Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1852-1859, 1856-06-18
JUDGE N1CLEAN's LETTER.

JUDGE NC LEANS LETTER.
CGNc1NSA41, June @, 1855
Ny DEAR SIR:-Your eloquent and patriotic
letter of the 18th of May was forwarded me from
Washington, and came to hand on my way. to
the West when had only time to acknowledge
recent and nv obligations for your warm e1-
pressions of kindness and confidence. Since
then have been engaged at my Circuit In In
dianapolis.
public papers that the Missouri suit to which
your letter refers, was continued to the Deccm-
Der term and re-argument ordered. Ofcourse,
cannot now properly say anything in regard
to it, but must express my qualification IN
knowing that Won are satisfied with my views
already publically avowed, as to the constitu-
tional power of the general government over
the subject of slavery in the territories
Your allusion to our native State and its bat
tie fields, and to the home of my adoption and
the ordinance of 1857 so intimately connected
with its history, bring to me grateful reminis-
cences.
For New Jersey / have ever cherished a filial
pride and regard; though limited in territory and
population as compared with other OF her sister
States, she has at all times been strong in those
high qualities which are only developed in an adj
vanced stage of civilization, and has welded
moral force superior to her relative political pow
cr. Ny father left ireland young man, and land
cd at Wilmington, in Delaware, at the dawn of
the Revolution. He soon after became a citizen
Of New Jersey, and occupying an humble posit-
ion in the common walks of life, he aspired to
no higher place than that of a private in the
ranks of the revolutionary army, and braycly
bore his part as a militiaman IN the battles of
Monmouth, Princeton and Trenton. The memo
ry Of fathers service, however humble, in so
glorious struggle, may well be cherished by
son with with proud satisfaction. was born
in your county of Morris, but after the close of
the Revolution, my father, with his young fami-
", settled in the Northwestern territory, where
il has been my favored lot to grow up under the
congcnial influences of that immortal ordnance
which has wisely guaranteed liberty forever to
that beautiful region, and which her millions of
peaceful and patriotic people will never cease to
reverence as the foundation of their progress,
prosperity and power.
1t has been to me a source of the deepest re-
greet and of the most painful apprehension for
the safety Of our institutions, to witness the
growing indifference and hostility. developed
more generally during the last few years, to this
salutary principle Of that great measure of JEFF
fersOn. Some, indeed, have ventured to qucs-
ton its cOnstitutionality; although for nearly
seventy years it has been the theme of eulogium
with lawyers and statesmen of the highest emf
hence in all sections of the country, aud has re-
ceivcd the sanction of every judicial tribunal in
which it has been discussed AMI that, too, in
the slave States.
In these latter days Jack-a-lanters, generated
in the bottomless marshes of party politics.
seem to allure quite as many followers as are
found in the path illustrated by the purcr and
safer light emitted from the precepts and exam
pies Of the sages of the revolutionary period,
and political action seems to be directed rather
by considerations of conceived party necessity
than by the suggestions of reason, justice and
patriotic principle.
Occupying the position do, it is not permit
ted to me to speak of the transactionsin Kansas
in their legal aspects but may say with you,
/ that contemplate the violence, bloodShcd, and
civil and fraternal war now Transporting there,
with mingled emotions of sadness, alarm and
modification. They arc the fruits of that ill.ad-
viscd and mischievous measurable repeal of
the Missouri Compromise from the first,
| | have earnestly deprecated; and have no hest
taton in saying that the immediate admission
Constitution already formed, and well calculated
to bring peace to the territory and to the coun-
try.
| With these views, l lave not been backward
| in advising in all suitable ways, the adoption Of
that measure. There arc several prccedents
which may be appealed TO in support oft, and
especially that of the admission of Michigan
1t would be no injustice to my section of the
country. It wonld powerfully tend to tranquil
ize the public mind allay sectional jealOusics,
and bring the great mass of the people to the
earnest support of the Constitution and the u
MON in their pristine integrity. The South
would have no just cause to complain oft, and,
indeed, ought freely aud generously to yield it
upon the altar ofpublic good. Since the adop-
ton of the Constitution, as many Slave States
as Free States have been admitted into the I'm
ion; and the Slave States, while they have only
I about one fourth of the white population of the
country, embrace much larger extent of fertile
territory, with more gefrial climate than the
Free States
No intelligent observer can fail to see that the
tendency of our institutions is now rapidly
downward, all history and experience show that
40 free government, with such tendencies, was
ever arrested in its declining career without a
revolution, either by peaceful change of its pol
icy and rulers, or by the bloody arbitrament oil
the sword 1t is an axiom in government, as
any intuitive truth, that no free government can
rest upon any other than sound moral basis.
In this must consist Its strength. How much
of this foundation remains for our ms,lcl Rcpub.
lie, it will be well for the people, yet virtuouS
and enlightened, to ponder in season. Ifthey
do not see or appreciate their danger, it is in
vain that they hold the power to apply the cor
receive.
With the greatest respect, am truly yours,
JOHN MCLEAN.