The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1856-06-26

nected with its history, bring to me grateful
"reminiscences.
| For New Jersey have ever cherished 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 advanced stage of civilization and has
+; welded moral force superior to her relative
political power.
Nv father left Ireland young man, and land
ed at Wilmington, in Delaware, at the dawn of
the Revolution. He soon after became citi-
| zen of New Jersey, and, occupying an humble
| position in the common walks of life, aspiring
to no higher place than that of private in the
ranks of the Revolutionary army, and bravely
bore his part as militiaman in the battles of
Monmouth, Princeton, and Trenton. The mem
ory of a fathers service, however humble in so
glorious struggle, may well be cherished by
son with proud satisfaction.
/ was born in your county of Morris, but
after the close of the Revolution, my father,
with his young family, settled in the North.
western Territory, where it has been my favored
lot to grow up. under the congenial influences OF
that immortal Ordinance which has wisely guar
antied 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.
It has been to me the source of the deepest
regret, and of the most painful apprehension for
the safety of our institutions to witness the grow
ing indifference and hostility, developed more
generally during the last few years, to this sal
utary principle of that great measure OF Jeiler'
son. .
Some, indeed, have ventured to question its
constitutionality, although, for nearly seventy
years it has been the theme of eulogium with
lawyers and statesmen of the highest eminence
in all sections Of the country, and has received
the sanction of every judicial tribunal In which
it has been discussed, and that too in the slave
States.
In the latter days, JACKIE -lanterns, generated
in the bottomless marshes of party politics, seem
| to allure quite as many followers as are found
| in the path illustrated by the purer and safer
| lights emitted from the precepts and examples
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 patri-
otto principle.
Occupying the position 1 do, it is not per-
mitted to me to speak of the transactions in Kan
sas in their legal aspects but may say, with
you, that contemplate the violence, bloodshed,
and civil and fraternal war, now transpiring
and modification.
They are the fruits of that ill.advised and
mischievous measure, the repeal of the Missouri
| Compromise, which, from the first, have ear
nestly deprecated and l have no hesitation
in saying, that the immediate admission of Kan
sas as State into the Union, under the Con-
stitution already formed, commends itself to me
as measure of sound policy, and well calcula-
ted to bring peace to the Territory and to the
country.
With these views, have not been backward
in advising, in all suitable ways, the adoption
of that measure. There are several presidents
especially that of the admission of Michigan.
1t would do no I'M ustice to any section of the
country. 1t would powerfully tend to tranquil
lie the public mind, allay sectional jealouses,
and bring the mass of the people to the earnest
support of the Constitution and the Union, in
their pristine integrity.
| The South would have no Just cause to COM
plain of it, and indeed ought freely and gene
rously to yield it upon the altar of public good.
Since the adoption of the Constitution, as many
slave States as free States have been admitted
into the Union; and the slave States, while they
have only about one-fourth of the white popula-
ton of the country, embrace a much larger
extent of fertile territory, with more genial eli
mate, than the free States.
No intelligent observer can fail to see that
the tendency of our institutions is now rapidly
| downward, and all history or experience show
| that no free Government, with such tendencies,
was ever arrested in its declining career, without
revolution, either by peaceful change of its
policy and rulers, or by the bloody arbitrament
| of the sword.
1t is an axiom in government, as clear as any
| intuitive truth, that no free Government can
can rest upon any other than sound moral
basis. In this, must consist its strength. How
| much of this foundation remains for our model
Republic, it will be well for the people, yet vir-
tuous and enlightened, to ponder in season. If
| they do not see or appreciate their danger, it
is in vain that they hold the power to apply the
corrective.
With the greatest respect, am, very truly,
yours, JOHN MCLEAN.
To ]. G. Hornbloper.