Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1834-01-30

I may think more for the goodEof my country,
and more feasible; and if such a competitor
shall be brought forward in any part of the
Union, he shall have my support. l think my
self perfectly capable of forming an impartial
estimate of the claims of others, in comparison
with my own, on the general confidence OF the
nation, and / would most joyfully surrender all
the hopes of my ambition CT would, in truth,
be a very trivial sacrifice) for the attainment
of the single object of obliterating the geogra-
iphical division of parties that at present dis
tracts and enfeebles Virginia, and of restoring
concord and cooperation, once more, between
the East and the West.
You know, that have never borne the least
part in the affairs of the federal government;
but you cannot have known what assure
YOU is the truth) that, for twenty years past, |
have not desired, much less sought, to have
any part in them. Yet have taken the deep.
est interest in them, always-an interest, how
ever, not excited by party spirit, or directed to
party purposes-and | have formed opinions,
more or less decided according to my idea of
the Importance Ofparticular measures or prin-
ciples, and to the reflections | nave bestowed
upon them. | certainly have never concealed
those opinions; | have had no motive, indeed,
to dissemble them, and am not q think ad-
dicted to habits of reserve. AT the same time,
il have rarely had occasion to make a public
avowal ofthem. Therefore, | ought not to be,
and | am not, surprised or mortified to find, that
my political character is not more generally I'M
derstood than it seems it is; and that this cir
cumstance is considered, and already urged, as
an objection to me as a competitor for the presi-
dency. But il is too late nop, to make a profess
sion of my political principles. | cannot do so,
az reference to this nomination OF me forthe presi-
dency without exposing myself to the imputa-
ton of electioneering for the office and to the
suspicion OF moulding my creed to suit the pur-
poses of my ambition, and suspicion, by the
way, to which the very moderation of my opin-
ions, though attributable only to the absence of
party feeling in the formation of them, would
give colour. And if under existing circum-
stances, | should make a declaration of my
opinions on the political topics which at present
chiefly occupy and agitate the public mind,
such a declaration would in effect amount to a
pledge, to one party, or another, for future Of
fetal conductin case should be elected to the
presidency; and, in my opinion, such pledges
are incompatible with the duties of the office.
1t may be thought and perhaps justly thought,
the line ofconduct have prescribed for myself,
is wide of the road to success-tllat passive 81
lence, and perfect inactivity, are not steps by
which any man can mount to the presidency
But am not acting with any view to promote
nv election to the office, but with a view of max
ing myself useful in the event of my being
CONTRARY to my expectations or hopes) eleva-
ted to it. | repeat what | said IN my letter to
I MI, LQdL i OetlSCS That 4 StlOuiu nave no uc-
sire ofthat high station, if | could be made to
think it within my reach; and I am quite sure,
that lift were attainable, but only attainable by
an effort ofmy own, | would not make the eff
fort--I would nothave the Office, unless it should
be conferred upon me by the general approba-
ton and confidence of my county, would
not desire it at any time, unless | could be
placed in it under such circumstances, that l
could be the president Of the nation, in afieC-
tons. in sentiment, and in conduct, apd not
merely the president Of the party that should ele-
vate ne to it-l would not desire itin these times;
unless could be free, when placed in 1t, to eX-
ert it's fair constitutional influence to put an
end to the agitation, and to heal the unhappy di-
visions, which at present distract the country,
and shake all our Institutions to their founda-
lions. This were the glory indeed, which 1
should be ambitious to achieve--but Heaven
| Knows how little competent | think myself to
accomplish the good | should wish, and how lit
tie ambitious l am, therefore, of the office of pre-
Sident of the United States.
Extract of q letter from B. ". Leigh, to another
gentleman, Of Mecklen5urg, dated august 81,
1888.
/ can only say, in general, that | am most sim
cerely and entirely loyal to all our institutions,
state and federal-that, IN my opinion, the surest
way to maintain the federal government in its
full strength, and the only way to maintain it in
its purity, is to conine its action within the linn
/ u DOtil Go y lACOi1o Uh1o HoA POoSSS OSN AICSN
for it by the constitution--and that, therefore,
those entrusted with the administration of it,
ought to be most careful, not only to avoid the
assumption of powers not delegated to it, but to
abstain from the exercise of doubtful powers,
and never to pervert the powers that are grant,
ed. If | were appointed to any station, much
more to the highest station, in the federal GO
vernment, these are the general principles by
which l should regulate my conduct. And yet,
if should find a system Of measure already es-
tablished, III my opinion not originally warrant
ed by the constitution, but so interviewer with
the very frame Of the government and with the
vital interests of the country, as to render it i'm
possible to change or reverse it, without infiict-
ing a yet more deadly wound on the constitution
and endangering the prosperity, the peace, and
the existence of the Union, l shall not pretend
that l would not yield to such an overriding ne
cessity, temporize with the mischief should be
unable to correct at once, and content myself
with endeavors to prevent the further extension
of it, and to mitigate it by sure and safe degrees.
In such a case, should hope the forgiveness of
my country for an involuntary departure from
my own principles. fl should abandon them,
through caprice or passion or ambition, | should
not expect pardon from man, and hardly hope
for mercy from Heaven.