The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1847-11-19
Van III HEN's LETTER.
Lmaea,caid, Oct. 30. ISL.

: ING canvass in Pennsylvania, at the head q
{ your paper, rs The choice of the sterling dc
mocracy of your district for the Prcsdcuc,
2 and also informing me of Il similar di>pu>i
% ton among tie democrats Of The surround
J inc districts.
The hankncSS of your communicative
d and In DISTINGUISHED motives ty which I
: has obviously been dictated, command m,
4 respect and confidence. Instead. therefore
; OF replying TO it tAIc' my old and fast irirn,
ia your vicinity, rs you suggest, address
myself directly to yoU, and shall express
my feelings and opinions with the freedom
and sincerity which arc dine to the subject
TO my position in regard to t-aud 10 the
respect and gratitude with which Your con-
duct has inspired ac.
cannot apUchCud that what am about
20 say WA induce any one to suppose that |
undlrvaluc the honor Of the Office with
which yCur favorable estimate Of my Capa-
city and principles has inclined You once
more Ia connect my name. Every right
minded American citizen must regard an
incumbent Ctthc presidential cllicc. posses
sing the confidence and esteem oitho>e who
raised him To power, aud challenging the
respect OF all parties 10y wise and manly
administration Of his trust, rs enjoying the
highest distinction known to the political
institutions.
Nevertheless, | assure ven shat. wha,c-
yer may have been my aspirations at other
periods ofmy life, have no desire to rc.Cc-
cupy that most elevated public station.
have already, by the partially Of my coun-
trymcn, parakcn very largely Of the enjoy
mcut> of public life. whilst have not Shun-
mol - !. I.fr hoo, lr,.,, ia,
quittudcS. The lavorS and honorS W hich
have been protu>elv bestowed on me by the
democracy Of the Union, are, aud trust
viii ever be. present 10 my mind and great
fully impressed On my heart. Every lay
more confirmed IN tie sunlncs> Of the pu-
itical opinions to which have adhcarcd,
conscious Of always having done my duty
TO the people to the best Of my ability, hay-
inn no hcart-llrug> to- Zee allayCd, and no
rtScutmcui> 10 be grudGCd BY a restoration
To power. and finding my present position
entirely adapted to my taste and disposition.
! am sincerely and heartily DESTROYS TO wear
the honoy> aud cuioymcutS of private life
unin'cug'odly TO the end.
IT, Therefore, the support, which you with
whom | have not even the pleasure of a
personal acquaintance, have So frankly and
uonorably rendered me, including that not
only Of the iuie<bic and victorious demo.
cracy of yCurcongrcSSion district, bnt also
the democratic party throughout the Union.
and the consequent assurance Of success.
could not, consulting only my own feelings
ana wishes, hesitate, respectfully and crate.
fully. but decidedly TO decline it, That any
state %! things vii! hereafter exist in which
this indulgence Of my own preferences
would, iu The opinion Of true and faithful
friends, conflict with my duty 10 the pol.,i.
cal party 'o which my whole life has been
devoted, and to which owe any personal
s2cuiicc. IS IN the last degree improhablc.
appreciate and honor yony anxious de-
sire To see the integrity and irmncSS ortae
Democratic party Of the Union fully yind-
Gated. y far as tn" temperate but steady
action ct one who j., by his position and a
Just observance Of is proprictics declared
from active participation in PARTISAN con
iIcls, can aid IN restoring lis former Cll,cieu-
~, IN gekind'iug is former zeal. and in pre-
serving the high and pure character for
which II las been long and rightly dis,in-
gusAeG, you may confidently ryly on INV
co operation. Whether these desirable d.
icc'S eau bc accomplished, mainly depends
upon the course which is uurSiIcd Ly The
respective friends Of those prominent CHI.
zcns among us who are made candidate, for
the Presidency. Should the capital or the
Union, during tie approaching session Of
Congress, become thc rally.n, ro,u; ogtbe
rar,j,aus, and not only their attention. Int
the time and attention Of those yhoa-r rlar-
-ed with the direction Of rrIl;c af',i-s. lie
devoted 20 President making instead az ,rc.-
appropriate duties, we sla!l have little 4.
hope in this regard.
But if mere POLITICAL scheme, and IN.
.rgues. however cuHninrly devised. and
however profitable they NAV have lerr.o.
fore appeared. ,halintie present er1crrcp.
ry give place 20 the uucea,Hya and yi~oTons
efforts Of all 10 preserve and rrotrct tho
bleeding interests and ppgil,d honor Of cnr
~ hich can alone attract tho
confidence and Sr,pvort OF the Denocr,tic
masses the result viii prove far more o,,s.
picious.
Scarcely ever has the essential welfare or
the country been in more critical condi.
ton, or lis administration in greater need Of
the energetic su,uort Of those who raised il
10 mower. With a urobable majority, or,oinst
il the uoyuIar branch of the Nat;GnoI I 90.
stature. and hut a small. ard iis IN Inc 70.