservative pe4veF !;
butin my opinion should never be exercised
exceptln cases of clear violation Of the consti-
tuition, or manifest haste and want ofeensi,tar-
alton by Congress. Indeed, have thought
that, for many years past the known opinions
and wishes OF the Executive ha We exercised IN
due and injurious influence upon the legisIa
tive department of the Government; and for
This cause | have thought our system was in
danger OF undergoing great change from lis
true theory. The personal opinions of the in
dl0iduGb geho mag happen to occupy the Ere
ctttire c3dir, ought not TO control the action of
Congress upon questions Of. domestic 1olica;
nor ought has objections TO be tnterposed t0here
questions Of Constitutional power has been SET
tied bythc yarious departments of GoOernHlent
and Gcquieseed IN by the people
Yhjrd.-UPon the subject of the tariff, the
currency. the improvement of our. great high
avs, rivers, lakes and harbors, the will of Tie
people as expressed through their Representa-
tires in Congress, ought to b. respected and
carried out by the Executive.
Fourth.-'fhe Mexican war. / sincerely
rejoice attic prospect OF peace. Ny life has
been devoted TO arms. yet | look upon war at
all times and under all circumstances as great
national calamity, to be avoided if compaii-
bic with national honor. The principles Of
our Government as well as its true polic1 are
opposed TO the subjugation Of oiher nations
and the ACKNOWLEDGMENT Of other countries bv
conquest. In the language of the great Wash
ingfon, .'Why should we quit our own to
stand on foreign ground In the Mexican wal
our national honor has been vindicated, amply