The Charlotte journal. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1835-1851, 1843-10-17

may be the iIreparab!e loss, of moral force
10 our institutions. That man must be blind
10 the admonilions OF history who supposes
that free Government can be long sus.
tanned which addresses itself with all IFS
influence to the baser passions OF our ma
ture. Such a course leads to widely dit.
fused corruption and consequent rum.
In my Judgment, nothing can rescue our
Government from this the common tate OF
Republics but change in its political &C
ton. This action must be elevated. Ii
must reach and rouse the moral tone Of the
nation. Instead Of administering To the
prostituled appetite of demagogues, II must
rest on sirtuous aud an enlightened pub.
lie opinion. 1t must gather strength by It's
ac,s-moral strength. lis aim should be
the general good. The Chief of the Co.
vemment, in making appointments TO Of
flee, should carry out the principles OF the
virtuous Monroe, who, on certain person
being recommended TO him for an Office,
as personal friend, with good qualitica-
lions, remarked, with earnestness: /" No
man can feel more grateful than | do for
personal acts OF kindness, but la making
this appointment have high public du-
ty to perform, and | must look TO the pub.
lie interest"
A departure from these principles drove
me, reluctantly, from political life ana in
oil sincerity assure you that there is no
political office, not even the Presidency,
which could tempt me again into politics,
on principles opposed TO those which ap-
prove, and on which endeayor to act.
Pledges when given by candidate for
public favor would be received with suspi.
cion, as they are generally made TO answer
particular purpose, and are seldom re.
deemed. No one, perhaps, should be Ma
med for the Presidency whose opinions On
the leading topics Of The day are unknown
10 the public. Until within few years
past pledges were not required from the
candidates for the Chief Masisiracy. And
may ask, what good has resulted from
this innovation Has il made our Chief
Magistrates more faithful to the Cons,itu-
ton and to their general dutlesl Let a
comparison of our late history with the
past answer this question. Who thought
Of asking pledge from the yeneraIed ia
theirs Of the Republic above named A
sound head and an honest heart. | think,
are the best pledges. These will rarely
fail, whilst experience shows that pledges
are made TO be broken.
No one who is named for the Chief Ma.
gisiracy from q respectable source should
feel himself at liberty TO say that he would
decline nomination for that office. But
| beg you to believe, my dear sir, that this
remark is no, prompted by vanity which
leads me to suppose that my name could
be !avorably considered by the contempla.
ted Wing Convention. The friends Of Mf.
Clay, in consideration OF his eminent quail.
ificatioas and long public services, are look
ing with no ordinary solicitude TO his nom-
nation. And assure you that have no
wish, by lhe obtrusion Of my name, to sep
arate my friends, If | have any, from their
present associations. do not desire and
would not receive the Presidency, If with
in my reach, as the insirumen. OF a party.
Indeed, | should count ii no honor to have
my name associated with the downward
course of our Government, and such
course is accelerated, ard only accelerated,
by ultra. partyism. To bring back the Co
vernment to its old foundations, TO restore
It's lost character, lis former purity, energy
and elevation, would be an achievement Sc
cond only to that of Washington--an a.
chlevement which would make any indvi.
dual the favored son Of his country. OF
this, who would no, be proud And short
Of this object, no honest man can desire
the Presidency.
With the greatest respect, | am your
grateful and obedient servant,
JOHN Mclean.