Newspaper Page Text
tate Jottiriial---I32j:tra
Lctters of Wm. H. Harrison and Francis Crransrer.
MONTPELIER, JUNE 1, 1836.
The
.CHAUNPl'.Y I.. KNAIU', UDITOR.
MONTPELIER, JUNE 1, 1630.
ANTIMASONIC MOAlINATIOiNS.
EOR 1'HESinENT,
WM. MEHrKY ESAfitKHSOIV
Of Ohio;
ICT ppointed by Mr JKrrrnsoN, Governor of tlie
Terntory of liutinnj, iu 1UU1 ;
0"Uy Mr Maiiisom, t.'ominntidcr.in-Chiefof thc
North N'cstern Army in 1B1S;
XT By pelluw ciri.t.ss in Oliio, a Munibcr
ofCongreiis in.lUlG;
LT Hy the L.Kisi.ATUnr. or Omo, a Senator of
iho b'mted Stntes in 11)23; and
(E7 Hy Joax (l'imcv Auams, Ministcr i'lcnipo-
tenlury to tho l'cjmblic of Colmnbm in 1828.
U..7 iNominated by Couventions of thc I'kopi.k in
l'cnnstlvania. Ohio, Maryland, New Yoik, ludi
yiin, Illiuuia, Dclawarp and Vermont, Connecti
cut, aml by the I.cgislatmp of Kentucky.
ZScntimcnts nf Gcn. Uamson.
" iacniruot but considur tho existcnce of Ma
sonrv ai nli cvil, both inornl and political."
" in thc excreUc of the electivc franchisc thc
people pncs8 fhe means of corrccting all tlie evils
which may arisc In our ynvcrnment, and that it
ought tn bn used for thal purpovo." J.itter to the
I'emuylvania Anlimatonic filalc Cvmmittic.
" It tho excrcisc ol Uip. rcinohir and appointinp;
powprjn siiiircE rrepmisonty could not I'ail to
In tlie parent of mifchicfs innnitcly prcatcr than
thnHe it is tlic design to cure. Correctdis
orders thnt may ariso of that character by the
po,wcr of thc pcoplc thcniselves.orby the amhority
of thc ftatc Rovcrnincnta, and lct tho appointmentB
uy thc I'residcnt bc made upou ihcgood old rulcs
of Jefl'craon hoHcsty, capacity and lidelity to the
Conetitution and a furthcr rpquiremcnt which I
know he always made that or their being sccep.
tablc to thc peoplo for whom thoy wcre immcdi
ately to act.'' Letter to ThmUlnu Sltvms, I'sq.
" It is the most diflicult tlihig 111 thc world for
tnc to bclicve tltat a pctnplo in the poespssion of
their right as freemen, would cver ue willing tn
anrrendpr them and submit thrmselves to the will
ofl'mastpr."
" I contend thnt thc slrongcstof all govcrnments
U that which is most Ireu."
" Man do'ea not lcarn under oppreteion thoso
nnble qnalities and feejings which nt him for the
cnjnvniPiit of liberty."
"To hq cstecmcd cmlnentlf izreat, It is neccs
ary to bc eminently good." l.ttier to Bulivur.
Neithor Masonrv, norVnn Burpnicm, nor bnth
rari sticceed wilh thc Circcn Mutintain Bnys. Po
Utical Jtigling will run a sliort rnrc anionf; the
desccndants nf I'.than Allen. E D. llarber.
Our oppnsttinn tn frppmaonry and Kxecutive
usurpitinn sprinc from the s3me principlcs. W'c
cannot, as consitcnt Antimasonv do any Icss than
rcoist what wc depm unwarrantpd aKsuniptinns of
power on tho part of thc Prnidcut. We act
in nur orpnaitinn to the moasurps of thc l'xpcutip
IT7" trictly nt AHtimafons. W'c aro only applj ing
iloctrinrs ijur partv havp pvpr ndvocated. tn a new
ease and cartyingthcm nut into prar.ticp in rclition
tn a new evii, '. J). Ilarbir.
I cnntont tnyaplr, on this occaeion, wilh saying
thal I pnnsidr mysplf thc hnnorpd inptrnmont, rp
Ipctrd by tho fripinlrt nf the present Administratmn,
to carry out fj princij'tr nnd policy ; and that as
ucll from inclinatinn as frnin duty, I shall, if hnn
orpd with tho ehnicc of thc Americnn people, en
dpavor to trpad pcncrally jn the fnntslops of I'rpsi
drnt Jackinn happv iT 'l hall bo ablp tn perfert
Ut7'he work whirh Jio lus so ilnrioiislvhepun.,r()
Martin Van Ilurnt't Lttter to the llall. Con.
FOR VICE I'HESIDE.NT,
Of New York.
ANTIMSO.IC PlTiwn'OUAI, TICKl'.T.
. J JAI5EZ PROCTOR,
Ai
lurcr, . a 4 A I
Dipt.No.1, DAV1D ORAWFORD,
:t, TI'I'US IIUTCH1NSON,
A, WM. A. ORISWOLI),
5, EDWAKD LAMH.
ANTIMASONI cTrTAT P, TICK KT.
rnn oovr.RNon,
SILAS II. JENISON.
roR i.t. aovERfcon,
DAVID M. CAMR
rOR TREASURER,
AUGUSTINI'i CLARKE.
LETTER S FROM OEN. IIARRISON
AND MJt. (JRAN(JER.
