American union. [volume] (Morgantown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1855-1859, 1856-06-21
To the Hon. WILLARD FILLMORE.
PAR1s, May q, 1856.

PARIS, May 81, 1856.
GENTLEMEN: 1 have the honor to
acknowledge the receipt of your letter,
informing me that the National Con-
yention of the American party, which
has just closed it's session at Philadel-
phia, has 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 commu-
nication met me at Venice, on my re-
turn from Italy, and the duplicate,
mailed thirteen days later, was received
on my arrival in this city last evening.
This must account for my apparent
neglect in giving more prompt reply.
You will pardon me for saying that,
when my administration closed in 1858,
| considered my political life as pub
lie man at an end, and thenceforth l
was only anxious to discharge my duty
as private citizen. Hence / have
taken no active part in politics, but l
have by no means been an indifferent
spectator of passing events, nor have l
hesitated to express my opinion on all
political subjects when asked, nor to
give my vote and private influence for
those men and measures Thought best
calculated to promote the prosperity
and glory Of our common country
Beyond this, | have deemed it improper
for me to interfere.
But this unsolicited and unexpected
nomination has imposed upon mo q
new duty, from which cannot shrink;
and therefore, approving, as / do, the
general objects of the party which has
honorcd me with its confidence, cheer
fully accept its nomination, without
waiting to inquire of its prospects of
fsuccess or defeat. 1t is sufficient for
me to know that by so doing / yield to
the wishes Of large portion of my fell
low citizens in every part of the Union,
who, like myself, are sincerely anxious
to see the administration of our gov
eminent restored to that original puri-
ty which marked the first years Of its
existence, and, if possible, to quiet
that alarming sectional agitation which,
while it delights the monarchists of Eu-
rope, causes every true friend of our
own country to mourn.
Having the experience of past SER
vice i'll the administration of the gov
eminent, / 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 scrupulous regard
for the rights of every section of tho
Union which then influenced my con.
duct, endeavor to perform every duty
conGded by the Constitution and laws
| to the Executive.
AS the proceedings Of the convention
have marked a new era in the history
of the country, by bringing new po-
litical organization into the approach.
ing Presidential canvass, take the oc-
casion to reaffirm my full confidence
in the patriotic purposes of that organ
ization, which l regard as springing
out of public necessity forced upon
the country to a large extent by un-
fortunate sectional divisions and the
dangerous tendency of those divisions
towards disumion.
1t alone, in my opinion, Of all the
/ political agencies now existing, is pos.
sessed of the power to silence this vic.
lent and disastrous agitation, and to
restore harmony by it's own example
of moderation and forbcarance. IL has
q claim, therefore, in my judgment, up,
on every earnest friend Of the integri-
ty Of the Union.
SO estimating this party, both in its
present position and future destiny,
freely adopt its great leading princi.
Piles, as announced in the recent decla-
ration Of the National Council in Phil.
adelphia, copy Of which you were SO
kind as to enclose me, holding them 10
be just and liberal to every true inter
est of the country, and wisely adapted
to the establishment and support Of an
enlightened, safe, and effective Ameri.
can policy, in full accord With the ideas