The examiner. [volume] (Louisville, Ky.) 1847-1849, 1849-02-10
WHOLE NUMBER 81.


lew DAYS since we were present In the Sen
ate. when Mr.. Fooss Of Mississippi made mos
vanton and Indecent assault on Judge Mclean
Personalities more gross and aabseoraing W,
never heard, even in Congress. The Judge. IN
his usual concise way, thus defines his position
National Era. -,
| Respect for the Senate, where remark.
were made abusive OF myself on the 1Stl
instant, indaces ne to make the following
! statement:
| The irst accusation was, that have said
"that our institutions will never be well and
wisely and successfully maintained and sd-
ministered, until what he is pleased to call
moral influence, can be brought to bear
upon the Government; who dares 70 de.
Tnounce the selected candidates Of The great
political parties Of the country as mere
prize-hghters." The term "prize-6ghters'
was never used BY me in reference 10 any
individuals; the thought Of making the APP
pllcatlon TO the late candidates for the Pres
dency never entered into my mind.
The second accusation was, that ''urped
Upon Congress that no more pecuniary sup
plies should be voted for the maintenance
Of this war. in order that the Government
might be forced, for want of the means OF
aar, to withdraw our victorious armies from
The enemys country in disgrace" &c.
never uttered such sentiment to any one.
My friends know that | was opposed to the
Withholding Of supplies.
The third accusation was, that | ''under-
took to adjudicate question before it had
yet been submitted for decision, and which
he RI well knew was more than likely TO
be presented for decision in the Court where
he sits, with others. for the discharge Of high
judicial duties" &c. This, ! suppose, re-
fers to letter written by me last summer,
10 four or five gentlemen at Cleveland, 10
Ohio, who urged me to permit my name to
be brought before the Buffalo Convention. |
In declining that honor, and in answer to
'ther parts Of the letter, | stated, as nearly |
Is can recollect, (my letter not being
tefore me,) that slavery existed by virtue
4 the local law, and consequently could
not exist without the sanction Of law
This had been settled by several judicial de-
aisions. and supposed was doubted by no
1ne. In the case Of Graves and Slaughter,
{ was recognised by the Judges, following
he lead Of my opinion; and it was held
hat the commercial power Of Congress did
not extend to the slave trade among the
States; that Congress had no power over the
,ubject, and that it belonged exclusively to
he respective States. As political ques-
ion, which can never come before the Su-
oreme Court, depressed myself opposed
o the extension OF slavery. This, so far as
| can recollect, was the substance Of the
The gentleman to whom the letter was
addressed, so far as remember, did not
'epresent others, and did not consider the
publication Of The letter as necessary. Ii
was not written with that view, but there
was no restriction as to lis publication.
Some two or three letters were written in
answer to letters received. and were publish |
I'd without my permission and against my
wishes. This is the first letter, so FAR as
now remember, that have written for pub
lication within the last two years. As
citizen, / claim the right, and shall exercise
it, Of forming and expressing my opinion
on public measures.
JOHN McLEAE.