Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1842-07-18

having in the interval learnt my name he came
to me full of apologies, but at once put him at
his ease by assuring him that did not feel in the
slightest degree hurt offended with him.
Mr.. President have been accused of ambition,
often accused of ambition. | believe, however,
that my nccusers will be generally found to be po-
hlical opponents, or the friends of uspirants in
whose way was supposed TO stand, aud il was
thought, therefore, necessary to shove me aside.
! DEFY my enemies to point out any act or instance
OF my life, in which | have sought the attainment
OF office by dshonorable or unworthy ineans.--
Did display inordinae ambition, when under
tue administration Of Mr.. Madison, declined
foreign mission of The first grade, and an Execu-
tive Department, both of which he successfully
kindly rendered 20 me ? When, under that Of his
successor, Mr. Monroe, was frs, Imporuned tus
no one knows better than that sterling old patriot
Jonathan Roberts, now threatened as the papers
tell us, with an expulsion from an Office which
was never filed with more honesty and upright
hess, because he declines to be u servie insru-
ment,) to accept Secrctaryship, and wns after
wards offered carte blanche Of all the Foreign
missions? AT the epoch Of the election of 1925,
believe no doubted at Washington hat, If |
had felt it my duty TO vote for Gen. Jackson, he
would have invited the to take charge OF Depart
ment And such undoubtedly Mr.. Crawford
would have done, il he bad been elected. When
the llarrisburgh Convention assembled, the gen
eral expectation was thHt the nomination would
be given TO me. 1t was given TO the iamentcd
Harrison. Did | exhibit extraordinary ambition
when, cheerlally acquicscng, threw myself into
the canvass and made every eXertion in my pow
er TO insure its success Was it evidence of I'M
chasened ambition IN me TO resign, ms recently
did, my seat in the Senate resign the Dictator.
ship, with which my enemies had 50 kindly inves-
ted me, and come home to the quiet walks OF pr
vate life
But am ambitious, because some of my couu-
trymen have associated my name with the success
sion for the Presidential office. Do those who
prefer the charge know what have done, or not
done, in conneXion with that object? Have they
given themselves the trouble to inquire at all into
any agency Of mine in respect TO il | believe
not. 1t is sub eci which approach with all the
decacy which belongs to it, and with due re-
gard to the dignity of the exalted station but on
which shall at the snme time, speak TO you, my
friends aud neighbors, without reserve, and with
the utmost candor.
have prompted none of those movements a
mong the people ofwhch we have seen accounts.
AS far as | am concerned they ure altogether
spontaneous, and not only without concert with
me- but most generally without any sort Of previous
knowledge on my part. That am thankful aud
grateful profoundly grateiul-for these NANTES.
tntions of confidence and attachment, | will not
conceal or deny. But have been, and mean to
remain, passive, if not Indifferent spectator. |
have reached time of life, and zen enough Of
high official stations to enable me Justly to apprc-
ciate their value, their cares their responsibilities,
their ceaseless duties. That estinnle OF der
worth, in personal point of view would reslan
me from seeking to fill any one, the highest OF
them, in a scramble of doubtful ISSUE with polit-
ical opponents, much less with political friends.
That should feel greatly honored by a call from
a majority of the People of this country, to the
highest Office in their gift, shall not deny nor if
my health were preserved, might feel at liberty
to decline summons so authoritative and COM
mandlng. But declare, most solemny, that
have not M Il tlis moment. Determined \rhpthpr
! will consentto the use Of my name or not MS n
candidate for the Chief Maglsrucy. That is n
grave question, which should be decided by all
auainable lights which think, is not necessary
yet to he decided, and a decision of which | re-
serve TO myself, ar ms can it, until the
period arrives when it ought to be solved. That
period has not, AS think, yet arrived. When it
does, an impartial survey of the whole ground
should be taken, the state OF public opinion prop
erly considered, and ones personal condition,
physical aud intellectual, duly examined aud
weighed. In thus announcing course OF con
duct Tor myself it is hardly necessary 10 remark
that it is no part of my present purpose 10
demn, or express any opinion whatever upon those
popular movements which have been made, or
may he contemplated, in respect to the mex; cleo.
ton of Il President OF the United States.
If to have served my country during n long
res of years, with iervent zeal and mistaken Fl
deity, in seasons OF peace aud war, at home and
abroad, in the Legislative Halls aud in an Execu.
! tive Department, flo lnye labored most sedulous-
! yto advert the embarrassment and distress which
now overspread This Union; and when they came
! TO have exerted myself anxiously, at the Extra
! Session, and at this, TO devise healing remedies {;
! If TO have desired TO introduce economy and re-
form in the general administration, curtail ennr-
! nous Executive power, and amply provide, ut the
| same time, for the wants of the Government and
the wants of the People by Tariff which would
! give il revenue and them protection; ii to have
NH In hliSIt ba itfhf hlt
rare example of party in power, faithful to its
| promises and pledges made when out of power
! II these services, exertons and endeavors Justify
the accusation OF ambition, must plead guilty 10
| the charge.
I have wished the good opinion of the world ;
| but defy The most malignant of my enemies 10
show thai have attempted TO gain it by any low
or grovelling arts by any mean or unworthy sac
| rl6ces, by the violation Of any of the obligations
OF honor, or by any breach of any Of the duties
which owed TO my country.
turn, Sir, from these personal illusions and re-
mnscences, TO the vastly more important subject
OF the present actual condition Of this county,
| II they could ever by justhahle or eXcusnhe, il
would be on such mn occasion as this, when | am
addressing those to whom am bound by so many
intimate and friendly ties.
! In speaking OF the present state of the country,
4 It viii be necessary for me to touch with freedom
and independence upon the past well the
present, and upon the conduct, spirit and princi-
| pies Of parties in doing this, assure my demo
cratic brelheren and fellow citizens, of whom am
told there ARE muny here present, (and tender
them my cordial thanks for the honor done me by
their attendance here this day, with as much sin
cerity and gratitude as if they agreed with me in
political senlimenl that nothing is farther from
my intention than to say single word that
ought to wound their feelings or give offence 10
them, Bul surely, if there ever were period in
the progress of any People when all were called
upon with tirrnness and candor, TO consider thor
oughiy the present posture of public and private
affairs aud deliberately 10 enquire into causes and
remedies of this unprorilous state Of things, we
have arrived AT that period in the United States.
And, if ever People stood bound by the highest
duties to themselves and TO their poslerily TO sacri-
flee upon the altar of their country, cherished