Ypsilanti sentinel. [volume] (Ypsilanti, Washtenaw Co., Mich.) 1843-1900, 1844-01-17

democratic nailonal convention. ms
resolution has been dctale1 by an anxious
desire to drive discOrd from the ranks of
the party, and secure the ascendency of
democratic principles, both in the State
and throughout the Union. To arriving
at this conclusion | have consulted no
human being. II is entirely my own
spontaneous act, and proceeds from the
clearest and strongest conviction of duty.
Whilst thus taking my leave as your
candidate for the Presidential office, | am
animated by sense of profound gratitude
for the unanimity aud enthusiasm with
which you have urged my elevation to the
highest office on earth. This feeling
shall remain engraven OIL my heart until
time for me shall be no longer.
When, in January last, democratic
members of our State legislature, in their
letter addressed to me, "presented my
name to The Union as Pennsylvania's ia
vorile candidate for the Presidency" |
made some observations in my answer
to which desire to recall your attention.
then stated that if the democracy of
Pennsylvania "should resolve to offer my
name to the national convention as cam
didate forih Presidency with that degree
of unanimity which could alone give
moral force to their recommendation, !
felt that / ought not TO counteract their
wishes" This, | am proud TO believe,
they would do with unexampled unanimi
ty; yet every unprejudiced man who has
observed The current of political events
since that period must be convinced that
even the great moral influence of Penn
sylvania with her sister States would be
exerted in vain TO secure my nomination.
Under such circumstances, ought l, for
any personal considerations, 10 suffer the
great State which has bestowed so many
honors upon me to ask, the first time in
her history, for Presidential candidate
of her own, with a certain conviction on
my part that the request would not be
granted Should be the means Of plac>
ing her democracy in a false position.
which yet their high sense of honor and
the noble perseverance of their character
might forbid them to abandon? To ask
these questions. my heart tells me, is to
answer them In the negative. Every
feeling of gratitude and of duty dictates
that | should leave them TO decide, in the
national convention, among the candi.
dates whose prospects are more promi.
sing.
But still higher obligation rests upon
me. In my letter, to which | have al
ready referred, declare that "the prin-
ciples and the success of the democratic
party so immeasurably transcend in i'm.
portance the elevation of any individual,
that they ought not to be jeoparded, in
the slightest degree, by personal Partially
for either of the candidates" And again:
"IfI know my own heart. | should most
freely resign any pretensoos which the
partialhy of friends has sci up for me, if
by this could purchase harmony and
unanimity in the selection of democratic
The time has arrived when feel my.
self constrained to apply these principles
to my own practice. 1t is true that may
not be able to secure entire unanimity in
the party by Withdrawing my name from
the list of candidates. but yet | shall reduce
their number, and thus diminish the ele-
ments of discord. The great moral and
strength of Pennsylvania. to
which her uniform self'sacriicing patriot
ism adds double force, will then be felt
in all its power, and may decide the con.
test in manner satisfactory to the entire
democracy of the union.
l can proudly say that, since have oc.
cupied the position of your candidate be-
fore the country. to which was assigned
BY your unsolicited kindness, have done
nothing to tarnish your fair fame. En-
ertaining the conviction tina; the glory
and perpeiuity of our own institutions re.
luire that the highest office under heaven
should be the voluntary gift of The only
rec people upon earth, | have totally alb
stained from all personal efforts to pro.
note my own success.
After what l have already said, I need
scarcely again repeat the pledge l have
10 often given, that shall firmly support |
he nominee of tie democratic national
To my friends in other States, who
lave deemed me worthy oftheir support,
tender my most grateful thanks; beIiev-
ng that shall promote their wishes fol
he union and strength of the democratic
'arty by Withdrawing from what they
must now be satisfied would be hopeless
contest for the nomination.
In conclusion, must solemnly declare,
nat the only solicitude which personally
eel upon the subject of this letter is. that
on shall be satisfied with my conduct
Dr.. next to the appreciation of my God,
alue your continued favor far above all
Their considerations.
JAMES BUCHANAN.
WASHINGTON, DEC. ID, 1S43 |