We rc-pnblish in nn Exlrn Slicct, nm) lny
j)cforo tho imliliB tho lcttors frotn fiun
lUnr.isoM nnd Mr Granoer, in rrply to
tlio cnmmtinicniioiiH of tho Stnte Coinmit
lec, informing thcm of tliuir rpsncctivc nrnii
innlintip. Gn. Iliirrison's roply will lio
luiitid to contnin n munly nnil iiiidisgniGcd
avownl ofhis Kentimcnts iisnn Antiinnson,
nnd Kcniihlicnn Cilizcn, oxtircEscd with nn
detrnnce of ftylo nnd frimknoKs of mttnnur,
nJiko honornhlo to tho Jicnd nnd henrt of
thn distingiiished Slntcsinan of tho West.
Jt will bo pcrccived tlmt lic ftdly ntloptstlie
wl.known Retolutions, whicli hnvo pnshcd
the scrntinizing ordcul of two largo nnti
msponic ronvcntions in Vermont, nnd rn
ceived their tinrjualificd ennction. Indred,
we know nnt how Gen. Hiirrison could
:Jiavo expresred, in nioro cmphnlic tcrnis,
Jis full coneurrcnco in tho principlee nnd
I views of tliu Amiinnsonic party, tlinn ho
has donc on this uccasion.
Tho hrii'f Jloply of ftlr Granoer is
conehcd in ncat utid nj'proprimo langlinge,
wnrm from tho henrt ol'ono of tho carliest
sonio cnttsc.
LETTER. OF GEN. HARRISON.
North Re.vd, April 25, J83G.
Deaii Sir:
Your lcttcr ol thc lstultimodid not rench
Cincintmti ntitil towurds tho clusci of tho
inotilh, nnd nt tlic tinie of tuy nhsenco.
Upon nivarrivnl, it wns tlchveiod to tne,
bnt ninidst so miiny iresiiiL' cnL'UL'cmcnlH
ns to prccludo tho possibility of un immc-
liati: roiilv. 1 hc ix'solutiuiis ndontcd hv
tlif mceting of tlie Antiinusonio Mcmbiirs
of tho Logislnturo of Vermont, on tho lUth
of October last, nnd readopted by thc Con-
vcntion wlnoii nsscmhlcil nt Alontpclicr in
Febrtiary, wero nls'i received.
1 havo cnrcltilly pcrused tliesc reBoltitions,
and hnvo no besitancy in nvowing my en
tiro itcrorduncu with thc sentimcnis whieh
thcy cont.'iin. 1 thitik it )roper nlso to tsnv
that, in ftlr Hladu's sixth letter lo jIr 1I:J-
lett, nml in tho biuto Journnl ptibbshcd nt
iMoiitpclier on tho btli ol fllareh Inst, my
oiiiiiioiis ttpon iunsonry (as oxiiressed m
soveral letters to my friends of tho Antima
Honic party of I'cnnsylvanin in tho coiiiko
of thc lastsuinmi'r,) aro eorrectly &tntcd.
Uecurring to tho icsoliitiona I thmk
thcro is nonc of thcm moro nppropriato
thnn thnt in which is quotcd thc jtist i e
buke of tho " Father of his Cotmtry," to
that most mischicvous nnd dcslnictivc
prini'iple, which would sanction nstirpa
lions of powcr by thc ftmctiotiaries of n
Kciiulilic, uniler thc etnlc )retenno of rc-
drrssing cxisting cvils ; nnil it is umong tliu
mos.t striKniK ol tho cxistniL' uvidcnccs ol
otir dupartnre from thctrne laitli hui'Miioih-
ly mmntained liy otir niiccsior.-', that unnu-
tboriscd iissiimptions of power nro bo cx-
tensively reirardeel, citber with intlitli'rcnct'.
ornpprobation. It scems, indeed, bardly
ncccssary that tliey fcliould claiin tho mcrit
of sccuring uny manifvst jiublio bcncfit.
Tho ilniing nnd hardiliood of achicvement
sccmsuflicicntto entitlo tbemto confidenco
nnd ndmirntion ; ns if tho csscntiul qnnlity
in the character of tho Chief AlRgistrato of
a Rnpnblic wns tlie conrage to nssumc ro
iponsibility, nnd tho operations of thc
Kxccntivc lioverriinent werc but n sticces-
fion of covp de main, direetcd ngniiiht tfio
renl or imnginary evils whicli it may bo
thotight nccessnry to crnsli. Whatever
may bo tho tirctcxts for thcso niovemcnts.
or howcvcr grcat their tcmpornry ndvunta-
inuy uiu in oircci opposniou iu ino
lnndumcntal prmcinles ol our Ciovcrnmcnt;
nnd, if peisiscd in, tnust efl'ect its cntiro
biibversion.
