The Lancaster gazette. (Lancaster, Ohio) 1846-1852, 1848-09-08
From the Washington Battery.
Giving Pledges and OpInions--A nut rC
the Union 20 Crack.

Giving Pledges and OpInions--A nut for
the Union 90 Crack.
The Union is trying to make out Gen.
Washington did not refuse to give politi.
cal pledges, audtO array party opinions
previous tn his election to The Presiden-
cy, and yet it cites the following passage
from General Washington's letter to
General Lincoln, dated March IL, 1889.
"Should IL become ineuitdbly necessary
for me to go into tie chair Of government,
Ihare determined to go free from all pos
tire engagements oferry nature 0AatsO-
e0er. THIS IS Tie anSa0er l have already
girrn to a multiplicity ofapplications; and
hare assigned, as the true reason IF my
conduct, the predominate desire Ihad Of
being at liberty 10 act ,0ih sole reference
to justice and tie public good. But with
out leviating from that line of proceed
ing which had chalked out for myself, |
may be permitted to say toyou my dearsir
that you need not doubt my inclinations
are very sincere, and very strong to serve
you, ifI can do it consistently with my
duty to the public. This say, because
| have known you in public life: for | do
not intend TO be swayed in the disposal
of places by motives arising from the ties
of friendship or blood.
What offices there may be under the
new government, or what pretensions
may be urged in favor of the different
candidates, cannot pretend to foretell
All can add at present is, that you may
rest assured am, with sentiments o.
real affection, your friend, &c.
"GEO WASHINGTON"
Now the Union expects that it will ap
pear by this that Gen. Washington hal
reference only to applications for Office
But this letter to Gen. Lincoln is con
irmatory of others in which Washington
expressly states his Independent posi-
; lion. But even here, his words are: :"
hare determined to go free from all posi-
ti0c engagements Of erery nature whatso
: ever," which necessarily includes all par
> ty or other pledges whatsoever. But i
the Union is not satisfied with Gen
TAY LOR'S imitation of WASHING
, TON in this particular, we recomend t,
his special notice the following letter from
Gen. Jackson, by which it will be see
that he, also, was in the habit of positive
ly refusing TO give his opinions on polti
cal topics, when requested to do so, Will
a candidate for the Presidency. 1t ap
pears that, in 1925, the Executive am
7, Senate of Indiana wrote to Gen. Jackso
to define his position and show his prin
: ciples, he being then before The people a
a candidate for the Presidency. II
< this letter, Gen. Jackson replied as fol
: lows to the Executive:
"HERMITAcE, Feb. 2S, 1925.
"Sir: have the honor TO receive you
, Excellency's letter Of the 3Oth ult. Ell
closing resolutions of the Senate of In
; diana. adopted, as it appears, wiM
cieso Of asccrtain'ng ny opinions on ce'
:, tain pOlitical topics.
"The respect entertain for the Exc
= cutive and Senate ofyour State exclude
3 from my mind the idea that an anfrienC
T. ~ disposition directed the interrogatorie
T. propounded. But will confess my re
" gret at being forced by this sentiment t
q depart in the smallest degree from thG
determination on s0hich hare always a,
;, ted, (which was to refuse to answer sue
, a inquiries)
= "ANDREW JACKSON"