The State guard., 1848-06-20
Pep'y of General Cass
\tAsIrINGrnT. Mny 2A. l

Pep'y of General Class
 NAsHfNcroT, May 30, ls49.
 Gryrla5ll;N :-i ha.e the honor to ac- knowledge the reception of your letter of tAc 29th instant, announcing to me that l have been nominated by the convention of the dclnocatir party its candidate for the ofiico of President of the United States, at the approac!iag election.
 While accept, with deep gratitude, this distinguished honor--and distinguish od iadeed il is--l do so, with fearful ap- prehonSion of the responsibility it may eventually bring with ii, and with a profound conviction that it is the kind confidence of my fellowc:tiz,ns, lar more than any mer. i; of my own, which has placed me thus prominently before the American people. And fortunate shall be, fl this confidence shall inl, in the events of the future, a better justification than is furnished by those of the past.
 have carefully read tho resolutions ol the democratic National Convention, lay ing down iho platform of cur political faith, and l adhere to thcm as firmly, as l approve them cordially. And while thus adhcring to thcm, shall do so with Il sa. cred rerari to 'the principlesand conpro- misses o! the e nsiiuli' Il, and with an arm eat desire l5r iaeir maintenance ''in spir- i of moderation and byotaerly love so vi tally essential to the porpeluity of the Un- ion, ani the prosperity an,l happiness ol cur common country ;"-t feeling which has made us what We are. and which, in humble reliance upon Providence, VIC may hopc is but the beginning of what we arc to be. If called upon hereafter to render nn account my stewardship, in the great trust you desire 10 commit to mo, should hc able to show that had tuly redeem ed the pledge thus puJlic by given, and had adhered to the principles of the democrat icparty with as much fidelity and success os have generally marked the adninistra- tlon Of the eminent men 10 whom that party has hitherto coniided the chief exc. cutive alhhority of the government, I could prefer no higher claim to the la- vorablc consideration of the country, nor to the impartial commendation of history.
 This letter, gentlemen, closes my pro. iession of political tai,h. Receiving my first appointment from that pure patriot and great e1poundcr of American dcnloc. iacy, Mir. Jefferson, more than forty years ago, the intervening period of my life hns been almost wholly passed in the ser. vice of ny country, and has been marked by many yicissitu,lcs, and attended with many trying circumstances, both in peace and war. If my conduct in these situations, and the opinions have been called upon to form and express, from time to time, in relation to all tho great party topics of the day, do no, furnish clear exposition of my views re. specing them, and at the same time d sufficient pledge of my faithful adherance to their practical application, whenever may be required to act, anything further l mightn now say. would be mere delusion. unworthy of myself and justly offensive to the greatpariy in whose name you are now acting.
 My immediate predecessor in the nomi- nation by inc democratic party, who has since established so many claims to the regard and confidence of lis country. when announcing, four years ago, his ac- ceptance of a similar honor, annouccd al- so his determination not to he candidate for reelection. Coincding with him in his views, so well expressed, and so faith fully carried out, 1 beg leave to say, that no circumstances can possibly arise, which would induce me again to permit my name to be brought forward in con- nexion with the chief magistra cy of our country. h.y inclination and my sense Of duty equally dictate this course. gl
 No party. gentlemen, had ever higher motives for exertion, than has the great democratic party of the United States.- With an abiding confidence in the recti- tude ofour principles, with an unshaken re- lance Apon the energy and wisdom ofpub- lie opinion, and with the success which has crowned the administration of the government, vixen committed to its keep ing, (and it has been so committed durinr more than thrce- -iourths of it's existence what has been done, is at once the reward of past ekertion and the motive for f,iture, and, st the same lime, a guarantee, for the accomplishment of what We have to do. We cannot conceal from ousrelyes that there is powerful party ia the coun. 1! try, differing from Us in srgard to many oi l