The Charlotte journal. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1835-1851, 1843-10-17
From the National Iateiiigencer.
JUDGE MCLEAN AND THE WING CAUSE

We copy with pleasure from the Char.
lotiesyille Advocate, part of letter from
this distinguished gentleman, which one OF
his friends in that quarter has communica.
ted for publication, though las he says) not
designed for the general eye. So sound,
however, are the opinions, so right the
feelings which il expresses, that one can.
not but be sraiified that the public shcald
come into possession of such a declaration,
so worthy of wide attention, aud so Ger.
tain, from the source from which il comes,
TO command it.
Let not the manly regret with which
Judge Mclean speaks Of the present con.
diton of political morals be confounded
with that talking, trading, shutting patri-
o,ism tina, mouths eternaIly the names of
honor, country, liberty, the Constitution,
as idvorite sounds abundantly sufficient,
without one noble or useful public act, to
win the popular favor. Let not this sin.
cere language pass for more than the de-
clamaiory virtue Of the day, which is grow.
ing, in those who talk il most glibly, little
else than justification Of DR.. Johnson's
snarling definition Of patriotism" that a
patriot is one who makes a great rout
about country and conscience, in order
that he may sell the former, and because
he never had auy of the latter"
Judge Mclean is one of those whose
public action has ever answered TO their
speech; who have served the country more
than they have flattered it who have talk
ed OF principles less than they have striven
TO advance them. This letter itself, little
framed as it is to the tune of popularity.
seeking, is an earnest Of his sincerity but
II IS not the only one he but speaks now
as he has heretofore acted-with disdain
of personal successes to be won at the sa-
critice Of the public veal or Of his indiyi-
dual honor and independence.
We know how truly this letter is in con-
formity with what was the public impress
sion of his course, 10 that decisive moment
of his political fortunes, which others NAV
not remember so well. 1t is to that peri
cd Of his life tina, he modes,ly refers when
he says, in his letter, "a departure from
these principles drove me reluctantly from
public hie."
Associated originally with the Adams
Administration, rs the chief of a service
(the Post Offiee) not then ranking as a
Cabinet department, he had given it, by
the energy and skill which he Infused into
ii, an importance and popularity which
forbade his removal at the accession of the
jackson dynasty, and made that violent
but polite power willing 10 adopt, provid.
ed II might use him. With this view
under pretence Of giving a new dignity to
his department, Jul III reality that its pat
ronage might be brought (as il had not
hitherto been) into the great Executive
fund Of power-they constituted his office
Cabinet one. Then the Post Office and
all its wide machinery and patronage be.
gan at once TO be used for political and
eIectioEeering and party engine, Of which
he was left the responsibility, while they
took the control.
Commanding as was the popularity of
the administration with which Mr.. Nc
Lean was thus associated, and inviting as
was the road which with the popular fa-
vor that he enloyed) ii opened to The high
est public success, he saw NOT the rewards
of ambition which it offered, but the Off
cidl abuses, and the public corruption and
the personal degradation and
dishonesty which il involved; and he with
drew from the connexion with that Jacob.
bic cabal whose pernicious schemes were
already preparing, sislbly to him, the mis-.
chiefs which they have since inflicted, the
dangers at which he is now alarmed.
When, therefore, that very party, the
mere expectation Of whose acts separated
MIN from them, now affect for him an ad.
mration which he so little returns, and are
good enough to wish TO use him to distract
the Wings and Illustrate their own coming
overthrow, John Mclean is now as little
their dupe as he was formerly their tool
and he writes, therefore, to friend in Vir.
ginia, under date Of the 10Th Of August
last, in the following terms:
EXTRACT IRON JUDGE MCLEAN's LETTER.
The Office of President in my opinion,
has been lowered, and also the character
OF the country, at home and abroad, by
the means used 10 secure that Office. High
as the Presidency of this great nation is,
II may bs reached at too great a price,
II sinks below the ambition of an honora.
Bile mind when it is attainable only by
sacrifice Of the loftiest patriotism. Not
to name others, we have, in the elevation
of Jefferson, Madison, and Monroe, exam.
pies of high and honorable ambition
which are worthy Of imitation. These @.
mlnent men, when named for the office Of
President, reposing on what they had done
and what their known capacities enabled
them to do, in the highest public trusts,
neither took nor seemed to take any agen.
cy IN their own advancement.
For many years have boon deeply i'm
pressed with the injustice, the corrupting
and ruinous effects Of political partizan.
ship. Its introduction into the Federal
Government has we'll nioh r,t;nod on, 10 /