In nrbitrary governmcnts it is n innttcr
of little momciit by whom, or n what
mnnuer, n desirnlilc cnd may bc nccom
plishcd. Itnt in Rcpublics thc nttninmrnt
ofno objeet, howevcriinportant, will justify
n dcparturo from lcgal preM'riptions, nnd
moro particnlarly thc sulistiltilion ol ouc
ugent ibr nnother. Tho priucipal safegnard
ol liiicrty in our nystcms ol goyernnieut is
to bo louud in thc distribution of their
nowi r: nnd it was the iireat obioct of their
iraincrs to prcservc that distribution by n
L'lnssilicatioii ot tho ngcnts who wcro to
compose tho Govcrnmentp, nnd by thc
e.stahli.shment of well ilcfincd boundaries
to tho powcrs of tlie scveial dcpartments.
iu uiuury, na weu ns in ns pracucai opern
tious, our Gcueral Govcrument prcsented,
tor rnany ycnrs olter it cnmo lrom tho
liaudsofitH frnmets, the nppearnnco of n
Hately, well trimmcd veesrl ; its propor
tiiins in pcrfect Bymmctry nnd its bailabt
well ndjitstcd. How prosperously it has
tailrd along thc tido of timo, nnd how
t-irong hnvo been tho hopes that it was to
coutiniir, for nges, thiis prosperously to
ptirsuo its courso, the prido of its hnppy
owners, nnd tho wondcr nnd cxniuplo ofnn
ndniiriiig world, necd tiot now be told.
llut how difl'ercnt tho Fpectaclo Bhe now
prcsentH. llcr bullast, looscned and Rhiftcd
nnd arcumidated iu n siuglc jioiiit, has dc
Mroycd hcr ('(ptilihrium, and ihreutetm Iut
ih'striietinn. Sucli is our Govcrnment, ut
this moment. If it is a practicnl Republic,
wbat, it may bo nikcd, nonstitutcs a iMon
nrchy ? A diNtiuguishcd bistorinn of tho
last cenlury says "Tho ohvious dcfinition
"of n moiiarcby senins to bo thnt of n stato
"in which n mtiglo person, by whntover
"namo ho may he dittinguishcd, is entrust
"ed with tho cxccutiou of tho Lawn, tho
"manngcmtnt of tho Revenuc, nnd tho
"rominand of tho Army. liut ur.less puh
"lic liberty is protcrted by intrepid nnd
"vigilant gunrdians, tho uuthoriiy of bo
" foriTiidablo n iMnubirnto will mioii dcgen
"erato into dt'Fpotism." Which of tho
tlueo powers hero laid down nsconstituting
JMonnrcby, iu thooniiion of Mr. Gibbon, is
not to bo foundntmmg thobc nowcxnrcised
by tho Presidmt ol tho Hnitcd Statcs?
Tho firt-t nnd thiid nro ohviously his, hy
the grnnt of tho Constitution. Tho hecond
is praclically his, by the poRfession uud
cnntroitl which hv now exciT.ises iu rcgard
to tho entirii revfiitio of tho eotintry. Tho
power of tiBing it nt his plensiirc, couplcd
with tho ndmiiiiblration of tho Lnwn, nnd
tho commaiid of tho Army, eonstitutcs n
mass of power evidciuly not roiilomplated
iu tho Coiibtitution, nnd highly dnngerous
to thulibeities of tho countiy. Tho wiso
and pniriotic mun who framed tho Consti
tution novor intcnded thnt tho charncter of
tho Govnnitnent should dcpend upon thc i
inrlinntioim of its Cliief Matiietrntcs-tliat
it should bo Rcpubliciin or Monarchicnl nt
his plenbiirc. If Mr Gibhon's defuiitiou is
correct, nnd ifit wcro not tho ititontion of
"Gibbon'I)eclineind FaJloflho Bnman Empiro.
tho framer.i of the Constitution to crcnto n
Moiiarcby in disguis.-, nfier conforring on
tho PreBidenry tho firrt and tbird of tho
noucrn euumernted hy thnt ntitbor, it tnust
havo bccn their inteution tn pri'Kcrvc the
Repiiblican charncter of tho (ovcrumctii
hy plac.iiig tho second (tho mauugctncnt of
tho rcvcnue) entirely iu othcr bands. llut
the cxpcdient would bc uselnss, if thc I'res
idcnt, 'in virluc of n prerogativo supposcd
to attacli to him ns tho Chief Exccutivo
Mngi&trate, or under tho power cxprcpsly
givcn to scc tliat thc laws nro cxccutcd,
could excrciso entire controul over tho
ofliccrs to whom thc custody nnd dislmrsc
nient of tho rovemio werc givcn by Inw.
In this iudirect wuy his powcr over tlic
public pui'80 Aouhl bo ns complcto ns if it
wcro cominittcd to him by tho cxprcss
teruis of thc Coiistitutioii ; and ho would
bo tlms constitutcd, ns niiich as in tho for
mer modc, that " ormidalile tnaqhlrale," ,
whom, iu thc opinion of Mr. Gibbon, it'
would reqtiiro the greutcst intrcpidity nnd
vigilancc, on tho part of tho friends of lib
criy to prevent from hcrouiing adcspot.
It is not n little rcmarknble thut tho powcr
claimcd for tho I'residcnt over tho civil
oflicers of tho Govcrnment is grcnter than
thc mi'ilnry laws nllow him over thc ofli
ccrs of tho nrmy. Tho Articlc of Wnr
prcscribing tho mcnsuro ofobedienco of
siiliordinntcfl to superiors limits it to such
oiders as nro legnl ; whcrens thc prctciisiou
sct ui for tho l'residcntial power, is uuliin
ited obedicncc.
