Holly Springs gazette., 1843-11-03
Editor Fl. S. Gazette.
JUDGE MCLEAN AND THE WHIG
CATTSE
A WHIG.

We copy with pleasure from the Char
lottesyille Advocate part of letter from this
distinguished gentlemen. which one of his
friends In that quarter has communicated
for publication though. las he says) not de-
signed for the general eye. So sound how
ever, are the opinions, so right the feelings
which it expresses, that one cannot but be
gratfied that the public should come IN pos
session Of such dec,r alton, so worthy OF
wide attention, and so certain. from the
source from which il comes. to command II.
Nd. Inteitigencer
The office of President. in my opinion
has been lowered, and lso the character OF
the country, al home and abroad. by the
means used to sccurt that office.-High as
the Presidency of this great nation Is, II may
be reached at TOO great price 1t sinks
below the ambition of an honorable mind
when it is attanable only by sacrifice Of
the lof,icst patriotism MOI . name others,
we have, 10 the elevation of Jefferson, Mad
son. and Monroe. examples Of high and
| honorable ambition which are wo:thy OF
| imitation These eminent men, when nintd
| for the office of u esideut. reposlng on what
they had done and what their known capac-
ilies enabled them to do. in the highest pub
| lie trusts, neither took nor seemed to take
| anv agency in their own advancement.
For many years [ have been deeply i'm
pressfd with the injustice, the corIuPting
and ruinous effecl OF political partlsanshlp.
| Its introduction into the Federal Govern
ment has we'll nigh ruined our beloved
country. B. fore this bane had perverted
our moral sense oIr love of county, and,
so flI as politics are concerned, almost eve
ery noble feeling Of the heat, we were hap
py as people IN the enjoyment OF great
and uninterrupted osperity. And, what
ever may be said to the contrary, this terri
ble evil lies at the foundation OF all our en-
barrassments-It has been mainly Instru-
mental in the commercial revulsons we
have witnessed and il has prostrated our po-
lilical morality. Our pecunlary losses
| within few years past are almost beyond
the power of computation; but these are
scarcely worthy of consideration In colnpai-
ison with the loss, il may be the lrreparable
loss, of moral force in our institutions That
man must be blind 10 the adnonlllons OF his
tory who supposes that free Government
can be long sustained which addresses IT,
self with all its influence to the baser pas
sions of our nature Such course leads TO
a widely diffused corruption and consequent
ruin.
In my Judgement, nothing can rescue our
| Government from this the common fate of
Republics but change IN It's political ac-
ton must be elevated 1t must reach and
rouse the moral tone Of the nation Instead
of administering to the prostltuted appetltes
Of demagogues, it must rest on virtuous
and enIig ightener public opinion. II must
gather strength by its acts-moral strength.
! lis aim should be the general GOOD. The
Chief Of the Government. IN making ap-
pointments 10 office, should carry out the
principles Of the virtuous Monroe. who, on
a certain person bsing recommended to him
for an office. a5 personal friend, with good
qualifications. remarked, with earneslne-s;
mo man can feel more grateful than do
for personal acts of kindness; but IN making g
this appointment have high public duty
TO perform. aud must look to the pub
lie interest"
A departure from these principles drove
! me. reluctantly f'on political life and IN all
sincerity | assure you that there Is no poiit-
4 icaI office, not even the Presidency. which
could tempt me again into politics. on prin
cipTes opposed TO those which | approve
and on which endeavor to act.