Washington telegraph., 1856-07-02
Ar. Ftllmore's Letter of Acceptance
A NOBLE AND PATRIOTIC DOCUMENT

A NOBLE AND PATRIOTIC DOCUMENT.
Paris, May 21st. 1916.
Gentlemen: have the honor to ackowL
edge the receipt of your letter informinp
me that the National Convention of the
American party which had just closed its
session at Philadelphia, had unanimously
presented my name for the Presidency Of
the United States. and associated with If
that of Andrew jackson Donelsou for the
Vice Presidency. This unexpected commu-
nlcation met me at Venice on NV retnrn
from Italy. and the duplicate, mailed tbir.
teen days later. was received on my arrival
in this city last evening This must ac-
count for my apparent neglect in giving
more prompt reply.
You will pardon me for saying that when
my administration closed in 1853. I CON-
sldered my political life as a public man
at an end. and thenceforth was only anx-
ious to discharge my duty az a private
citizen. Hence l have taken no active
IN politics. But have by no means been
an indifferent spectator of passing events.
nor have | hesitated to express nv opinion
on all political subjects when asked. nor to
give my vote and private influence for those
meu and measures thought best calculated to
promote the prosperity and glory of our
common country. Beyond this deemed it
improper for me to interfere. But this uuso-
hcIted and une xpected nomination has i'm.
posed upon me new duty. from which
cannot shrink; and therefore approving, as
l do. of the general objects of the party
which has honored me with its confidence.
L cheerfully accept its nomination without
waiting to enquire of lis propects of success
or defeat. 1t is sufficient for me to know
that by so doing yield to the wishes of
large portion of my fellow citizens in every
part of the Union who. like myself. are sin
cereiy anxious to see the administration of
our government restored to that original
simplicity and purity which marked the
first years of lis existence; and, if possible.
to quiet that alarming sectional agitation.
which. while, it delights the monarchists of
Europe, causes every true friend of our own
country to mourn.
Having the experience of past service
in the administration of the government. I
may be permitted to refer to that as the
exponent of the future, and to say, should
the choice of the Convention be sanctioned
by the people. / shall with the same seru-
pulOus regard for the rights of every section
of the Union which then influenced NV
conduct, endeavor to perform every duty
con6ded by the Constitution and laws to the
Executive.
As the proceedings of this Convention
have marked a new era in the history of
the country, BY bringing new political
into the approaching Presiden-
tial canvass, L take the occasion to re-
affirm my full confidence in the patriotic
purposes of that organization, which l re-
gard as springing out of public necessity, |
forced upon the country. to large extent. |
by unfortunate sectional divisions, and the |
dangerous tendency of those divisions to-
wards disunion- 1t alone, in my opinion, |
Of all the political agencies now existing. is
of the power to silence this violent |
and disastrous agitation, and to restore
harmony by its own example Of moderation,
snc forbearance. 1t has claim, therefore,
in my judgement, upon every earnest friend |
Of the integrity of the Union
So estimating this party. both in its
present position and future destiny. freely
adopt its great leading principles as an
nounced in the recent declaration of the
National Council at Phlladel lphia, copy
# which you were so kind as to enclose me,
holding them to be just and liberal to every
true interest of the country. and wisely |
adapted to the establishment and support
Of an enlightened, safe and effective Amer |
lean policy, in full accord with the ideas
and the hopes of the fathers of our Repub- |
iic
expect shortly to sail for America, and, |
with the blessings of Divine Providence,
hope soon to tread my native soil. My
of comparing my own country
and the condition of its people with those
of Europe, has only served to increase my
admiration and love for our own blessed |
land of liberty, and shall return to it with
out even desire ever to cross the Atlantic
again.
l beg of you. gentlemen, to accept my
thanks for the very hattering manner in
which you have been pleased to communi-
cate the results of the action of that enlight-
ened and patriotic body oe men who com
posed the late Convention, and to be assur-
ed that 1 am. with profound respect and
esteem,
Your friend and fellow-citizen.
MILLARD FILLMORE.