If tho ohjcetioiinhlo nssuniptious of pow
cr by tho Exccutivo nro bought to bc jus
tiflcd upon tlic grouud that thcy nro ncces
snry to rcmcdy cxisting cvils, or sccuro
grcat publiu benefits, tho npproprinto nn
swcr is to bc four.d iu tho sentimcnts of
Gcneral Washington, quoted in tlie Rcsolu-
viuuuim ,v iiciiiuiuii, ijliuiuil lliu IILMJIU-
tiona of yom Coiivciition. "Tho hahits of
thinkinirin n frco connlry," savs thc pre
cminciit patriot und Htalcsmaii, "should iu
spiro caution in tlioso cntriistcd with its
ndmiuistration, lo confinc thcnisolvcs with
in their respcctivc coiistitutional sphcres.
The spirit of cncroachmcnt tcnils to con
solidatc the )owcrs of all thc Dcpartments
in ono, nnd thus creatc, whatever ti'o foriu
of Govcrnment, n rcid dcspotisui. Any
ehangc by usurpation for thc nvowcd pur
pose of remcdying cvils, tliough in
ono instuncc it mny bc tho instrumcnt of
good, is tho ctistomnry wenpon by which
Ireo (jovcriinicius nre dcslroyed."
Tlio eeutimcnts bcre cxprwsfcd wcro not'
iicculinr to Gcncrnl Wnshinuton. Tbev
I'nshington. They '
wcre common to tho pntriots of Virc'uiia,
throughout the Rcvolutionary wnr. Atid
never wcre thcy moro stendfnstly iimintniii
cd than in Jhe most glooiny period of that
eventful contcst. Tho pngcsof thc lamcnt
cd Wirt inform us that thc dagger of a
modern Mrutus had bccn prepared ready to
bo used, if the titnes had given birlh to n
modcru Ciusar. And from othcr historians
of thalStatc wc learn that onc of thc bcst,
most magnnnimous, and diyiutcrcstcd of
ber sons, tho chief of hcr Exfcutive, icnrce
ly cscaped impenchineiit for the excrciso
of nn nuthority, upon his own respmmibil
ity which had been cntnibtcd to hiniFclf
iiiii! othcrs. Thc circumstanccs dcveloped
in tlio investigatiou wero such as to hring
oonviction to cvery niind that if evcr an
Execulivo Magistrntc was nuthoriscd to
assume respousibility, thnt was tho case.
Tho powcr to act in it had bccn givcn to
tho Governor and ('ouncil. Tho exiaencv
wns pressing. Therc wns no possibiiity of
nsscmhlingttic ('ouncil ; nnd heuctcd upon
his own nuthority. When it is considercd
how iiuicli thisuct contributed to thc gloii
ous rosult of tho cnpture vf thc nrmy of
Cornwall!, it may oxcite surprisc that an
invebtigntion of thc subjcct by thc Legi.sla
ttire should hnvc bccn tliouglit necessary :
And iarticularly too, when it was publiely
known that the Governor had perdonally
suffercd moro by his own act than nnyother
..l;..;.l....i . .1 .
iiiiiiviuuni. jiu in ino eycs oi tne puinots
of those dnys, nn usurpntion ofpower, under
whatever cii'cuinstauci's it might havo taken
plnce, hy whutcver nppait'iit neectsity jus
tificd, rcquired n delibcrntc investigatiou on
tlie part of tho immediate Itcprcbcutativcs
of tho people. Tho result was gloriotis to
republirau firmncbs nnd iniliviilual virluc.
Tlio laws wero vindicnted and tho patriot
Governor clevnted in tho opiuion of his
fellow citizens. ilut this did not saiisfv n
uiiud bo Eeiibitivc and magiiaiiiiuous us that
of Nelson. To show that lust of powcr had
no operation upon his mind, he resigned tho
Government and ntowcd hisdetcrmiuatiou
ncver to nccept nnother oflice.
I coiibider niyself fortunato to havo per
souully known in my youth, nll thc distin
guislied nctors in thoso sccncs; to havo
listencd to tho elevated sentiuients and
purely rcpublican mnxiuis whieh fell from
llieirlips, nnd by whirh their conduct was
nlways governcd. How refn bhing it ibjlo
look baclc upon n period eo prolific of emi
ncnt siatesnien who well understood, nnd
invariably piactiKnd upon tho pure priuci
plrs of Deniocracy l And how paiuful it
is to coutrnbt tiiciu wilh tlio hcivtical dog
maB of iho present day. The Dumocracy
oftho period nf which I nm spcaking, und
whicli was profeied nnd nclcd ou by iho
lieiuys, iho Nelsons, tho lthindM, tho Lees,
tho Wythes, tho Nicholusos, thtCarcye.tln!
Mat.-ons,tho Cnri inglons, tlio Ilraxlons, and
tlio lylersol Virginia, was componed of
iincliungcalilo pnnciples; tno fiiBt of which
was tho neknowledgment of tlio novo
reignty of tho people, nnd tho object of nll
tho n-Bt, tho preservntion aud perpctuation
ofthatsovcreignty in their hands. Oftho
latttr, that whicli was considcred most iin
porlant was, that Dcmocracy could bo only
precrved by n rigid adhcrcneo to its own
prineiples. It ndmitted ofno aid fioni thoso
of tho oppobito Bysteum of Governnicnt.
