Herald of the times. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1830-1846, 1843-10-12
From the National Intelligence.
Judge ncLean and the Whig cause.

this distilg uished gentleman, which one
Of his friends in that quarter hNs com
municated for publication, though (as he
says) not designed for the general eye.
So sound, however, are the opinions, so
right the feelings which il expresses, that
one cannot but be gratified that the pub
lie should come into possession of such q
dec laration, so worthy Of a wide attention,
and 50 certain, from the source from
which il comes, TO command il.
Let not the manly regret with which
Judge Mclean speaks Of the present
condition of political morals be confound-
ed with that talking, trading, shutting
patriotism that mouths eternally the
names of honor, country, liberty, The
Constitution, ms favoriie sounds abundant
ly sufficient, without one noble or useful
public act, to win the popular favor.--
Let not this sincere language pass for M
more than the declamatOry virtue Of the
day, which is growing, in those who talk
il most gibIy, little else than jus'i6ca-
tion Of DIR. Johnson's snarling definition
Of patrio,ism-"tbat n 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 any
Of the latter"
Judge Mclean is ore ofihose whose
public action has ever answered to their
speech who have served the county
more than they have Aaltered il 4; WIN
have talked of prime pies less than they
have siriven to advance them. This let
ter itself, little framed ss il is 10 the tune
Of poPularlly-seeking, is an earnest Of his
sincerity but il is not The only one he
but speaks now as he has heretofore act
ed-wrh disdan Of personal successes
to he won at The sacrifice Of the public
veal or Of his individual honor and in
dependence.
We know how truly this letter is in
conformiiy with what was the public i'm
preston of his course, in that decisive
moment of his polilical fortunes, which
others may not remember SO well. II is
To that period Of his life that he modestIy
refers when he says, in this letter, "a de-
parture fran these principles drove the
Reluctantly from public life"
Associated originally with the Adams
Admlnislr ration, as the chief Of n service
the Post Onice) not then ranking as a
Cabinet department, he had given ii, 10y
the energy and skill which hr Infused
INTO il, an importance and a popularity
which forbade his removal at the accrs
sion "f the Jackson dynasty, and made
that violent but polite power willing to
adopt, provided il might use him. With
this view under pretence of giving d
new dignity to his department, but in
reality that its patronage mi = hI be brought
as It had not hitherto beeD) into the
great Executive fund of power they
constituted his office a Cabinet one. -
Then the Post Office and all its wide
machinery and patronage began at once
to be used for political and elrctioneer-
ing 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
l.ean was thus associated, and inviting
as was the road which (wlth the popular
favor that he enloyed) il opened to the
highest public success, he saw not the
rewards 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 c"nnexion with that
jacobinc cabal whose perncious schemes
were already preparing, visibly to him,
the misrhiefs which they have since in
flicted, the dangers at which he is now
alarmed.
When, the re fore, that very party, the
mere expectation of whose acts separated
him from them, now affect for him an ad.
miration which he so little returns, aud
are good enough to wish to use him tc
distract the Wings and Illustrate thei'
own coming overthrow, John Nc Lean j,
now as little their dupe as he was former.
ly their tool and he writes, therefore, tc
friend in Virginia, under date Of the
10Th of August last, in the following
terms.
Extract from Judge NlcLeanS letter.
The office Of President. in my opinion, ha,
been lowered, aud also the character Of the
country, at home and abroad by the mean.
used to secure that Office. High as the
Presidency of this grea, nation IS, 1t may b.
reached at too great 9 price. IL sinks below
The ambition OF an honorable mind when it il
aualnable only by a sacrifice of the lofties
patriotism. Not to name others, we have, il
The elevation of Jefferson, Madison, an,
4 Monroe examples Of hugh and honorabl,
ambition which are worthy of imitation
These eminent men, when nnWed for ih,
office ofPresldeni, reposlng on what they hat
done and what their known capacities enable,
them 10 do, in the highest public trusts, neithe
took nor seemed 10 take any agency in thel
own advancement
For many years have been deeply i'm
pressed with the injustice, the corrupting an
ruinous effects Of political parlisanshIp. IL
| introduction into the Federal Governmcn n
has well nigh ruined our beloved country. -
/ Be fore this bane bad perverted our mora
sense, our love Of country, and, so far q
politics are concerned, almost every nob
|, feeling of the heart, we were happy as a peo
pie in the enjoyment of great and unlnler
rupied prosperity. And, whatever may b.
sald TO the contrary, this terrible evil lies a
the foundaiioD of ell our embarrassment =
At has been mainly instrumental IN the com
n Inerclal revulsions we have witnessed, and