The Trinity journal., 1856-07-26
Mr.. Fillmore's Letter of Acceptance.


GENTLEMEN.-I have the honor to ac-
knowledge the receipt Of your letter inform
ing 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 communica-
ton met me at Venice. 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, | consid-
cred my political life as a public man at an
end, and thenceforth | was only anxious to
discharge my duty as a private ctizen.-
Hence | have taken no part in politics. But
! have by no means been an Indifferent spec
tat0r OF passing events, nor have hesitatcd
! to express my opinion on all political sub
jects when asked, nor to give my vote and
private influence for those men and meas
ures thought best calculated to promote
the prosperity and glory Of our common
country. Beyond this | deemed it improper
for me to interfere But this unsolicited
upon me a new duty, from which / cannot
shrink; and therefore, approving as / do,
the general object of the party which has
honored me with its confidence, ] checrfully
accept its nomination without waiting to in
quire of its prospects Of success Or defeat
1t is sufficient for me to know that by so
doing / yield to the wishes of large por-
tion of my fcllOw-citi?ens in every part of
the Union who, like myself, are sincerely an
Xious to see the administration of our Gov
ernment restored to that original simplicity
and purity which marked the first years of
its 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 may
be permitted to refer to that as the expo
nent Of the future, and to say should 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 influenced my conduct,
endeavor to perform every duty confdcd by
the Constitution and laws to the Executive
AS the proceedings of this Convention
have marked new era in the history of the
country, by bringing a new political organi-
zatlon into the approaching Presidential can
yaSS, take the occasion to re-ahirm my full
confidence in the patriotic purposes of that
organization, which ! regard as sprnging
out OF public necessity, forced upon the
country, to large extent, by unfortunate
sectional divisions, and the dangerous ten
dency Of those divisions towards disunon.-
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 pres
ent position and future destiny, i freely
adopt ITS great leading principles, as an
nounced in the recent declaration of the Ma
tlonal Council at Philadelphia-a copy of
which you were so kind as to inclose 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 American
| policy, in full accordance with the ideas and
the hopes of the fathers of our Republic
expect shortly to sail for America, and,
with the blessing of Divine Providence hope
soon to tread my native soil My oppor-
tunity of comparing my own country and
the condition Of its people with those of Eu-
rope, has only served to increase my admi-
ration and love for our own blessed land of
liberty, and | shall return to it without even
desire ever to cross the Atlantic again.
] beg Of you, gentlemen, to accept my
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