The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1843-10-07
THE CECIL WHIG
Judge Mclean and the Presi
leneY.

of great value to the Wing party at the
present time, ON account of an attempt by
some loco!ocos here to direct attention
from the distraction in their party, by as
Stunning that Judge Mclean will oppose
himself to Henry Clay, and thus divide
the Wing strength. The letter therefore,
besides its intrinsic merits is valuable as
affordng ample continuation Of this asser-
ton.
The remarks of Mr.. Mclean upon the
''corrupting and ruinous effects of politi-
cal parlizanship," are worthy of attentive
perusal in consideration of their sincerity.
No man has maintained a character for
political virtue and integrity more IN
blemished than the writer. few have been
more sorely tempted, and few have made
greater sacrifices Of personal ambition
than he, when his own words, "a depar-
ture from prlnci pie" Tin those with whom
he was associated) "drove him reuC lant-
ly from public life."- Delaware State
Journal.
The circumstances of this affair are
thus dellnialed by the National lnle.ll-
gencrE
Associated originally with the Adams
Administration, as the chief Of service
(the Post Office not then ranking as
Cabinet department he had gwen it, by
the energy and skill which he infused into
it, an importance and a popularity which
forbade his removal at the accession Of
the Jackson dynasty, and made that vio-
lent but polite power willing to adop,
provided it might use him, With this
view-under pretence Of giving new
dignity to his department, but in reality
that It's patronage might be brought (as it
had not hitherto BEEN into the great Ex-
ecuive fund of power-they constituted
his office Cabinet one. Then the Post
Post Office and all its wide machinery and
patronage began at once TO be used for a
political and eleclioneering and party en-
CINE of which he was left the responsible
they took the control.
Commanding as was the popularity of
of the Administration with which Mr. Nc
Lean was thus associated, and inviting
as was the road which (wiih the popular
favor that he enjoyed) it opened to the
highest public success, he saw not the re-
wards of ambition which it offered, but
the official abuses, the public corruption
and disorders, the personal degradation
and dishonesty which it involved; and he
withdrew from the connection with that
iacobinic cabal whose pernclous schemes
we're already preparing, visibly to him.
the mischiels which they have since liz
flic,ed, the dangers at hch he is now al
armed"
LETTER FROM JUDGE MCLEAN.
The following sound sentiments from
letter of the 10Th of August, will be read
with interest:
The 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 secure that office
High as the Presidency of this great ma
llon is, it may be reached al too great a
price. 1t sinks below the ambition of an
honorable mind, when il is attainable on
ly by sacrifice of the loftesl patriotism.
ton Of Jefferson, Madison and Monroe,
examples of a high and honorable ambi-
tion which is worthy of imitation. These
eminent men, when named for the office
OF President, reposing on what they had
done and what their known capacities en-
abled them to do, in the highest public
fruits, neither took nor seemed to take
ON tbair al,
For many years have been deeply i'm
pressed with the injustice, the corrupting
and runous effects Of political partizan-
shio. Its introduction into the Federal
Cover mont, has we'll nigh ruined our
beloved county. Before this bane had |
perverted our moral sense, our love of
country, and, SO far as politics are con-
cerned, almost every noble feeling OF the
heart, we were happy, as people, in the
enjoyment of great and uninterrupted
prosperity. And whatever may be said
to the contrary, this terrible evil lies at the
foundation of all our mbarrassments-It
has been mainly instrumental in the COM
mercial revulsions we have Witnessed, and
il, has pros.rated our ur political moral.
ty. Our pecuniary losses within few
years past are almost beyond the power
OF computation; but these are scarcely
worthy of consideration, in comparison
with the loss, it may be incompatible loss
of moral force in our institutions. That
man must be blind to the admoniiions of
history, who supposes that free govern
ment can be long sustained, which ad-
dresses itself, with all its influence, to the
baser passions of our nature. Such a
course leads to widely diflused corrnp-
ton and consequent ruin.
In my judment, nothing can rescue our
government but change in its political
action. This action must be elevated. il
must reach and rouse the moral tone Of
the nation. Instead of administering to the