The weekly Minnesotian. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1852-1858, 1852-07-17

delegated wisdom of the Wing party
over which you preside, by the Hon.
George R. Babcock, who represents in
your body the Congressional district in
which reside,
trust that I shall be pardoned by the
Convention for adverting briefly to the
course which l have pursued and the
causes which have induced it, las a means
of explaining why l have selected this
time and mode of making this annuncia-
ton.
All must recolect that when l, was so
suddenly and unexpectedly called to the
exalted station which l now ocEISnf, by
the death of my lamented and il !fious
predecessor, there was crisis IN our
public affairs full of difficulty and danger.
The country was agitated by political
and sectional passions and dissensions,
growing out of the slavery and territorial
questions then pending, and for which
Congress had as yet been able to agree
upon no measure Of compromise and ad-
justment.
The Uniou itself was threatened with
dissolution, and patriots and statesmen
looked with apprehension to he future
In that feeling l participated most pro-
foundly. The difficulties and dangers
which surrounded us were calmly but
anxiously surveyed. was oppressed by
a sense of the great responsibilities that
rested upon me, and sincerely distrustei
my ability to sustain them in a manner
satisfactory and useful to the country
But l was bound to make the attempt,
and to do it with any hope of success,
felt it necessary 10 discard every person.
al consideration, and devote myself to tho
difficult task before me with entire sin
glcness of heart.
To prepare and strengthen myself for
this task l endeavored to lay aside, as
far as practicable, every merely selfish
consideration-to Danish from my mind
every local or sectional prejudice, and
to remember only that l was an American
citizen, and the Magistrate of the Ameri-
can Republic, bound to regard every por-
ton and section of it with equal Justice
and impartiality. That l mi ght do this
more effectually, l resolved within my
self not to seek reelection.
Thus prepared l entered upon the dis
charge of my official duties, with a de-
termination to do every thing in my pow
er to aid in the settlement of those dan
gerous controversies. Fortunately for
our favored country, majority of both
Houses of Congress, rising above mere
party and personal considerations, nobly
and patriotically devoted themselves to
the ~ cat work Of paciGvation. The con-
stitutional advisers whom l had called to
my aid, and to whose fidelity, talents and
patriotism the country is chiefly indebted
for any benefit it may have received from
my administration, with unanimity and
zeal worthy of every commendation, cor
daily gave their countenance and infu-
ence to the Legislative department, in per-
fecting and adopting these healing meas
ures Of Compromise, TO which, upon
their passage felt bound by every con-
sideration Of public duty, 10 give my Of
fetal approval. These laws being en-
acted, my constitutional duty was equally
pain to "take care that they arere faith
fully executed" But this l found the
most painful of all my official duties.-
Nevertheless, l resolved to perform it,
regardless of all consequences to myself;
and in doing SO, l determined to know no
South, no North-and no friends but
those who sustained the constitution and
laws,-and no enemies but those who
opposed them.
The gratifying result of this policy is
before you and the country. The angry
strife which for time threatened to array
State against State, and brother against
brother, and deluge our happy land with
fraternal blood land desolate it with fire and
sword, has Fortunately passed away. The
surging pillows of sectional agitation are
calmed, and the public mind is fast set
tling down into its accustomed channels
and will soon renew its wonted devotion
to the Constitution and the Union.
Awaiting myself of this happy change,
l had determined, when the present Con-
gress met, to announce to the public, in
my annual message, my previous resoulu-
tion not to suffer my name TO come be-
fore the National Convention for nomi-
nation. accordingly prepared para
graph to that effect, but was finally per-
suaded to strike it out, lest it might have
an unfavorable influence upon the then
pending election Of Virginia. After that
had passed, / concluded to withdraw nv
name by published address to the peo-
pie and prepared one accordingly; but
this coming to the knowledge of some of
my friends, they represented to me that
my withdrawal, at that time, would not
only endanger the perpetuity of those G
measures which I deem so essential to
the peace and welfare of the country.
but would sacrifice many friends who
had stood by my administration in the
dark and perilous crisis through which it
had so recently passed. The first was
an appeal to my patriotism, and the Sec
ond to my gratitude. l could resist
neither, and therefore yielded to their re-
ouost o,J oo,so,4 oJ Ib,f my, ,,,>, u =, 3,