The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1856-06-26
ACCEPTANCE BY FILLMORE OF HIS NoMI-
NATION
PARIS, MaY 81, 1856.


GENTLEMEN: Ihave the honor to acknowledge
the receipt of your letter informing 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 it that of Andrew Jackson Donelson, for
the Vice Presidency.
This unexpected communication met me at
Venice, on my return from Italy, and the dupl-
cate mailed thirteen days later was received on
my arrival in this city last evening. This must
| account for my apparent neglect in giving a
more prompt reply.
You will pardon me for saying that when my
Administration closed, in 1853, considered my
political life as public man at an end, and
thenceforth / was only anxious to discharge my
duty as private citizen. Hence l have taken
no active part in politics, but have by no means
been an Indifferent spectator of passing events ;
nor have hesitated to express my opinion on
all political subjects when asked, nor to give my
vote and private influence to those men and
measures 1 thought best calculated to promote
the prosperity and glory of our common coun-
try. Beyond this have deemed it improper for
me to interfere.
But this unsolicited and unexpected nominal
ton has imposed upon me a new duty from
which / cannot shrink; and therefore, approx.
which has honored me with its confidence, /
cheerfully accept its nomination, without wait
ing to inquire of its prospects of success or de-
feat. 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 sincerely anxious to see
the administration of our Government restored
to that original simplicity and purity which
marked the first years of its existence, and, if
possible, to quiet that alarming sectional agita-
ton 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, | may be
permitted to refer to that as the exponent of
the future, and to say, sho aid the choice of the
Convention be sanctioned by the People, shall,
with the same scrupulous regard for the rights
of every section of the Union which then in1u-
enced my conduct endeavor to perform every
duty cOnfded by the Constitution and laws to
the Executive.
AS the proceedings of the Convention have
marked new era in the history of the country,
by bringing a new political organization into
the approaching Presidential canvass, l take
the occasion to re-afhrm my full confidence in
the patriotic purposes of that organization,
which regard as springing out of public ne
cessity forced upon the country to a large ex-
tent by unfortunate sectional divisions, and the
dangerous tendency of those divisions towards
disunion. 1t alone, in my opinion, of all the
political agencies now existing, is possessed of
the power to silence this violent and disastrous
agitation, and to restore harmony by its own
example of moderation and forbearance. 1t
has claim, therefore, In my judgment, 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 announced
in the recent declaration of the National Coun-
Gil in Philadelphia, copy of 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 establish
ment and support of an enlightened, safe, and
effective American policy, in full accord with
the ideas and the hopes of the Fathers of the
Republic.
/ expect shortly to sail for America, and with
the blessings of Divine Providence hope soon
to reach my native soil. Ny opportunity 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 blessed land of liberty, and l shall return
to it without even desire ever to cross the At.
lantic again.
beg of you, gentlemen, to accept my thanks
for the very hsttering manner in which you
have been pleased to communicate the results
of the action of that enlightened and patriotic
body of men who composed the late Convention,
and to be assured that | am, with profound re-
spect and esteem, your friend and fellow citi-
zen, WILLARD FILLMORE.
Mr. Aleranoler III II. Stuart
and others, COmanittee.