Under no pretence, no prospect of tcmpo
rnry imvantage, wcro tho principlea of
xiiiniuuiniy duu mouarcny to po receivcu
rh nllics. If it had been supposed thnt n
purely Deiuocratic Rcpublican (Jovern
mcnt was not eipial tuits owu prcscrviilion,
tho ciikcs in wliieh nrbitrnry principlcs
wero to ho introdticcd would hnvo bccn
nnrtii'iilarly provided for. Atid it would
iiavc been far better thnt it mIioiiM huvo
bceu so, than to Buflrr them to bc usKiimed,
nt will, by thoso to whom tho udmiuistia
tion of ntliiiro wns entrutted ;- ns far better
ns nny deflni'd, regulatcd syteui of nctioii
is prcfurnblc to thc excrriso nf unlimitcd
disrmliun. For whcu has it happened that
tho puwerto assiuno has nnt been followed
hy tho iissuiuptiou ? And wbcn has tho
nssuuier been sntisficd with Icsm than tho
wholothatisnttaiuablo? lfbutouc niiraulo
ofthis kiud is to bo found iu our owu hifto
ry, nnd no othcr iu tho lapsc of nges, the
cxccption proves tho otherwiso tmivernal
ity ol'Jtho rule. When auother such mir
nclo bliull occur, wo may expcct nn cqunl
ehangc in tho othcr propciisilies of tho
liiiman mind. Tho niiserfchnll cease to
cravo ndilition to his bourdud trcasuns,nnd
in tho lauguago of tho eldcr Adnms, "the
lovcr becomo content wilh tlic lirst smiles
ofhis mistress."
Tho present nspcot of nfTairs r.nnnot, it
spcnisto tnc, bc ronteuiplatt.'d witlioutdeci
and paiuful Bolicituile. Iflbo evils coin
plaincd of wero coiifiued to merc mal-ail-miuistratiun,
tho constitutional lemedy
might bc npplied, nnd tlic cvils cured. llut
thcy lio decper. Tho tendeucy of thc
coursc of tho ndministrntion is tn divcrt thc
niiuds of tho peoplo (in wbosc nction,upou
tho thcory ol our Coiistitutioii, lestt) iho
hea'ing priuciplo for politicnl disorders)
from n considcrntion of tbo true nierits of
quei-tionsinvolving tho public welfnrc, to
that of thc moro benrings they may havo
uiuu iiiu IIUUI urir. ui yur.. iuu ru..iiu
werc wont, iu tlio carliest dnys of tho He-
Uion tho intercbts of purly. The pcoplc
nublic. to makn their npprobatiou or dis
npprobation of public nieaMircs depend up
on full and delilieralo invesiigationof their
nicrilH. Now, liow largo n portion of our
popiilnrnssemblics aro brought togethcr, to
conileum or npplaud, upon niere ptuty
priiiciplcs, iui(l, under their influcncc, to
ndopt tneasures which hnvo bccn elscwhcre
dctcrmined on by party luadcrs. It is thus
thnt n Btipremc rcL'iird to varlu triumphs is
I mnde to takcthc plnco of enlargcd, enliglit-
i ii i i ..; i I
fliuu llllll llLienu yiuivb ui uii: iiiiiuu -i-fiii-f
liv mrniii. nrtfnllv eonecived and
I vigorously proseeuted, is it ultemptcd to
raiso tho pnpulnr fcoling lo n stato of such
feverish excitcmcut as to induco the adop-
safety und happincss of the eountry cnn bo
lifKt Bcctircd liy coiiunittiiiR its ulTiirsto thc
IIU1I UI IIITJ Ullll-I U'UUIIlllll .JJ'llllUll, tlli. lliv
uncontrollcd maungemcnt oftho Icadcrs of
a Uoininant party, und sniictinmug nll their
suggesliniis und tni'asurcs without cxainin
ation. Now whntover mny be the talents
and patriotism with whicli tho leaders oftho
party may be distingiiishcd, such uiilimitcd
conlidenre is iu direct hostility to tho fun
danienlal priuciiles of our Govcrnment.
It has ucvcr exibtcd to such an cxiciit at
any previous period of our history ; norhas
it pievailcd iu any othcr govcrnment, with
out proving 1'atal to public liberty.
Our nncestors, who left us tho iuvulun
blo lcgany of tlie prrscnt Constilulinn, per
fectly underslooil thc sourro of thc di?.-olu-tion
of all former Repulilirs, aud eudeavorcd
to guard riguiust thc daugcr by cmbodyiug,
in tho striicluro of tho goerumcnt, tho
great coiiscrvalive )iiuciple, that public
nicnsures Fhould bo brought in ronbtant
rcvicw before tho iicople. llut they could
go no farther. Wilh tlio peoplo res-ted iho
bupremo supcrvii-oiy power the grand
censjrship which could mako uud uumake
build uji und dcstroy, nt pleasurc. Guid
cd by thc rulcs aud pieccpts bequeathed to
them by tho framers of tho Coiibtitution,
tlio government would bo safo iu their
hands ;hilc its ullimate dcbtriiction will bc
rcndered ccrtain by n practicul mihstitution
of prineiples aud inuxinis looking only to
party aggraudicment, & party dnmiiialioii,
And hero is thc truo souro of exifting cvils.
