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JOHN  McLEAN
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SUPREME COURT JUSTICE JOHN McLEAN WRITES TO CONGRESSMAN ABRAHAM LINCOLN ABOUT SLAVERY: “THE NORTH HAS UNIFORMLY GIVEN WAY, BECOME THE INSTRUMENTS OF THE SOUTH.  I HOPE THAT SLAVERY WILL NOT BE EXTENDED BEYOND ITS PRESENT LIMITS.  THE PROPOSITION TO ABOLISH THE SLAVE TRADE IN THIS DISTRICT HAS GREAT EXCITEMENT, AND THE THREAT OF DISSOLUTION HAS BEEN MADE.  THEY SEEM TO THINK THAT THE PECULIAR INSTITUTION IS TOO SACRED TO BE TOUCHED EVEN HERE WHERE THERE IS THE JURISDICTION OF THE UNION.”

 

JOHN McLEAN (1785-1861).  McLean, a politician from Ohio, served in a number of roles, including Commissioner of the General Land Office and Postmaster General.  He was an Associate Justice of the Ohio Supreme Court and was appointed to the United States Supreme Court by President Jackson in 1829 until his death.  He was one of the two Justices to vote against the Dred Scott decision.  McLean was frequently mentioned as a Presidential candidate.

 

ALS. 3pg. 7 ¾” x 10”. December 31, 1848. Washington.  An autograph letter signed John McLean as a Supreme Court Justice.  He wrote to Whig Congressman Abraham Lincoln about the election of President Zachary Taylor and the ongoing slavery debate.  Lincoln, who had pledged to serve only one term in Congress, proposed a bill to abolish slavery in Washington but abandoned it when he could not get enough support.  Justice McLean penned: “My Dear Sir; I received your friendly letter a few days ago. The result of the late Presidential Election did not disappointment, and I have no personal regrets on the subject. I was fully away that the politicians did not desire administration, which would not lend itself to the advancement of their interest. General Taylor is an honest and honorable man; but as he is wholly unacquainted with the duties of President, he must be under the influence of those who shall be about him, and the success of his administration must depend upon those who must administer the government. He will act from good motives, but that may be found a poor security against abuses. That the influence of the south will prevail is probable.  Our friends in the North have always threatened to displace the union when they cannot have things in their way; and this has been a means, by which they have attained other objects.  The North has uniformly given way, become the instruments of the South.  I hope that slavery will not be extended beyond its present limits.  The proposition to abolish the slave trade in this district has great excitement, and the threat of dissolution has been made.  They seem to think that the peculiar institution is too sacred to be touched even here where there is the jurisdiction of the union.  My hopes of reform and moral elevation, in our political action are much shaken.  The intrigues of the late contest by a few rested and active spirits in Ohio, have thrown that state into the utmost confusion. Through my interference, I believe, the Whig governor was elected, and hopefully the majority of Whigs in the legislature. The intriguers have protected themselves and are powerless. I am happier, I have no doubt, that I should have been, had the result been as my friends wished it. I shall endeavor to size up the measure of my duty, in my present position, cherishing no aspiration of political destination. Aside from a desire to reform and elevate the county, I say in truth, that I have felt not ambition for political power, and whenever, I shall come to the conclusion that the evils are too great to be remanded, I shall reject at once, every inducement to political life.  Mrs. McLean is with me and we should be very much gratified to have the visits at Mrs. Carters, of yourself and Mrs. Lincoln. The room you occupied is vacant. Mrs. McLean writes in responds to Mrs. Lincoln and yourself. And I pray you to believe that I am Truly & ever yours John McLean”.  Lincoln supported Taylor’s Presidential candidacy and hoped to be appointed to a Federal office in the Taylor Administration, but was not.  As a result of the Compromise of 1850, California was admitted as a free state, the Fugitive Slave Act was strengthened, and the slave trade was abolished in the nation’s capital.  This was McLean’s retained copy of his letter to Lincoln.  Congressman Lincoln did not seemingly retain his correspondence, so this is likely the only copy of this important missive.  It is written on light blue paper and has folds from filing.  An important antebellum letter.