William Henry Harrison as Presidential Candidate Determined "to Make no Pledges" - While Affirming His Anti-Masonic Position

WILLIAM HENRY HARRISON

Verlag: Cincinnati, Ohio, 1835

Beschreibung

Autograph Letter Signed, to William Ayres. Cincinnati, Ohio, November 25, 1835. 4 pp., 7 1/2 x 12 in. "I set out with a determination to make no pledges - If the Anti Masons rely upon my openly avowed opinions against Masonry one would suppose that they ought to be satisfied with the certainty of their having a full proportion of my confidences."Future U.S. President William Henry Harrison demonstrates exceptional political acumen by revealing his credo not to make pledges, and is keenly aware that his actions to get nominated may be used against him in the actual campaign. Harrison also resents that Anti-Masonic leader Thaddeus Stevens, is "determined to support [Daniel] Webster under any circumstances or any person but any old Jeffersonian Democrat like myself." Partial Transcript"I received yesterday a letter from Mr. [Thaddeus] Stevens.He declines publishing my letter because, as he says, it will create an insurmountable barrier between the Anti-Masons & myself. His object seems to be to procure from me a declaration that I will, if elected, appoint no adhering Mason to office in anti-Mason states. This appears to me to be new ground taken by the Anti-Masons and which cannot but result in injury to their cause - could any President make the declaration that he would be governed by that principle & decline to act upon the converse proposition in states where the anti-Masons were in a majority? Indeed it would be very questionable whether Pennsyl[vani]a could be called in strict propriety an anti-Masonic state. Our friend [Joseph] Ritner did not obtain a majority of the whole number of of [sic] votes taken at the last election. I am decidedly of opinion that an irreperable [sic] blow would be given to the Anti-Masonic cause by the adoption of the course recommended by Mr. Stevens. No person who would avow such principles can possibly be elected to the Presidency. He would not get an Electoral vote in one of the Western States. And I think it extremely probable that the avowal of such sentiments would be the means of concentrating an opposition in the Senate of the United States against the anti Masonic interest sufficiently strong to prevent the passage of an anti-Masonic nomination.Mr. Stevens forgets that the President whom the anti-Masons might elect could do them little or no good if the Senate were opposed to them.I do not mean to express any opinion which should govern the appointments to office in Pennsyl[vani]a - I confine myself exclusively in my remarks to the Govt of the U States.If I understand Mr Stevens aright the only fault he now finds in my course is that of my being unwilling to pledge myself to appoint no adhering Mason to office in an anti-Masonic state. Now even if I were determined to do so I would not pledge myself to do it - for I set out with a determination to make no pledges - If the Anti Masons rely upon my openly avowed opinions against Masonry one would suppose that they ought to be satisfied with the certainty of their having a full proportion of my confidences.Can it be possible that the anti-Masons will nominate a candidate who will not get a single electoral vote in any of the Western states or South of the Potomac? I refer to Mr [John Quincy] Adams not to Mr [Daniel] Webster. Mr. Stevens' course here is attributed to his Federalism & that he had determined to support Mr. Webster under any circumstances or any other person but any old Jeffersonian Democrat like myself. I however think that he is really sincere in saying that he would have preferred me if I could have come up to his standards of anti-Masonry. But will Mr. Webster or any of the other persons who have been thought of for the Presidency go further than I go? Perhaps Mr. Adams might - but what earthly chance could he stand to succeed. It appears to me that Mr. Stevens does not consider all the consequences which would result from a candidate for the Presidency pledging himself in . (See website for full description). Bestandsnummer des Verkäufers 22520.99

Bibliografische Details

Titel: William Henry Harrison as Presidential ...

Verlag: Cincinnati, Ohio

Erscheinungsdatum: 1835

Einband: No binding

Zustand: Fine

Art des Buches: Autograph Letter Signed