Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1851-06-14
LETTER OF GEN. HARRISON.

LAsRAssE (GEo.) Mar A. 1851.
GENTLEMEN: have just received yours Of the 18th
instant and hasten to reply thank you for your kind
surance Of friendship and support for the last eight years
and, although am not your Representative expect
to be candidate for reelection, recognise your right to ask
and you Of my pleasure in responding the several
matters suggested in your otte fully if my relation
you Representative still existed am thankful to my
constituents for the confidence with which they have so long
honored me.
Although have concealed, but freely spoken Of my
political views, am not surprised that my position should
be vaously represented in different quarters The letters
invitations atend public meetings last
fall did not find their way into the public prints have not
obtruded my opinions uncaled for the public and am
ready to confess that differing did and now do in certain
particulars with Of my political friends, the more
reluctant ferce my the public attention. Although
dsappove of the action Of the last Congress known as the
Compromise, and believe unjust the South was not
and not in favor Of secession the proper remedy Main
tanning position in the Union, other remedies must be
looked to- believed and still believe there are Others con-
situona Efficient and certainly worthy Of trial before re-
sorting secession, which ought to be the very ast Con-
sidering il mpolc and suicidal the South long as
there any reasonable desire preserve the union Of the
States have not been, and not now in favor Of organ
cations Of parties purely aud exclusively sectional When
that state of things is forced upon if it should which
requires dissolution the only proper remedy these sectional
parties will be both polite and proper bat not until then.
While remain in the Union, and rely votes under the
constitution for the election Of officers and sustain
stituona rights we ought not 10 my opinion, to refuse the
aid Of Northern friends proered in good faith. Nor is it
answer TO this 70 say we have Northern friends.
know better. We have too few, is true Many of them
have quaed before public opinion in their section while
others have been prosrated but there and
noble spirits sustained BY equally and noble constituents
who not only admit our constitutional rights but ready to
vote for Them If he 10 principle acknow-
lodges rights and stands ready sustain Them
why such one, being candidate, might not be as
readily and fully sustained if he resided in the South.
The South ought to be the f to abandon such men
upon these two proportions have not agreed with some
Of my political friends and Of the Democratic presses
in State. On these suppose have been re-
presented Constitutional Union man. Well if to be
truly friend to the Constitution and to the Union constitutes
one, then have received injustice by such designa
on but if it is intended to represent me as deserving or
intending to desert the Democratic party, long exists
and holds to its principles be who does but little under
stands my attachment to those principles.
deny that secession has been insisted upon by the
mass OF the Democratic party, that il has constituted
any part Of It's creed have believed that in present
condition would cost than il came to-" and have
no doubt as to our true policy when the way opened
other remedies, tending greatly prosperity at the cos
own heads Among these, may be mentioned the establish
ment Of direct trade between Southern seacosst
cities and foreign pors manufacturing the material grown BY
our own labor at home shpbudiug amidst our own i'm
mense forests of live oak and souihern pine using
ships, encouraging and sustaining mechanics. Pr
vae enterprise might be greatly aided ia of these
poymens by legislative action, without drawing upon
the funds Of the State.
have about as little faith in the durability Of the Consi
tutlona Ubion Party of Georgia would have Of any
other sectional party believe il is nowhere doubted that
the effort to form National Constitutional Union Party
failure II was counenanced by comparatively few Wings
IN Congress- and fewer Democrats To the Northern Wings
was not so important matter was to their Southern
brethren. The administration of Gen. Taylor did not pro-
mise to them much disaster to the Wings here Three
hundred slaves had proven poor guaranty Tor Southern
rights new party necessary Tor Southern Whigs to
evade the torrents Of dsapprobson they ghtuy anticipated
from indignant people The ground must be shifted.
The public eye drawn off from the transactions Of 49, and
the Administration then put into power But as there
many honest and patriotic who supported General Tay
Tor under the belief bis Administration would be safe
the South, refrain any further remark that subject than
say that be put himself under Influences adverse to the in
erests of the Soub and that before his death there were
few in the South poor do bis Administration rever
ence To escape from this responsibility, il was most con-
venen for the principal actors 10 the Of 4s to seize
upon the preex afforded by the extremity here hide them
selves behind the battery Of the Union and smds The false
alarm they might create and the cry Of Unop divert public
attention these fearful "reminiscences In concert with
many honest Democrats who real believed the Uni IN in
danger alter the November election as mistaken as they
were they formed the Constitutional Union Party Of Georgia