The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1844-03-08
LINDENwALD, January 30, 1874.

LINDENwALD, January 20, 1874.
GENTLEMEN: | have had the honor to receive
your obliging letter, communicating the proceed
ings Of State democratic mass meeting, held at
Harrisburg on the 18th inst, at which my name
was, with entire unalimity, presented to the dem
ocratic party of Pennsylvania, as their candidate
for the Presidency.
cannot refrain from saying that have received
your communication with feelings of no ordinary
character. An expression of opinion SO imposing
as that which you have been deputed to convey
to me, coming from any portion of my political as
sociates. could not fall at any time, to excite my
profound gratitude. There arecircumstaces, how
ever, attending this, which seem TO deserve more
particular notice at my hands.
My relations with the DEMOCRACY of. your great.
State has been in some respects peculiar:- fney
sustained me by their confidence aud support, at
most Interesting crisis in my political career
have been honored andcheered by their good will,
when it was not III their power to render it effec-
tive, and their support was at one time withheld
from me, and conferred upon another, when re-
ceved that of their political brethren of the Union.
Why should not embrace an occasion so oppof
tune, and possibly the last that may occur, to as
sure them tina, neither then, nor at any other time
during the whole course Of my political life, have
ever for a moment, doubted their disposition to
do me ample justice? Although they dissehted
from my nomination, | felt assured that they weS1
actuated by motives which were entitled -
tive n
cherish, in common WITH
throughout the Union, tow
Bile and Gas the fullest experiei
uDpurchasable democracy of PENN
ments ofsincere respect for their adhJV
ocratc principles under circumstanc
adverse, and admiration Of the unfaltd
with which they have from time to time b.
with domestic .disseutions. cannot, therefore &c
temen, too highly appreciate an expression ofcon-
tidence and favor, proceeding from so respectable
portion Of them, on this, the last occasion on
which my name can ever be presented TO the cou1-
try for any public station.
Yet these are not the only considerations which
give ito the proceedings which you have
transmitted to me. 1t is known to all, and by no
one more cheerfuIly admitted than by myself, that
large majority of our political friends in Pennsy-
vanil preferred that the honor which those whom
YOU represent have now so cordially awarded to
me, should be bestowed upon justly distinguish
ed citizen OF their own State--one admirably quail
flied, for the successful discharge of any public du-
ty, and possessing likewise, in an eminent degree,
the confidence and good will of the democracy of
the Union. 1t certainly becomes Others better
than myself to comment on the propriety of his
withdrawal from the canvass, when il had been
ascertalned that the wishes of his more Immediate
friends were not Gor reasons, however, not de.
tracing from the merits Of their lavorite) in accor-
dance with those of the great body of their politi
cal brethren In other States. ! should not, how
ever, do justice to the OCCASION nor to my own
feelings, were to pass over in silence the fact,
that but for this surrender his pretensions to pro-
mote the general harmony the proceedings for
which am offering my grateful aclznowedg
could not now have taken place. Nor will it,. I.
hope, be thought amiss in any quarter, if I avail
myself of the occasion to show that this commend
able desire to promote unanimity among common
friends had previously though to less important
extent, been acted up0.>>--...--pysclf 1t is well
known that amid prevailing preference of the derA
ocracy of Pennsylvania for her distinguished son,
there was portion of them, of whose confidence
any public man might well beproud, who avowed
preference, which they had early imbihed, and
zealously cherished, for myself 1t is not howey-
er, so well known that, without attempting to in
terfere with their free exercise of opinion caused
them to be Informed that, as far as my individual
feelings were concerned, it would be entirely sat-
isfactory to have them unite with the rest of our
political friends in the State, in giving its vote in
convention to him who was the choice Of the ma
jority. That this suggestion had not been adopted
was, feel assured, not because thoseto whom it
was addressed were less friendly to the favorite Of
the State, or less sensible Of his claims upon the
respect and confidence of his countrymen; but an
together owing to considerations growing out or
the contest Of 1910, which they deemed ii6pera-
tive cannot, am confident. add anything Is
the mastery and eloquent description which yo,1l
have given ofthat national struggle. Neither ann
Iunmindful ofthe bias WHICH the relation in which
Istood towards it, is caleu,ated to exercise upon
my opinion ofits character Yeti cannot, I think
deceive myself in believing thstshs i of.h<~