The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1848-09-02
From the marlborough Eagle,
Judge McLean's Letter.


AT length the letter of Judge Mclean, de.
firing his position before the Buffalo Con.
veution, has been suffered to slip from the
fingers of these 10 whose custody il had been
entrusted. The delay or refusal of The leu,
ders of the Buffalo demonstration, TO let thia
letter meet the public eye, had created quite
II fever in the public mind but the letter
must be withheld until certain purposes wero
achieyed-purposes which deserve the exc
cralions of all honest and true mell-purpos-
es whose object was TO secure the victims,
riyet their chains aud then sell them TO tho
Magician of Undertook. This letter bears
date July 2S,h, 1913, some twelve days pre-
vous 10 the meeting Of the Convention but
it was well known by these wre-pulIers that
the Wing sympnlhsers with the object Of
that Convention were Mclean mcn-men
whom,-until their tctters had been made
stronger by the concealment ofthe real ihcts,
the very idea ofAlr Van Buren's being fois.
ted upon the Convention, together with tho
fact that Judge Mclean would not even al
low his name TO 90 before it at all, would
have quickly driven from their sEares. Judge
McLean's true position was kept in the dark
meanwhile the muster drum was constantly
sounding for Wing recruits. And even
when the Convention had assembled. only
the initiated jel0 were deemed worthy to know
the precise position of the Judge--thc idea
being continually held out TO the McLeaN
men that though he declined nomination
his heart was with them. So much Tor tho
deception practised ut Buffalo. .. ...
The Convention finally closed with "fiW
minutes ndiscriminatc yell for every bodyi"
but that letter was suppressed, and must he
in the view ofthcse, 'inunitest presence" men
until the well known power OF commitment
had had time TO operate upon those whom IA
suspicion of the real game played upon them
would at first nave startled. The work, they
think, has now been done, and the curtain
rses-ihe disguise is thrown oh-tle letter
comes to light, aud here it is read it, and
then tell how much ''ail and comfort" it at
lords the BuiiaIonOus. II, rs has been cou.
tended, Mr. Mclean does sympalhise with
this Van Buren, move, ii must be shown by
other evidence than His letter. Here is the
letter -
CoLUMBus, July %, lS4S.
Gentlemen have delayed an answer IL
your communication of the lth inst, that
might have lime for MIXTURE reflections. This
was due To you, 10 myself, 10 the subject, and
perlapS to tie country. have underworld
TO consider The matter in all lis aspects and
consequences.
| Tie great and exciting question of slave
nv extensions, IN the judicial form it has as.
suued by the act of the SENATE, as ii bears
upon my position on the branch ; the ",e Of
my name in the present canvass. and thew'
| lection of il 10y the Ohio delegates 10 the
National Convention, tie relation which Mr.
! Van Burcn maintains to the public ; have al
lieeu Deliberately considered, and | am
| brought TO the conclusion that ought not to
90 hclure the Buffalo Convention Us u can
didatr ior the Presidency. feel deeply and
gratefully tic honor yon have done me by
the expression ofyour kindness and conf
dcncr, ia connection with that high Office.
Resting upon the PRINCIPLES Of the Cons.
tuiion, as lhey have been judicially settled,
the free States, by moderation, vigilance and
irmness, ,nay prevent the extension of Slave
~ To the free territory lately annexed Will.
ont The sanction oflaw, slavery can no more
exist in territory tlIau man can breathe
without air. Slaves are not property where
they are not made 50 by the municipal law
The Legislature ola Territory can exercise
no power which is not conferred OH it Ivy act
of Congress.
With the highest respect,
am, gratefully. your Obj serv'r.
JOHN MCLEAN.