Sir:—Your answer to my inquiry, “what would be your rule of action towards the , should you be elected president of the ,” has been under consideration since last November, in the fond expectation, that you would give (for every honest citizen has a right to demand it,) to the , a manifesto of your views of the best method and means which would secure to the people, the whole people, the most freedom, the most happiness, the most union, the most wealth, the most fame, the most glory at home, and the most honor abroad, at the least expense; but I have waited in vain. So far as you have made public declarations, they have been made, like your answer to the above, soft to flatter, rather than solid to feed the people. You seem to abandon all former policy which may have actuated you in the discharge of a statesman’s duty, when the vigor of intellect and the force of virtue, should have sought out an everlasting habitation for liberty; when, as a wise man, a true patriot, and a friend to mankind, you should have resolved, to ameliorate the awful condition of our bleeding by a mighty plan of wisdom, righteouness, justice, goodness and mercy, that would have brought back the golden days of our ’s youth, vigor and vivacity; when prosperity crowned the offorts [efforts] of a youthful , when the gentle aspirations of the sons of liberty were, “we are one.”

In your answer to my questions, last fall, that peculiar tact of modern politicians, declaring, “if you ever enter into that high office, you must go into it free and unfettered, with no guarantee but such as are to be drawn from your whole life, character and conduct,” so much resembles a lottery vender’s sign, with the goddess of good luck sitting on the car [ear] of fortune, a-straddle of the horn of plenty, [p. [544]]