Boon's Lick times. [volume] (Fayette, Mo.) 1840-1848, 1842-08-06

inordinate ambition, when. under the ad-
ministration Of Mr.. Madison, l declined
foreign mission Of the first grade, and an
Executive Department, both of which he
successfully kindly rendered to mel When,
under that of his successor, Mr.. Monroe,
| was first importuned las no one knows
better than that sterling old patriot Jona-
than Roberts, now threatened, as the pa
pers tell US, with expulsion from an office
which was never filed with more honesty
and uprightness, because he declines to be
a scrvlle instrument,) to accept Secretary
ship, and was afterwards offered a carte
blanche Of all the Foreign mlssions! At
the epoch Of the election Of 1925, | be-
lieve no one doubted al Washington that,
if / had felt it my duty to vote for Gen.
Jackson, he would have invited me TO take
charge Of Department And such un-
doubleday Mr.. Crawford would have done,
| if he had been elected. When the Harris
! burg Convention assembled, the general
expectation was that the nomination would
be given to me. 1t was given 10 the la
mcnted Harrison. Did exhibit cxtraor-
binary ambition when, cheerfuy acquies-
cling, threw myself into the canvass and
made every excrtioa in my power to insure
it success Was it evidence of unchast-
enod ambition IN me 0 resign, as recently
did, my seat in the Scnate--to resign the
| Dictatorship, with which my enemies had
50 kindly invested nc, and come home
to the quiet walks Of private life?
But am ambitious because some of my
countrymcn have seen fit to associate my
name with the succession for the Preside1-
tial Office. Do those who prefer the charge
| lpp,y N,.Lat 7 b.r., l,.,,o -
connection with that object Have they
given themselves the trouble TO inquire at
all into any agency of mine in respect to
it? believe not. II is subject which
| approach with all the dcicacy which be-
longs to it, and with due regard to the
dignity of the exalted station; but on
which, | shall, At the same time, speak TO
you, my friends and neighbor5, without re-
serve, and with the utmost candor.
have prompted none Of those novc-
mcnts among the people of which we have
seen accounts. As far as I am concerned,
they are altogether spontaneous, and no;
only without concert with me, but most
generally withclt any sort Of previous
knowledge on my part, Thatl am thank
ful and gratoful-Profoundy gratcful-for
those manifestations Of confidence and al
tachmcnt, will not conceal nor deny.
But have becn and mean TO remain pas-
sive, if not Indifferent spectator. have
/ reached time Of life, and seen enough of
high official stations to enable me Justly to
appreciate their value, their cares, their
responsibilities, their ceaseless duties. That
estimate of their worth, in q personal point
of view, would restrain me from seeking
to fill any one, the highest Of them, in a
scramble Of doubtful issue with political
q opponents much less with political friends.
y That should feel greatly honored by call
from a majority of the people of this
, country TO tie highest Office within their
). gift, shall not deny; nor, if my health were
y preserved, might feel at Liberty to decline
I "A summons so authoritative and command
1 ing. But | declare, most solemuly, that
have not, up to this moment, determined
whether ! will consent to the use of my
name or not as Il candidate for the Chief
! Magistracy. That5 is grave question,
+ which should be decided by all attainable
= lights, which. think, is not necessary vet
=, to be decided, and q decision of which
! reserve to myself, as far as can reserve
il, until the period arrives when it ought
\ to be solved. That period has not, as l
- think, yet arrived. When ii does, an i'm
n partial survey of the whole ground should
4 be taken, the state of public opinion prop
- erly considered, and ones personal cond-
!. ton, physical and intellectual, duly exam
!, ined and weighed. In thus announcing a
r course of conduct for myself, it is hardly
i necessary 10 remark that it is no part of
. nv purpose to condemn, or express any
= opinion whatever upon those popular move
,, ments which have been made, or may be
= contemplated, in respect In the next cleo
ton Of President Of tho United States.
: If to have served my country, during 4
- long series of years, with fervent zeal and
- mistaken fidelity, in seasons of peace and
: war, at home and abroad, in the Legisla-
:, tive Halle and in IN Executive Depart
: .meat-if 10 have iGoored most sedulously
:, to avert the embarrassment and distress
/ which now oycr5Hgead this Union; and
= when they CAM. 10 have cAerted myself
" .auxiousiy, at th- Ezra Session, and at this
, to devise healing remedies; if to have de-
, sired to introduce economy and reform in
: the general administration, curtal enor.
Il nous Executive power, and amply pro-
II vide, at the same time, for the wants Of
>. the governments and the wants of the Peo
! pie by a Tariff which would give il reVe
/; nue. and them protection; if TO have earn
testify sought 10 establish the bright but
>. too rare example Of party in power
. faithful 10 lis promises and pledges made
~ when out Of pOwer--ii these services, ex
:, ertions aud ondcavors Justify tie accuse
. ton nf ambition | must plead guilty to the