The Panola star. ([Panola] Panola County, Miss.) 1856-1857, 1856-06-21
FITIMORE's LETTER OF
ACCEPTANCE.
PARIS, MAY 21st, 1886.

letter lnIOlILuuS Inv
t;onal Convention OF the American
narty which had just closed Its
session at Philadelphia, had unanl-
mously presented my name me fof
the Presidency ofthe United States
and associated with it that OF An
drew Jackson Donelson for the
Vice Presidency. This umexpect-
ed communication met me at
Venice on my return from Italy,
and the duplicate, mailed thirteen
DAVIS later, was received on my
arrival in this city last evening.
This must account for my ap-
parent neglect in giving a more
prompt reply.
You will pardon me tor saying
that when my administration
closed in 1853, l considered my
political life as public man at an
end, and thenceforth | was only
anxious to discharge my duty as a
priyate 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 Tor
those men and measures | thought
best calculated to promote the
prosperity and glory of our COM
mon country. Beyond this deem
ed it improper for me to interfere.
But this unsolicited and unexpect-
ed nomination has imposed upon
me a new duty, from which. [ can
not shrink; and therefore, Opprov-
ing, as do, of the general objects
of the party which has hOnOred
me with its confidence, | cheerful
ly accept its nomination without
waiting to enquire of its pros
poets Of success or defeat. 1t is
sufficient for me to know that by
so doing I yield to the wishes of
large portion Of my fellow Cit
zens in every part of the Union
who like myself, are sincerely anx-
ious to see the administration of
our government restored to that
original simplicity and purity
which marked the first years Gifts
existence; and, if possible, to quiet
that alarming sectional agitation,
which, while it delights the Mon
archists of Europe; causes every
true friend of our own country to
mourn.
Having the experience of past
service in the administration of the
government, l may be permitted
to refer to that as the exponent of
the future, and to say, should the
choice efthe Convention be sane
toned by the people, l shall with
the same scrupulOus regard for the
rights of every section of the
Union which then influenced my
conduct, endeavortoperform every
duty conGded by the Constitution
and laws to the Executive.
As the proceedings of this Con-
vention have marked a new era in
the history of the country, by
bringing a new political organiza-
ton into the approaching Presi-
Dental canvass, l take the occa-
sion to re-afiirm my full confidence
In the patriotic purposes of that
organization, which / regard as
springing out of a public necessity,
forced upon the country, to large
extent, by unfortunate sectional
divisions, and the dangerous ten
dency of those divisions towards
disunion. Italone, in my opinion,
OF all the political agencies now
existing, is possessed of the power
to silence this violent and dis
astrous agitation, and to restore
harmony by its own example OF
moderation and forbearance. It
has claim, therefore in nv
Judgment, upon every earnest
friend ofthe integrity ofthe Union
So estimating this party, both
IN It's present position and future
destiny, / freely adopt it's great
leading principles as announced
IN the recent declaration of the
National Council at PHILADELPHIA
a copy of which you were so kin,
as to enclose me, holding them tx
be just and liberal to every tru,
interest of the country, and wisel,
adapted to the establishment am,
support of an enlightened, safe an,