Now this is taking the subject precisely by the wrong end. Particularity
expending the money of the whole people for an object which will benefit
only a portion of them--is the greatest real objection to improvements,
and has been so held by General Jackson, Mr. Polk, and all others, I
believe, till now. But now, behold, the objects most general--nearest
free from this objection--are to be rejected, while those most liable to
it are to be embraced. To return: I cannot help believing that General
Cass, when he wrote his letter of acceptance, well understood he was to
be claimed by the advocates of both sides of this question, and that he
then closed the door against all further expressions of opinion purposely
to retain the benefits of that double position. His subsequent
equivocation at Cleveland, to my mind, proves such to have been the case.
One word more, and I shall have done with this branch of the subject. You
Democrats, and your candidate, in the main are in favor of laying down in
advance a platform--a set of party positions--as a unit, and then of
forcing the people, by every sort of appliance, to ratify them, however
unpalatable some of them may be. We and our candidate are in favor of
making Presidential elections and the legislation of the country distinct
matters; so that the people can elect whom they please, and afterward
legislate just as they please, without any hindrance, save only so much
as may guard against infractions of the Constitution, undue haste, and
want of consideration.
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