Tlio rcmcdy will be found when tho people
shall hrcuk thc tiaminclsof naity, aud tako
tho inanagcmcnt of their own ntlaira into
their own hands, couvinccd that in, the
suppoi tof party leaders thoy do not nlways
Biipport their own iuterebts ; diut profebsioiiB
of patriotibtu may cloak tho most grasping
felli-lincss; and "that, under tlio iiiask of
Dcmocracy may bo perpctraled ull that is
odious aud opiri'blvo in AriFtocrucy or
Moiiurchy. It is relatcd of tho cclebrated
.Madam Roland, that ns sho wns passiug to
thc bcuflbld iiliderlho orders ofRobespieric,
on sceing the ciiihlenis of liberty by which
ubo wns siirrounilc(l7hln: excluimcil, " Oh
liberty, how mnny criincs nro perpelrnted
iu thy nninc." A similar apostmphc miglit
bo niade to our inodern Deniocraoy, upon
n refcrcnco lo tho mnny ucla of grops injus
tice nnd of AriMocrntic opprcbbion which
hnvo bei'ii rommitted by its prolcssed votn
rics, whilolho people aro iuiiuccd toucipij
esro iu thcm upou tho preloncc of their
ncrcsFity to contioul thopioud Aiistocracy,
aml tho iiiBiitiablo nvarico of iMonopolists
who aim at tho appropriation to thcni
M'lvcs, of ull tho bources of wcallh iu tho
commiinity.
Wo might ronlinno tho apnMropho wjth
n referenco nnt only to thc wounds whieh
havo been iuflictrd ou the Cnnslitulion in
the namo of Dnmocincy, but to thc iiuiue
rous mnnoiolies whirh havo been crcated
by thoso who havo bccn lolldest in iIimhiii.
ciatinns of theui. As n subMitiito fbr nn
instituiion locnted in n corner of Oliio, nnd
whosc vitulily wns to tcrmiuuto iu le.ss thnn
two ycais, auother has bccn chartcred of n
pcculiar character, with an cxtcnt of tcrni
aud iufliicnco far greater. Thcro is n
cmisiaut etl'ort to induco tho pcojilo
to yicld their nt-scnt to incnsurcs wluch
thcy do not approve, under tho false pro
tenco tlmt ihov are nccessnry to efl'ootsomo
ncknowledgd good, or to nvoid korn de
procnjcd cvil. Thcrc is indeed scarcely n
liiestiun presented lo tlicin, tliat is not iu
sonio niciisuro disgiiised by a iningliiig of
totally oxtruucous ninlter, or deeked in col
ois suiteil lo tbo cxcitcd party feclings
und prujudices which it is tbo spccial caro
of tho leaders to foster. I!ut 1 havc full
coulidfiico thut this stato of thingB caunot
loiigcoiitinuc. Tho peoplo nru too intclli
gent to bo forovcr boimd iu thc trammels
of party tactics. Oneo frecd from them,
thcy will cnlmly uud ileliberutely invcslignto
fur tlicuisclves; uud then, ull will bo right.
Alueh ol'tlie party violcnco which has been
luuuifcBtcd Ibr u fovv vears nust. is, 1 thiuk.
attributublo to tbo ditlereut constitution of
Iho paities from what wus furmerly known
iu this eouulry. It is u btriking l'aet, thut
party eoniests which havo a elear nnil in
tulligiblo rclation to principlcs of govcrn
ment, are, usuully, iiiueh lcsa embittcrcd
than thoso which huvo rcspcct merely to
tho clevatiou aud support of ineii. Tho
eoutebts carried on for ugcs bctwecu tlio
l'nti'iciau nnd Plebiau paities in Jtouie, scl
doni produccd any coinmotinn injurioiis to
tho prosperity oftho state. llut iu thc later
ages, when tho parties wcro urranged un
der iho baiiner.sof iiidiviihials,all tho ficrccr
pasbioiiH wcro culibted iu llieir conlcsts.
Our own histoiy heems to warrunt this dis
tiuction. Whatever niight havc bccn tho
cuse with Bome iiidividual.-, I am sntisficd
thnt hetwecn tho hody of Republicuns and
that of Federalists, therc wcro no fcelings
of bilteiiicbs.
Uufortiinatcly, howcvcr, ns I ihink, fiir
tho two liibt I'residencics, the aities huvo
tukcu their desigiiutious us "thc friends" or
"tho oppoucuts of thc Ailiiiitiistration."
Euch coutaiiis u portion of tho old Fedcral
party ; cuch clainis to bo Dcinocratic Rc
piiblicuu, and each, in its turn, has bccn
chargcd with violations oftho Cou.stitution,
uud a wastel'ul oxpcuditiiio of tho public
moiiuy. Now I havo no belicf iu thc ne
cessity of un Executive party in thc Nalion
al LegisluUirc, citber liir uny public ndvnn
tago to bo derived fiom it, or for the easc,
coincnience or honor of tho Exccutivo iu
cuinbcut. Tho opinion of its ncccbsity
must hnvo been derived from nn iiuproper
uNsimilation of our govermncnt to that of
Great Ilritain. Thcro it U necessnry ; for
without n majority in tlio Kiug's favor in
I'ai'lianicnt, to voto tho bupplics for his
Army uud his Nuvy, neitbcr could bc kept
up; nnd thc Throuo would fall with them.
But in the Unitcd Statcs, tho Army und
Nuvy bclong to the People, nnd tho i'ri'si
dent has no greater intercst in them than
any othcr citizen. Should be be nf opinion
that thcy ought to ho iticreascd, hc will
recommend it j but if tho othcr co-ordiuate
brancbcs oftho govcrnment to whom is
coiumittcd tbcciiaclmctitof ihc lnws,do not
agrce wilh him, why should he beaggrievcd
at their rcfusal ? So with othcr recommen
dations tlie increaso of tho revenuc, tho
ereetion of forlifications and othir mcusurcs
of prcpuration for wnr. To recommend is
his duty ; it isthcirs to judgeof the expedi
ency of hisrecomincudatioiis. And il they
disagrec, their common masters, tho peo
ple, must detcrmino betwceu them.
