Washington sentinel. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1856, 1856-06-17
OPINIONS of JUDGE MCLEAN.


yesterday, the following correspondence, upon
which we shall comment in full in our next
issue
NEWARK, May ID, 1856.
My DEAR SIR: Your communication to the
National IatelligeRcer of December, l847, has
Just been reproduced here, and | have now
read it for the first time. | have been looking
with no little solicitude for the decision Of the
Supreme Court in the case lately argued, in
volving the question of the constitutionality OF
the Missouri prohibition-a question of great
practical importance now, when the traditional
policy of the country from the period of indie
! pendence, on the subject of slavery, is sought
to be overturned.
| Though it is long time since left the
bench, and the active pursuits of the profess
sion, and but short span remains for me here,
/ continue to take great interest in the decis-
sion Of the courts, and in the political ques-
tons of the day. especially such as relate to
| slavery, which seems to override all other ques-
tons, and shape our entire national policy.
| will feel greatly obliged to you if you will
put me in the way OF getting copy of the de-
cision as soon as it shall be made.
| And now, as ] am on the subject must add
few words to unburden myself, for i feel most
/
not offer on my own part, nor ask on yours,
any intimation of opinion on the constitutional
question now judicially before you, in advance
of the judgment of the court / know too well
what the propriehes of your position demand
Of yourself and of me to do so, and indeed
your known views on this point leave me- so
far as you are concerned, nothing to learn nor
any anything to desire.
| The broad ground maintained by you in the
communication to which | have referred is quite
! satisfactory to me on that head. If your con-
| struction of the Constitution were enforced we
should have no more slave States, nor any fur
| ther extension of slavery. But upon the great
political question of the day, the admission OF
Kansas free State, the issue now being
| made up for the decision Of the great tribunal
Of the people, feel at liberty to speak freely.
| You and are natives of the same State-the
little but patriotic State of New Jersey. Your
birth contemporaneous with the adoption
of that immortal ordinance which prohibited
slavery in the Northwestern Territory, and
secured freedom to the great States of Ohio,
| Indiana, Illinois, Michigan, and Wisconsin ;
mine preceded that event several years. You
were early planted on the frontiers to grow up
among the hardy pioneers, with those young
empires which have sprung up at your feet as
if by magic at the touch of the wand of liberty;
and | have fingered amidst the battlefelds OF
I Monmouth, of Princeton, and of Trenton.
Both have lived to see slavery abolished in
our native State, and both have witnessed from
the beginning the glorious results of the humane
and patriotic policy of our fathers, so happily
signalzed by that benefcent and inspiring
measure to which the free West is SO deeply
indebted.
With these results before u.s. nurtured and
schooled we have been among the men Of
the Revolutionary period, and animated, as
trust we are, by the true spirit Of enlightened
/ Christianity, we cannot look upon the scenes
of violence of bloodshed, and of civil and fra
terna war in Kansas countenanced as they
are by faithess Administration and power
ful but ruthless political party, without deep
modification and alarm, or without burning
indignation.
We need, my dear sir, for this difficult crisis
at the head of public affairs wise patriotic,
well-balanced, experienced, firm, and selfre-
liant statesman, whose known qualifications
and character may inspire universal respect
and confidence with all right minded men.
With such pilot ! shall feel safe, and am
glad to see the public mind turning towards
you. 1t is an augury of good. 1t is an evi
dence that the imminent dangers of the crisis
are appreciated; for it is in times of storm and
peril that the fearful and the faithful naturally
turn to such as you for safety.
The present Congress ought not to adjourn
without admitting Kansas as a free State. You
are on the spot, and as this is purely political
question, and partakes not at all of a iudica,
character, you may properly express your opn
ions and exercise your rightful influence in
regard to it. The exigency demands that we
overlook mere forms. When fraud and violence
stalk abroad over one Of the fairest of the heri
tages of freemen, and when it is sought to plant
slavery in the virgin soil of that beautiful terri
tory at the point Of the bayonet, it is no time
to talk of technicaities. The peace and honor
of the country are not to be deferred to such
considerations as these,
The population of Kansas, before the begin
ming of another Congress, and possibly before
the close of the present, will run up to one
hundred thousand, if the war of exclusion and
determination now going on there shall be
suspended by so wholesome and patriotic q
measure. But | must stop. If should give
way to my feelings ! should weary your pa
| thence.
hope my days may be prolonged to see this
contamination, 50 devoutly to be wished, and
then | may say, with peculiar JUNCTION, my
" nunc demitds."
Yours, most respectfully and truly,
JOSEPH G. HORNBLOWER.
To JUICE MCLEAN.