The Evansville journal. (Evansville, Ind.) 1834-184?, 1844-06-13
TYLER,s ACCEPTANCE.

the committee appointed to inform him of
his nomination TO the Presidency, is copied
from the Madisonian. 1t is the richest thing
we have seen lately.
WASHINGTON, May 80, 1914.
GENTLEMEN:-Your letter of the 2Sth
instant, announcing to me my nomination for
the Presidency for the mex four years from
the 18th of March next, by a DemocraticsC Con-
vention held in Baltimore on the 9th of the
present month, and delegated by no incon-
siderable portions of the People in every
State of the Union, demands my warmest ac-
acknowledgements. l have not been an mat
tentive observer of the course of public opin-
ion in my favor, as manifested in numerous
primary assemblies, and announced by the
proceedings and resolutions of la rye masses
of the people. in most of the States of the
Union, and TO which the delegates lately as
sembled in Baltimore, have SO promptly res
poned; and beg TO assure you, gentlemen,
that / am not deficient in due sensibility upon
the occasion.
Since my accession to the Presidency |
have had to encounter trials of no ordinary
character. A great experiment was under
Providence, committed to my hands. 1t was
no other than a test as to the sufficiency of
our institutions TO meet the contingency
which for the first time had occurred in our
history OF the death of the President to the
administration OF public affairs. In entering
upon the office, | had to decide the question
whetherI would surrender honor, Judgment
conscience, and the right of an independent
mind, into the hands of a party majority, in
whose views and opinions, it became very
soon oil %vious, | could not concur without.
such surrender; or whether | should brave
consequences in the vindication of the con-
stitutional rights of the Executive, and in the
discharge of the most sacred obligations of
duty TO the country. BY adopting the first
course, | was perfectly aware than my Pre-
: sidential term would throughout be peacea-
BILE and tranquil and that | should receive the
jealous and ardent support of a controlling
and dominant party; by pursuing the latter, |
should incur the most violent denunciationS,
the bitterest reproaches, the most unrelent-
ing prosecutions, while | could look to no
active support from any engaged in the adj
ministration of public affairs. The one party
bold and triumphant from the recent exhibit
ton of its strength in the election of 1910,
was likely TO brook no opposition to its will,
no matter upon what reason such opposition
= might proceed while the other, still smarting
}, under the signal defeat OF its leaders, would
: not be well inclined to look favorably on one
who had, in no small degree, beeninstrumen-
tai in bringing about that defeat.
In the mean time, | should be left without
the means of defence against false Inscriptions
!, of motive and base assaults upon my charac-
\ ter, Which would be reverberated Throughout
the Union by the affiliated presses; while ]
= should find but a circumscribed defence in
the columns ofa single newspaper, and that
b at the time, of a limited circulation. Under
all these appalling circumstances, I had to
make my election between peace, comfort
and tranquility on the one side, and the sterr
and solemn obligations of duty on the other
e The first to be obtained by a sacrifice o.
|. opinions long cherished, a surrender of the
rights of conscience, an abandonment of the
obligations arising from my oath ofofice to
support and uphold the Constitution, the loss
of my own selfrespect, the scorn of all hon.
orable and fair-thinking men, the curses Of
v the present day, and the anathemas of futu.
: rity; the last 10 be performed amid the thun
: ders of denunciation and the bitterest out
t pourings of malice. In choosing between
these two alternatives, | did hesitate a mo
,e ment. The country is aware of what follow
ed. Bills were sent up from Congress fo
my approval which | regarded as violations o
Sc the Constitution. They were vetoed. l pre-
r. ferred denunciation TO perjury-the unathe
a mas of the moment, to bearingin my bosom
a Promethean vulture to tear and devou
me. l was Immediately loudly and violent
ly denounced by the Whigpress, manifestoe
y We're hurled at my head; articles ofimpeach
-e ment, showing alone the malice and weak
ness in which they originated, were movet
against me in the House of Representatives
: harsh appellation was employed in connec
ton with my name mobs assembled at mid
night at the doors ofthe Presidential man
sion, and the light of burning efigies tire,
its glare along the streets of some of tn
lis cities. Such were the consequences whic
followed the vetoes. Under these circum
10 stances my reliance was placed upon the pee
pie. To them | looked for justification an
10 support. Nor was it denied. The Congress
as sional elections, which shortly followed, ful
he nished that justification and gave promise c
be that support.
e A large Wing majority in the House {
o Representatives was swept out of existence
~ and a still larger democratic majority wa
lat made TO occupy its place. The political ba
~ tie was fought on the issues which duty ha
compelled me to raise, and an opinion mo-
NC decisive upon those issues had never take
Re place. Many of those who had voted f
re- General Harrison and myself, whose polite
opinions were coincident with my own. un