Herald of the times. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1830-1846, 1834-03-20

/ ooIi, anu SuOulu COutibuC Ill CNCIJ PIOpCI
way to sustain him whom you contribut-
ed to elevate. So satisfied, indeed, is
the President, of your peculiar fitness for
the department, and Of your being just
such a person as he can politically as
well as personally rely upon, that ! can
not uso too strong terms in describing his
solicitude that you should not refuse the
station"
"This is more brief than the reality,
but perfectly correct. replied-"l
have listened, Sir, to what you have sta
ted, with surprise, and distress; so that
It cannot be supposed that l can give a
positive reply. cannot express how
gratifed and proud l am, at this mark Of
confidence; If, however, ] am now to
give utterance to what feel, it is to ask
the President to blot this matter !,om his
mind. Ii is true, that have been and
am sincerely friendly to the President;
that j possess the personal and political
confidence Of many worthy men in Penn
cination to do all in my power to evince
my principles and promote the welfare Of
the people. But it is also true, that my
abilities are oyer-rated; that my inhu-
ence in Pennsylvania is more limited
than is supposed, and that no weight can
be given, by my accession, to the admin.
istratIon. Such an occasion as the pre-
sent cannot be heedlessly regarded by
me, but all considerations united forbid
me to assent. have through life sought
the shade, and whenever ! have been
out of it, it has not been from choice;
have always desired to tread on the
earth, lest in ascending even a single
step of the political ladder, should be
obliged to resume my former place.
Perhaps this is morbid pride, but be it
what it may, it has powerful influence
over me-"
"To this it was rejoincd, ,-"all you,
have said, Mr.. Duane, shows you have
the merit you deny yourself the posses
sion of. You have, by declining Office
! Oh several vCcasions, Uiniteu ~ advance
yourself. am the Presidents friend
and yours, and am not the man to advo-
cate any thing Of doubtful nature, by
which the public may be affected. 9th
ers are more competent, perhaps, to
Judge Of your qualiic ations than you are
yourself: heretofore there have been DIFF
ficulties; there may be some at this time,
owing, to excitement in the South, but
that will soon cease, and in few months
you will be perfectly au fail as to all gen.
f eral duties. AS TO your standing in
Pennsylvania, we have information to be
relied on; we believe that your appoint
ment would be pleasing there, and the
President desires to do what will crafty
that state. Apart from other considera.
tions, the Presidents own spontaneous
preference Of you, is n compliment not TO
be overlooked, you will derive credit
from il, where you are not known, amongst
all who respect the patriotism and pure
intentions, as well as the natural sagac-
, ity Of the President. l am persuaded
, that the appointment would be accepta-
, BILE to many Of the Presidents most dis
tinguished friends; indeed, the fact that
he goes to the people, and not to Con-
! gress, to select, will give weight to the
choice. You will earn high reputa-
4, ton in the Office proposed: and the la
I 5ors will be less butdensome than those
to which you have been accustomed D
Sc.
4 sT then said that to tear up, as il
I were, by the roots, my business in Phil.
. ade phia, on the uncertainty, or ever
certainty Of continuing in Office here fol
four years, would be very imprudent; tha
changes Of residence, associations, ant
expenditure, were sound objections; tha
4 friends to me ought not to urge pro
Itoonl.ncx &c I,,xktC,l oh ~ - &,
"To this it was replied-'that every
. man owed something to his country; thai
a even on the question of mere interest
: the change would be advantageous; thai
q i might be certain of employment for 4
). years, at six thousand dollars per year
4 that the mode of living was that Of pri
Il vate gentleman in Philadelphia; that by
q Identifying myself with General Jackson
n and his friends, and making a sacrifice
!: ifit was one, l established claim TO
g continuance in this, or appointment t.
# some other station"
q "I closed by saying "that, out o
n thankfulness and desire to make a re
turn for such confidence, my heart urg
IS ed me to say eyes" but my head by nj
: means assented; that il would be rude Al
! well as unkind to the President to de-
n eide at once, and upon so sudden an ap
Al peal, on so serious a subject, and tina
:, therefore | would reflect"
o Such, fellow citizens, is a brief bu
Is faithful representation Of the manner, il
,t which was invited to enter the cabinet
ia My dsnclnation to take Office as above
D, expressed, remained unaltered. Value'