Boon's Lick times. [volume] (Fayette, Mo.) 1840-1848, 1844-03-02
Mr.. WERsTER.s LETTER.

two concluding paragraphs are, perhaps
the most significant, and will doubtless elicit
very general remark.
WASHINGTON, Jan Sd, 1S44.
GENrLEMEN:--I have received your let
ter. requesting permission 10 present my
name TO the people as candidate for the |
Office of the President of the United States,
subject to the future wise, deliberate action
of the Wing National Convention of ls44.
1t would be disingenuous to withhold an
expression of the grateful feelings ava
kened by letter containing such request,
so verv numerously signed, and coming
from among those who have known me
through life. No one can be insensible to
the distinction of being regarded, by any
respectable number of his felow-ctizens.
as among those from whom choce OF
President might be made, with honor and
safely 10 the country.
Tie office of the President is an Office,
the importance Of which cannot be too
highly estimated. He who fills it, neces-
sarily exercises great influence, not only
on all the domestic interests of The country.
on It's foreign relations and the support
of its honor and character among the ma
tions of the earth, but on that, which is
Of the very highest import to the happiness
of the people, the maintenance of the Con-
stitution itself. and the prosperous continu-
ance of the Government under it.
Our systems are peculiar, and while ca
pable, as experience has shown, of produc-
ing the most favorable results, under wise
and cautious administration. they are, new
erthelcss, exposed TO peculiar dangers
We have six and twenty States each pos
sessing within itself powers ofgovernment,
limited only by the Constitution of the
United States; and we have a General
Government, TO which are confded high
trusts, to be exercised for the benefit of
the people of all the States. 1t is obvious
that this division of powers, itself the re-
suit of novel and most delicate political
operation, can be preserved only by the
exercise of wisdom and pure patriotism.
The Constitution Of the United States
stands on the basis of the Peoples choice.
1t must remain on that basis, so long as
it remains at all. The veneration and
love which are entertained for it will be
increased, by every instance of wise. pru-
dent, impartial, and parental administra-
ton. On the other hand, they will be d.
mnished by every Administration which
shall cherish local divisions, devote itself
to local interests, seek to bend the influence
of Government to personal partisan pur-
poses, or which shall forget that all pa
iriotism is false and spurious, which does
not look with equal eye to the interests of
the whole country and all its parts, present
and 10 come.
hardly know what an American states
man should so much deprecate on his own
account, as well as on account of his coun-
try, as that the Constitution of the United
States, now the glory of our country and
the admiration of the world, should be-
come weakened in its foundations, per-
verted in its principles, or fallen and sunk,
in nations regard and a nations hopes,
| by his own follies, errors, or mistakes. The
Constitution was made for the good of the
country; this the People know.
It's faithful administration promoted that
good; this the people know. The people
will themselves defend it against all foreign
power and open force, and they will right
fully hold to just and aulemn account,
those, to whose hands they commit it, and
in whose hands it shall be found to be
shorn of single beam of its honor, or
deprived of particle of its capacity for
usefulness. 1t was made for an honest
people, and they expect it to be honestly
administered.
At the present moment, II is an oblec,
of general respect, confidence and affection
Questions have arisen, however, and are
likely to rise again, upon the extent of its
; powers, or upon the line which separates
the functions of the General Government
from those of the State Governments; and
those questions will require, whenever they
may occur, not only firmness. but mucf
discretion, prudence and mpartiality in The
, head of the National Executive.
} Extreme counsels of extreme opinion:
f on either side, would be very likely, if fol
lowed or adopted, TO break up the wei
adjusted balance of the whole. And he
who has the greatest confidence in his owr
: Judgment, or the strongest reliance on his
( own good fortune, may yet be well diffiden
: of his ability to discharge the duties o
4 this trust, in such manner as shall pro
mote the public prosperity, or advance hi
= own reputation.
y But, gentlemen, while the office of Pres
ident is quite too high to be sought b,
personal solicitation, or for private end
and objects, it is not to be declined, i
profered by the voluntary desires of fire.
people.
1t is now more than thirty years sine
!. you and your fellow-citizens of New
D Hampshire assigned me part in politica
= affairs. My punic conduct, since that pc
. riod ir knoyyn My oDipionc nm tho ora.