The Rhode-Island Republican. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1809-1841, 1835-10-21
OHIO.
THE PRESIDENCY.

Iy addressed The puDlc IN the discharge Oh Il duty
imposed upon us by public meeting, held several
months previous, which commended the Hon John
Mclean of Ohio, as a suitable candidate for the
Presidency, and rs he has, from high and patriotic
considerations, publicly declared that he would not
be party to q contest for the Presidency, which is
likely TO bring the election into the House of Re-
personalities And as such can be the only sue
ccssf of the efforts Of those who oppose the Baltl-
more nomination, on the grounds taken, and which
we believe will probably not he changed, it becomes
our duty as citizens, being excluded from our first
choice, to make second, which we shall do, and
assign the reasons by which we influenced in
making that choice.
In selecting and recommending Judge Mclean
ns our fayorte candidate, we were not, as we then
alleged, influenced by the consideration that he was
n citizen of our State, although confess that
we felt pride in the reflection that the Young
Giant" State of Ohio should give chief Magistrate
10 the Union, and one too who had grown up and
been nourished by her from his boyhood, but VIC
knew him TO be competent to the discharge of the
duties of Chief Magistrate and that he mcritcd the
confidence of his fellow citizens. No man in the
republic, we believe, the discharge public duties,
has acted under ths influence gilmore lofty aud pat
riotic views. Nor has any man in the history of
our Republic, won public, appreciation to the same
extent, as was most freely awarded 10 Judge Nc
Lean while engaged in the arduous and difficult
duties Of Postmaster General; and yet man who
has filled that Office before him had retired from it
with much, if any, increase of reputation. And it
will be rccolIcctcd, that Judge Mclean appoln-
ted Postmaster General while the political elements
Of the country were IN motion, and the contest for
the Presidency was continued during the whole
course of his administration of the Department,
with a zeal and bitterness which had never been ex-
pcrienccd in this, perhaps any other country.
That any man however elevated his character and
uaqucstioned his abilities, should have failed under
such circumstances would seem to be n natural and
excusabIe consequence. But that Judge Mclean
should not only have sustained himself but elevated
his department in the public estimatlon not only to
"A level with the other departments of Government,
but in point of energy and popularity to have cx-
cecded any al of them, is the highest praise
70 which man conld have asnircd So uqHkeiu was
such result, that nothing short of full dcmonstra-
ton of le fact could have gained full credcnce with
the People. So popular was he when Postmaster
General, and so faithfully and impartially did he
discharge his duties, that Congress, by way of ex-
pressing their high appreciation increased his salary
from four to six thousand dollars per annum, the
same amount being paid TO the Secretaries. And
this was done with not more than eight or ten op-
posing votes, including both branches of the Leg
islatnro- IL e believed that Congress has never
given to any other individual in the Government an
expression so strongly appropatory as was done in
this instance.
being then in the Senate, and being one OF those
who voted against the bill, at the time declared
that the bill was intended for the then incumbent,
and If the law provided that his retiring from the
Department the compensation should be reduced to
four thousand dollars, he wonid vote for it.
We, with many calm rejecting citizens, believed
if Judge Mclean had the capacity, honesty, and
tact, to administer the complicated duties Of the Post
Office Department with such high public approba-
cnl hon
ragged, he was beyond that ofevery other individual,
qualified to discharge the duties of Chief Magistrate
IN such way as to harmonzc the political asperi-
ties of the nation, and give confidence to all parties
in the justice and patriotism Of the administration.
We also believed that Judge Mclean was the
only man upon whom a rally might be successfully
made to produce this most desirable consequence.
He was personally known throughout the Union to
more individuals than any other man, and he was
knocn to few, If any, who had not confidence in his
integrity. There is no Stale in the Union in which
powerful party could not have been rallied in his
favor, if the State could not have been carried by
him. Indeed we never entertained doubt that he |
could be elected over any other man, unless the ac
tive political friends of Mr. Clay should prevent il,
We, as well many others in Ohio, we'll as
other States, who the first to bring out the
name of Judge Mclean as n candidate, had sus-
Iaincd the administration of President Jackson, and
have been generally opposed to the " National Re
publicans" MS party. Though we had great con-
iidence in the mass of those who composed it, we
had none in its leaders, aud were always apprchcn-
sire that they would never permit the party
tain man who had in any respect been identified
with Gen. Jackson. We apprehended the policy
Of Mr.. Clay would be to keep the question open,
under the hope that he might become the rallying
point, until the elements had become too much d-
vide.I to cohere, and thus the only success which
could be secured under such circumstances would
be TO prevent an election by the people. This we
believe to be the present aspect of our political a
fairs and instead Of taking any credit to ourselves
or forcsecng such result, we most sncerelyA
ncnted it. Whilst Judge Mclean had a general
as before observed, it was obvious to
very consderate and impartial observer, that none
C ihn cnndidaies spoken Of could hnast Of n,nrc 1.