New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1844-05-23
Letter from MIR. Fillmore.

III,
didatc for Governo. before the Wing Nominating
Convention. This Is IN accordance with the
continent uniformly ayowcd by him when cues
toned in regard to the Chief Magistracy OF our
State. The Journal intimates that the prefer
once for Mr.. Fillmore is 50 ardent and general
that he may be unanimously nominated not"!'h-
s.anding his reluctance.
Nv Dg.R SiR-Being here in attendance up
on the Supreme Court, my attention mas been
called TO en- article in your paper OF the I'll! IN
slant, and 10 some extracts from other journals
in yours since that time, in which my name IS
mentioned as candidate for NOMINATION 10 the
Gubernatorial office in this State. GU 90 me
the Justice to say that :" | have never desired the
office of Governor, though admit the right OF
1.-The people to the services Of a public man III
"any station they may think proper TO assign
him" Nv maxim has always been that midi
yiduals have no claim upon the pubic for oihclai
f4vors, but that the public has right 10 the ser
vice OF any and all Of It's citizens. Ih!sright OF
the public, however, must IN some measure be
qualified bv the fitness and ability OF the person
whose services NAV be demanded for the station
designed and the pioprlety OF his accepting the
trust can only be properly determined whea all
his relations, social and political, are taken INTO
the account. OF the former, | am ready to con-
cedc that the public must be the proper and only
Judge. In regard 10 the latter the individual
himself has q right t. he consulted These no.
tees of the public press arc from such sources,
and so haterng as to leave no doubt either OF the
sincerity or friendship OF the authors. And the
office itself, in my estimation, is second IN point
of dignity, honor and responsibility only TO that
of President Of the United States. When were
fleet that it mas been held by JAY, a ToMrKlSs,
and CLINTON, who in the discharge Of It's varl-
Gus responsible duties acquired d fame that has
connected them with the history Of our country
and rendered their names immortal, all must
agree that its honorS are sufficient to satisfy the
most lofty ambition. For myself | can truly say
that they are more than ever asprcd 10.
Believing, as / now do, tina; whoever shall re-
ceive the nomination OF the Wing Convention for
that distinguished station, will Re elected 1t Is
not from any apprehension Of defeat that | am
disposed 10 decline It's honors But for reasons
partly Of a public and partly of a private charac-
ter, / have invariably expressed an unwilling
ness to become 4 candidate for that nomination.
This has been long known 10 most Of my init
mate friends, and TO few better than yourself.
But sense of delcacy which all must appre-
ciate, rendered Inc reluctant TO make a more
public declaration of my wishes Oh this subject at
this time. 1t also occurred to me that some in.
dividuals, acting under a mistaken sense of my
real motives, might be led to reproach me with
being influenced in my course in this matter by
the results of the Baltimore Convention. But
when | saw from the public journals that many
Of my friends were committing themselves OH
this subject and reflected that no man from any
apprehension of sublccting himself TO unmcritcd
ccnsurc, had right 10 shrink from the perform
ancc OF any duty, | felt that tho cdndor and
irankncss due to political friends would not SUI.
fer me longer to permit them TO remain in doubt
as to my wishes on this subject
Permit me- then, to say, that do not desire 10
be considered candidate for that Office. So far
as my reasons for this determination arc founded
upon private considerations 1t would be alike In
delicate and oblrusive to present them 10 the pub
lie. But if these could be removed or overcome,
there are others of more public character that
should, it appears TO me, be equally conclusive.
In the first place, | greatly diStrust my own
ability to discharge the varied and complicated
duties olthai high station in manner either credit
able to myself or satisfactory 10 the public. For
the last twelve years my attention has been most
ly withdrawn fron questions affecting State
policy, and directed to National affairs. My Chief
experience in public matters has been in the Ma
,ional Councils, and to my labors there am
mainly indebted for whatever reputation may
enjoy as a public man. 1t appears TO me that the
present peculiarly trying emergencies IN the great
interests of the State require a man FOR the Exc
cutiyc Chair Of eminent ability, long tried expert
encc, and greater share of public confidence
than ! can hope to possess. | cannot but feel
that many who have been mentioned arc more
deserving of that honor, ana better able to dis
charge those high trusts, than myself. l recog-
nizc in each San elder and better soldier"
But secondly, it is known to all that have re-
Gently been candidate for nomination 10 the
Vice Presidency. | had previously considered
my political career ended, for thcpresent II not
closed forever. Never at all sangune of success,
yielded reluctant assent to the presentation OF
my name for that Office. Grateful as am, and
ever shall be, for the generous devotion of my
friends, | felt no disappointment in the result,
and unite nest cordially with my Wing brethren
in sustaining the excellent nominations of that
Convention. But candidate is now 10 be Sc
lcc;ed from the Wing party Of this State for the
Gubernatora Office. Such person must be taken
from among my political associates, and | feel
that owe too much to them to suffer my name
10 come In competition with theirs for this dlStn
gulshed honor. To permit it would wear the
Semblance of ingratltude, or an overwcenlng am
btion for political preierment- l know that !
feel neither, and can perceive no reason why
should subject myself to the imputaton. Tins
alone, If there were other reasons, would be 10
my mind an insuperahle objection.
But, nevertheless, while thus decline to be con
sidered candidate for nomination, 1t is due TO
myself to express the grateful emotions of my
heart to those friends who have so kindly lntima-
ted preference FOR me for that Office. II implies
a confidence on their part which it has been the
high, ofmy ambition 10 acquire and shall cher
sh the recollection of it through life. Believcmc,
also, when | say, that AIN not insensbe 10 the
deep obligations which am under 10 the people
OF this my native State; and more especially TO
those i'll the Western part of il, who have sustain
ed me with such generous devotion and unwavcr
ing fidelity through many Yeas OF arduons public
service. They could not call upon me for any sa
critice, merely personal 10 myself, that | should
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