The daily Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1841-1845, 1843-09-27
From the Richmond uhg
JUDGE MCLEAN, OF ONO.

u JbDOE hlcl~IANi VI OiilO.
correspondent Of the Charlottesville Advocate
furnishes an extract Of letter from Judg, Mclean
which is appended. Judge Mclean always occu.
pies an important position IN the public eye and At
he lives, be will probably occupy still more lupor-
tant one, in the course OF dozen years. The letter
Is dated 10Th August 43-and was not written lor
publication 49,
"1he office Of President, in my opinion, has been
lowered, and also the character OF the country al
home and abroad, by the means used To stcurr a.
Office High as the Presidency OF this great nation IT,
Il may be reached al too great price IL sinks below
the ambition OF an honorable mind, when II is attain.
able only by sacrifice of the lolliest patriotism. Not
others, we have In the elevation Of JciIur-
son, Madison, and Monroe, examples Of lish and
honorable ambition which Is worthy Of imitation
These eminent men, when named for the office OF
Pre- ,dent, reposlng what they had done and hat
their known capacities enabled them TO do, m the
highest public fruits, neither took nor seemed 10 take
any agency IN their own advancement
For many years have been deeply impressed ill,
the injustice the corrupiing and ruinous effects Of
political pnrtisanship. Its introduction into the Fed
raj Government, has well nigh ruined our beloved
country Before this bane had perverted our moral
sen e, our love OF country, and, ~ far poic,
concerned, almost every noble feeling of The hcart.
we were happy, as people, IN tie onjoymcu, al
great and uninterrupted prosperity Aud whatever
may be SAID 10 the contrary This terrible evil lie, al
the foundation Of all our embarrassmcnts. Ith3,
been manly Instrumental IN the commercial rc,uI.
IL
political morality. Our pecmniary losses within
few years past, Utmost beyond the power Of m.
putation; but these scarcely worthy OF con,d,-
ration, IN comparison with the loss ii may be the IT,
reparable loss, Of moral force in our institution,
That man must be blind 10 the admonitions Of HISTORY,
who supposes that free government can be long ,.-
tanned, which addresses itself with all lis influence
to the baser passions of our nature. Such a course
leads TO widely dIused corruption aud consequent
ruin. In my Judgment, nothing can rescue our goy-
NJ m fat Of l.it
change III It's political actiun. This action must tie
elevated II must reach aud rouse the moral tom, Of
the nation. Instead of administering 10 the pro-,r-
uted appetes of demagogues il must rest ON var
tuous and an enlightened public opinion II must pa
ther strength by ~. actsnoral strength Its aim slou
be the general good. The chief of the government
In making appointments 10 office should carry out the
principles Of The yrtuous Monroe, who, on o certain
person being recommended to hun for an Office as A
personal friend, with good qualifications remarked,
with earnestness 'No man can feel more grateful
than do Tor personal acts OF kindness but in making
tins appointment have high public duty to per
form, and ! must look TO the public interest"
A departure from these principles drove rciu.-..
family from political life and IN all sincerity A. r,
you that there is no political Office not even tie Pre-
sidency, which could tempt me again into politics ON
principles opposed TO those which approve, and on
which endeayor TO act
Pledges, when given by candidate for public III.
vor, should be received with suspicion as they are
generally made 10 answer particular purpose and
are seldom redeemed No one, perhaps, should bee
named for the Presidency whose opinions on tie
leading topics OF The day are unknown TO the pubic,
Until within lew years past, pledges not Iu..
CURED from the candidates for the Chief Alagsrary
And may ask what good has resulted from TIL,
novatIon: Has il made our Chief Magistrates more
faithful to the Constitution and to their general du
ties; Let comparison Of our late history with the
past, answer this question. Who thought of asking
pledge from the venerated fathers OF the Republic
abUv,namedi sound head and an honest heart
think are the best pledges These willrarey fail whilst
experience shows that pledges are made 20 be broken.
No one who Is named for the Chief Magistracy,
from respectable source should feel himself al hbc
ty 10 say that he would decline nomination ior that
Office But beg you 10 believe, my dear sir, that
tins remark Is not prompted by vanity which lead,
me 10 suppose THAI my name could be avorsbly ruf-
sdered by the contemplated Wing Convention. Tie
friends oil Mr.. Clay, in consideration OF hi, EN- rcl
qualifications and long public scryices,are looking VIA
ordinary soicitude TO his nomination And assure
you thai have wish, 10y the obtrusion OF nlur
10 separate my friends if have any, from the r,,Dt
associations. | do not desire and ,uI not rr,c So.
the Presidency, If within my reach As l.c 900 tjI-
menl of party Indeed should count II no houur
to have my name associated with the doNoAaui
course of our Government, and such a course b, ar-
celebrated and only accelerated, 10y ultra part ,u
10 bring back the Government to is old Iu.HtI-.
tons, to restore its lost character, It's former E4lt
energy and elevation, would be an achI,Srm
cond only 10 that OF Washngtous An ACHE. u.If.
which Ould make any ndn dual the favored .ur ul
his country OF this who would not be proud sud
short OF ,hs object no honest man can desire Tie
Presidency
With the greatest respect an
Your grateful and ob'dt scr}N.