As it rcgards the increaso of oflircrs and
of pcrquisites for tlie purpo.se of enabling
tlio I'residcnt to reward partizaus, I cnn
pcrccivo no ncccssity for it ; nnd if thc
views 1 hnve takcn of the subjcct be correct,
ho will hnvo no lcgitimnte oceusiou for them.
He will alwnysfind friends enough in citber
hntiso of Congress lo give u faircxplanation
ofhis vicusj aud forlherebt, he must look
for couHolation furniiy trifliug inoi lifinition
ho mny oxpcricuco from buving thcm op
poscd, to thc iipprobution of tl.o peoplo.
As the Represcntntivcs of tbo Antima
sonic Convention of Vermont, I bcg lcao
to otrer Ihcir Conuniltee, through you, my
grateful arknonlrdgmcnlB for the distin
giiishcd honor thcy havo conferrcd upon
mc, by selceting mo as their candidate for
the Prcsidciicy. Thepuro Republicnn sen
timcnts whicli thev profess, und huvo pro
iniilgntcd in their Rcsoliitious, nt onco eu
lighlencd and libcrul, rnlianco tho gratifica
tlon which I fecl an this occasion, uud all'onl
thc most induhitublc proof thnt the present
iiihnliitauts of tho Green Mountain Statc
liold fnat to tho t'ailli of their oncestors
to lliosc clorious liriuciples, to tho viudica-
lion and establibbment of which thcy so
largely contributed.
Wilh great cousiderntion nnd rcspcct,
1 am, Sir,
Yuur hunible servant,
W. II. HARRISON.
C. L. KrfArp, Esq.,
Of the Jhitimusonic islate Committec
of lrermont.
LETTER OF MR. GltANGER.
Wasiiinoto.n, Mnrch 31, 1K3G.
Sir: Your Iciter informing mo thut tho
Stato Convention reeently nssembled ut
Montpelier, had placed nie in uomiuation
for tlio ollico of Vicc l'rebideut, wns recei
ved a few days i-inec.
(ii-atifyiug us huvo bceu tho biinilnr ex
prcBsions ot publiu confulenro mnuifcbted
tiiwnrds ino by oiher Statcs, thoro hns bern
no ono which has cxcitcd a prouder feeling
of grntitudo than tbo testimouial cmanatiiig
from that portion of tny fellow-eitizens
whom you reprcsent. Duriug tho vnriotis
politicnl coliflictH which havo agitated iho
iiation, tliey havo been found truo to thoso
prineiples which noearly dibtinguished tho
iiunlv B.ins of tho Green Mounluins, nnd
which huvo idwais plneed them nmong tbo
mobt cllicient suppoilci H of tho Supremaey
oftho Laws and oftho CoiiMllution of our
Countrv. Fiecmen who so well tinder
staiid nut only tho theory, but tho pructicnl
benefits of our rcpublicim instiiutioiif,
need not to bo reniindcd of tho iiieaus by
which olono such iuslitulions run bo pre
perved ', nnd wo havo nmjilo usnuranee in
tho pust, tliat tho Citizeus of Vermont, nro
nlways imprcesed wilh tlio imporiatit polit.
ical trutli, that ctcrnal vigilnnco is not only
tho tiricc, but the g arantec of frcedom.
With my bighcst estecm, be pleuscd to
uccept thnnks for tho maiiuer of your
commumcntiou.
Your obcdicnt Borvant,
F. GRANGER.
C. 1. Knapp, Esq.
VAN HUREN CON.SIbTENCY.
Some prctcnd lo say, tlmt Mr Van Ilaron
liaa been consiatcnt in his oppoai'iou to men
und inuasiire. Lct us' inqilirc into ll.it) mat
tur. llislury has nut rccordrd thc fact that lio
over exprcssed an opinion conccrning Wasli.
injjlon or Jcfl'nrsoii. Wlinn did he opposo
Aludieon nad tlic war ? During tlic licat ol
Iho contcst, nlicn nll tlie ginnt-likc powcrs of
Mudison wcre nt work to npstay his eufFering
cmintry wlnlc tliu capUui ol tlie nation wns
in (laines white tlie liayunct of tlic cnaniy
waa picrcing the hcarts of our Viouien and
cluldrcn uhilu liis llculs wcru blockuiling our
porla nnd wlnle liia hordcs ofmurderous sav
agas wuru tulding to the powcrs of Juckion
uud of Hurrison on the frunticis ! That va
the liiuu that tlic moiltrn sumhine patriot, Van
Buren opposed Mudison and tliu war 1 When
did lie itupporl Madison aad tho war 7 Ylien
tho iflbriii of the former wcro crowncd with
succcos when the deadly ronflict liad tcrmin
alcd, and hright nnil glorious and honorabls
piat-e had sclllpd upon tliu land when tho
iuidjiiig iiamcs of Madison and Monroe, of
1'prry, ol McDonougli and of Dccnlur, of
Jnckson, of IlarrUon, nf Urown, of Hiplcy,
of Stoll, of Gaines and ol MuComb, lillcd
cvcry iuoiilh, ai:d wcro waftcd upou cvcry
brccze whcu the pulpit und tliu f'uruni scnt
fortli their dccp coulcd cluquviicu in ineniory
of tlic departcd brave uhcn cilief, tovvns,
uud liainlits, blazcd ith ilhiminalions iu hon
or of Iho viclors and thc victory when the
ehoiil of Arneiican (runipli rcut tlic otch of
Heave.'i, nnd found n hearty responso iu cveiy
paliiul boroin bcnrath tho siin tlicn, and not
till llicn, a fuiut and pt.erilo toicc al Kindcr
liouk wns licard lo ccho back, "litirrn lor Mud
ison and Ihc war!" When did lic tupport
DeWill Clinton ? At the tinie ho Ihou&ux
Clintun had thi'iiower of proinoling him to ul
fice, aud when Mr C'lintmi's friends nciniinatcd
him for tho Presidcncy in opposilion lo Mr
Madison then Mr Vun Burcn suppoited him
with all his might. Whcu did hc opposu
DoWitt Clinlon? When hc thought Clin
ton no longcr able to promotc him; and just
as that great man wus cmUavoring lo coru
suminatu his vat Intcrnal Iinprovcment fyi
trni, Mr Van Burcn caincoiit againsltiiin and
tlie Eriu C'unul ; and he inniuluint-d the moi t
deadly opposilion iintil the dialh of Mr Clin
ton, whe.i, in tho plenilude ofhis consuminatn
hypotriBy, lie had the liardiliood to prctend je
grtt at lus euddcn ilca'.li. AVhcn did he op
pose Ardrrw Jackson? Throughout tliu
wholo of the l'residcntial contcst nhcnGen.
