Carroll free press. [volume] (Carrollton [Ohio]) 1834-1861, 1843-12-01

l""'i""c' hHG W CbuNdbSlU1 IOT huCU
high personal trusts, | regard as equally
Inconsistent with personal dignity, and
derogatory to the character OF the instr
tulrons Of the country.
Asa prlvals man, | hold my opinions
on public sublecIs Thev are all such,
10 their great loaluresand general char
acter, rs have ever held. 1t is as i'm.
possible that ! should tread back the
path oi my political opinions as that |
should re,race, step by step, the proc ress
OF my natural lie unI ! should fad my
sell again youth. Ga the Leading
questions arising under our Conslltu-
lions and iOrms Of Government; on the
importance oi maintaining the separa-
tIon ol power which those Constitutions
establish; on the great principles Of such
policy ss shall promote all interests,
manIalO genera harmony 10 the coun
Try, and perpeluaIe tho blessings o. pol.
llIcal aud religious liberty, my oplnlons,
the result OF no ltle study, aud some
experiences. have become part Of myself.
They are identified with all my habits
OF thought and reflection; and though |
may change my views Of particular
measures, or no, deem the same meas
ures equally proper al all times, yet |
am 'ure II is quito impossible | should
ever take such aview, either eI the pub.
lie interest or Of my own duly, as should
lead to q departure from any cardinal
princi ple.
Asa private man, am ready TO do
all IN nv power to uphold principles
which ! have SVet deemed important,
and 10 support measures which ,he pub
IlcI interest, in my judgment, requires,
And Os measures cannon be accomplish
ed without the sgency of men, am Of
course willing To support the men Of the
highest character, most unexce ptIona6Ic
principles, aud who may he most likely
to be able 10 take efficient and success.
luI lead in such measures. And here,
perhaps, | ought to pause. Bot lho gen
Diemen Hho invited me to this meeting
were pleased to express their approha =
ton Of my conducl IN remaining N the
Cabinet al Washington after the Other
members originally OppOlnIed by Gen
Harrison had withdrawn. | should not
have alluded TO this subject, genlemrn
on this occasion but TOR the relereOcr
which the committee have mSdc to ii
am aware that thero are many per
sons in the country, having feelings no
unIrleudlv towards inc peTsonslIy and
entertaining all proper respect for my
public character. Who yet think ough
to have lett the Cabinet when my col
leagues did so do not COMPLAIN o
any fair exercise Of opinion in this res
pect; and If, BY such persons as ! have
referred TO. explanation be desired n
any thing in the past or any thing IN my
present opinions, it will be readily nnC
cheerluIly gwen. On tho other hand
hose who deal only in coarse VlIUpera-
ton. and satisfy their sense OF caudoI
and justice simply BY tho repetition o
the churge Of dotellclion Of duty and in
fidelity to Wing principles, are not entl
tied to The respect Of an answer from me
} The burning prope nsIly TO ccnsuTe snt
reproach, by which such persons seen
to be octualpd, would probably be some
what rebuked il they knew bv who's
advice and with whose appreciation
resolved on staying in the Cabinet
Gentlemen, could not but be SeDsjb
that great responsibility attached TO tn,
course which adopted. 1t was a mo
men, Of great eX!jtemenL A most un
! fortunate difference had broken out be
tween the President and The Wing mer
bers of Congress Much exaspefallo
had been produced, and he whole coun
r lrv was in q very inAImcd state. N
( man o sBnse can suppose that wilhon
, strong motive, should wish to differ j
I conduct from those with whom | hat
, long acted; and az Tor those person
whose charity leads them 10 ssek 70
: such motive IN hope Of personal adVan'
, tuge, neither their cundor nor their "a
! gacly deserves any thing but con'emp
/ | admit, gentlemen, that il strong de
sire 10 be instrumental aud useful in &C
comp'ishing a settlement Of our dilllcu
ties with England. which had then rise
, 10 an alarming height, and appeared t
be approaching u crl''s-it lhs be
y personal motive. then | confess mysei
to have been Influenced By a persons
! motive. The inpulatlon Of any othe
. persona motive, the charge OF seeking
. any selfish advantage, repeI with ute
scorn,
9 To be sure, il excies contempt, bu
o hardly any thing so res ecIiuI aS regre
' or indignation, when persons capable o
d no effort in any cause but thato OF maxim
n noise. and With no other merit than thu
0 of interested pariisaDship-men, indeed
d yet reeug from their abors in supper
oG ina most 0utsliOnab measures ol (1el