The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1852-07-07
RsDly of Mr.. Graham.

Reply Of Mr.. Graham.
IVA4HINaToN, June 81, 1852.
Sra: am gratifed to acknowledge the receipt
of the communication which you did me the honor
to deliver in person on yesterday, announcing my
unanimous nomination, as the Wing candidate for
the flee Of Vice Prcsiden of the United States by
the National Convention which recently assembled
in Baltimore, accompanied by a copy of the
lutions Of the convention upon questions of ma
tional principle and policy
cordially approve the declarations made by
these resolutions. On matters OF the most recent
practical interest they do but portray the conduct
| # administration of the Government Of which
for near two years have been a member. On all
others they but reiterate the doctfues and recon-
,nendations held by its chief in important public
communications
Should the people Of the United States give their
sanction to the nominations Of your convention, go
far shall lie invested with authority faithful
adherence to these doctrines may I've expected,
| therefore accept the distinction, bonorably
rendered, with grateful heart but with unal.
lected diffidence. 1t is a satisfaction, how ever, to
know that the place to which have been nom-
mated is but secondary, and that for the fret office
the convention has proposed citizen of tried pa
trioism and virtue, long and famiarly acqu linted
with public affairs and public men. safe and
sagacious counsellor, VIII, has well fulfilled every
trust heretofore committed to his hands, and who
has illustrated our history by eminent public SER
vices
With my thanks for the courtesy with which you
have honored me. in the execution of your office,
and with the highest personal respect, am your
obedient servant,
WILL a. GRAHAM
The Hon, J. q. CHAPMAw, President National
Wing Convention.
Enclosed in the above reply of General
ScoTT was the official copy of the WING PLAT
FORM which we have given above. In con-
STRUNG such a document, we must take the
whole Of it together. 1t is easy matter to
carp at particular words or expressions in any
document, and thus to deduce from it topics of
criticism and censure. But take this lettesas
a ,ohole, and we would ask if an honest man
could bind himself more strongly than this
binds General SCoTT to the proceedings and
the platform OF the convention! He sac
cepts the nomination ,cih the resoluiions' ,chich
he anneres to his reply, and makes a part Of it.
Now we submit that no ingenuity could devise
more full, ample, and satisfactory mode of
committing candidate to platform than this
vety mode adopted by General SCoTr.
But he goes farther than merely to accept
the plslform-much farther. In addition to
this special acceptance, in no spirit of ostenta-
ton, but with the conscious rectitude of a man
whose honor has never been impeached, lie
presents his whole public life PLEDGE
and GUARANTEE of his "STRICT AID,
HERENCE TO THE PRINCIPLES OF THE
. Wing PARTY AS EXPRESSED IN THE REsoLu
TONS OF THE CONVENTION"
He offers the same pledge and guarantee that
he will "DrsCoUNTENANCE ALL POLITICAL AGI-
TATIoN INJURIOUS TO THE INTERESTS OF SOCIETY
AND DANGEROUS TO THE UNION"
He gives us in short his WORD that he will
STRICTLY ADHERE to the principles and
doctrines of the platform, and appeals to "more
than forty years Of public" service as the only
pledge and guarantee in his power that his
WORD WILL BE KEPT.
What more can we ask2 What more can
any man give?
Those who are looking for m excuse to shift
their positions with the view of beltenog thea>
those who have never acknowledged party al
legiance, but cling loosely to such connexions
! as they deem most likely to benefit them 70
the time, and disavow them with weathercoci
, facility those who play caprciousy with poll
tics, and derive importance from the claim Il
, hold a fancied balance Of power, which is mos
generally nothing but the power Of doing mis-
chief and preventing all beneficial co-opera
ton: all these classes Of men may seek
and to their own satisfaction find, in tn
/ letter of General Scorr an apology for re
f nouncing the WHIe nominee and abandoning
: the WING cause. But we cQntend that to
u all true Who's; for all who hold to those part
+ associations through which alone men can Civ
n practical effect to their opinions and principle