The daily Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1841-1845, 1843-08-16
LETTER FROM MIR. CALHOUN.

|. The following is the reply of MIR. Calhoun 10
an invitation from his friends in Cincinnati 10
visit that city,
FoRT lIILL July 9th, l643.
GENTLEMEN | was absent from home when your
letter was received, covering the resolutions oil
large and respectable citing Of the Democrats Of
Hamilton county, inviting me to visit them and the
| State Of Ohio, which will explain why my answer
| has been SO long delayed.
If any thing could induce to depart from the
| course have prescribed for myself while my name
before the people for the highest Office within their
gift, it would be the invitation which you have SO
kindly rendered in the Of those you represent
The source whence the invitation comes the grounds
on which it is rendered, my desire, long entertained
to visit the great Valley of the Misslssppi-the only
portion of the Union have seen-and to meet
the wishes Of my friends who have earnestly ex-
pressed their desire to me, all strongly impel me
to accept; but to these imposed objection which
I TO be is nsuperabe-my conception OF the proper
course for TO pursue while occupying the position
do. Since have been placed there by my friends,
/ have received frequent invitations from them IN
various portions Of the Union, pressing to visit
their respective sections In order TO them,
il became necessary that should decide on general
| principles, the course II would be proper for me to
pursue. accordingly gave the subject my deliberate
consideration The result conviction that
ought not TO accept, and have therefore, declined
air lnvi taons of the kind.
| am are that others, occupying the same posi-
| ton as myself have come to a different conclusion,
and that the practice, you state is different from
| that have prescribed for myself In adopting it,
| intend rene elton those who take different
| view. II is point which each has right to decide
| for himself. may be wrong, and they right. may
expose myself 10 the charge of being fatidous,
but as the conclusion to which have come is the
result Of my deliberate judgment, after full refec-
ton, am bound to respect IT. And trust that such
Of my friends think me wrong will pardon the
error from respect to the motive which governs me
J With these remarks, and an expression OF very
, sincere gratitude for the high estimate which my
] friends Of Hamilton county have placed on my public
services, and the interest they feel for my success,
would conclude my answer to your letter, If did not
feel that thing than the bare statement OF
the rule have adopted was due TO them and TO the
| occasion. regard, with great respect, the relation
| which public man holds 10 those who approve oil
| his principles and conduct, and support hs course
lie IS IN my opinion, bound, among other things, to
pay great respect TO their opinions and wishes, and
when he cannot conform TO them, IT Is his duty 10
assign freely and canddly the reasons which may
prevent him. In compliance with that duty, pro
pose 10 assign briefly some Of the more prominent oil
those which governed me in coming 10 the conclusion
which compels me 10 decline the kind and pressing
| invitation Of which you the organ.
There are then, m my opinion, strong considera-
| tons both Of propriety and expediency, why the
Office Of the President Of the United States should not
be sought by personal canvass or the usual modes OF
eectioneerIng. Regarded merely in reference TO
| y
duties too responsible to be the object Of personal
solici,ude Who, with the proper spirit con-
template the task Of dischargng its high duties with
out being inspired with a dlidence and awe calcu-
lated TO suppress every feeling of the klndi When
look the country II u, aud compare II with
what IT was when first entered the councils Of the
Union as il relates TO the population, wealth m-
! provements and all the elements of greatness-and
then look orw ard 10 what will be when those who
entering the stage shall retire, provided
our liberty, institutions, shall be preserved
aud then reflect on the great and decisive influence
which the powers vested in the President must have,
IN that respect, for good evil they may be pro-
perry or improperly exercised, TO me II to be
the highest AND most responsible office IN the world
far too much 50 TO be the object Of personal solicit
| tude sought by personal canvass, ever 10 be
accepted on any other ground than that of duty.
Nor in my opinion, are the considerations Of ex-
pedency less strong. Regarded IN that light, hold
II all important To the successful operation Of our
TEN Of Government, that the highest Office Of the
| Union should be the exclusive reward Of merit and
services such as may be we'll known TO the whole
country-so as TO enable the people at large to form
Just estimate Of their value, and Of the character
and motive Of him who rendered them. In order 10
understand the force Of the position, IT will be
sary to bear in mind, that other has pow
eriul influence in forming the character Of peo-
pie under free and popular Governments and, through
it. over their destiny, the means by which its Off
ces and honors may be most successfully acquired -
Whatever they may be-whether oiectioneering,
management intrigue, corruption patronage or faith
fu and patriotic seryices-that will be most careful
Nv studied and cultivated by the aspiring and talented
And be IT which II may, the influence which its study
and practice will have on their character will by
necessary consequence extend in time TO the mass Of
the community-eIther TO debase and corrupt or ee-
vate and purify as its tendency may be to the or
/ the other
IL this be true, applied generally 10 offices aud
bonors, how much more sriklngly must it appear TO
| be so when applied, in system Of government 10
the office Of President-the highest and most honor.
able by Ear Of ALL and having at It's disposition many
Others much valued than any 10 the gift of the
States or the people. And how important Is IT, that
II should be made the exclusive reward Of services
and merit-the only means by which II can be ac-
qured, calculated TO- elevate aud purify the charac-
ter Of those who aspire TO its high distinction, and
/ through their example, the whole community
might add the only one by which il can be sought
/ and acquired, which would not have a debasng and
corrupting tendency. How important, then, Il IS
that all others should be discountenaLccd in the Pre-
.dental canvass, except an open and manly appeal
to services and merit Is II saying too much TO as
seri that the fate Of our free institutions and the
country, must, in small degree, depend on a cor
rect mode Of thinking and acting on the part of
the people, in reference TO a subject Of such magn
tude'
Such arc some Of the considerations which have
induced me TO adopt the rule ! have There are
Others Of much weight, which forbear to press, to
| avoid prolixiiy Acting IN obedience TO IT, must
forcgo the pleasure which IL would otherwise afford
me to accept the invitation which you have so kind
" rendered TO visit your magnificent portion Of the
10 IL ~