Jacknon was first a candidate, Van Iiuien op
posid him, and tiuvcllcd hoth North and
South, inaking specclics in favor of Craivford,
und denouncingAdams and Juckson? When
hc found that thc voico nl the poplo was for
him, that Cruwford could not bo clcctcd, and
that Clinton, h'i3 inucli drcadcd rival, was cead
then it was he came opcnly out, itnounccd
his loimer friends, and shoulcd for the hero of
New Oilcani. When did hc support Iha
Rank of lliu United Statcs ? rrnm his carli.
csl induction into offlcc, hc was tlio wurin nd
oc.tto of that inslitiitinn. Hc niacd a peli
lou, and wrote privatu lctters lo iho Pretidcut
of Iho Bank, ur;;ing him to locnte a branch al
Albany. At all timcs audon all orcusious, lio
n the fripr.d of thut nnd cvcry olher Bank.
When did he oppose tho Bank ? Afler Gcn.
Jackson had vclotd ils new thnrtcr bill, nnd
hc fuiind hc inuil dcnuuncc Ihc Bank, or clso
losplho influcnce of the Prrsidcnt to help him
inlo a highcr officc Ihen it was, and not till
then, thal lio dcclarcd "uucompromising hoa
tilily to the Unitcd Statcs Bank."
Let the friends of Mr Van Burcn look upon
this picturr, and llien exaiuinu history and if
tliey find us guilly of onc mistatcmenl, then
wc will acknnwhdgc thal Marlin Van Buren
ii foiuijtnil, and that all tlie rvst of tho world
i.rjin crror. .ViJ Tlmt),
From the llmanclpator
Middklury, Vi. Jlpril 18, 183G.
Dcnr Sir: Tho cnuso of nholition isgoing
on rnpidly in Vermont, cspccially iu this
vicinity. Tho Middlebury Anti-Slavcry
Socicty, which last Juno cnnsisted oftwen
ty or thirty memhcrs now numbers over
two hundred, nnd thcrc nro manv on tho
cvo of ticitiug, who hnvc sotue liesitancy.
A little moro iuformaiiou on tho subject
will bring them into our ranks. Freedom
is iiidigcuous to our soil. Every usurpn
tion of liunian rights is abhorrcnt to our
feelings. Vcrniont has sufl'ercd no deteri
oration in tho prineiples of humanity, lib
erty, or patriotism, siuce the dnys of hcr
Allen, hcr Chittenden, nnd ber Wnrncr.
Sho cver has been, uud evcr will bo tbo
sumo inflxiblo oppoticnt to opprcssion, tho
Knmc frieud to our Union, the samo close
ndhcrent to virtue, justicc, honor, aud right
sho hati cver been. Hero civil nnd religioua
liberty cannot ho supprcsscd by violenco
aud mnbs. Indeed, bo ohnoxious to iho
bpirit oftho Btutoaro theso latter things,thal
whcrovcr they hnvo iu tho lcast niuilo their
nppcarauco they havo rcsultcd in disgraco
upon tho nctors. A burst of indignation
wns at oncc expresscd from ono extrcmily
of tliu btatc to tlio othcr, last fall, nt the ri
otous procccdiugH atnn Anti-Slavcry mcet
ing nt Montpelier. For his disgruccful
conduct in this atruir, tho priucipal nctor
wnr tiimed out of ollicc us 1'rciidem of
Montpelier Bank.
Yours truly,
JONATHArJ A. ALt.t.'.
Anotiuu IIarruon siNNr.n DurLiirD.
Tho Le lloy Gnzctle, a whig paper horeloforo
zcalnusly t uppoiling Mr. Wclutcr for Presi
drnt, has passid intn the hanils nl'Kufm Rob
cruon, Unp who gocs warmly for Hsrrison
nnd Grnnger. Mr. Robcittou is a man ol do
cidrd Inlrnl and sourid principlps. IIu ttprt.
sented old Gentse two yer in tho Asserjq
blj. floiiy t. Journtl.
