Richmond daily Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1842-1861, 1860-06-04


sive appropriate and gratifying.
Ii was believed moreover that the association OF your
name with that of John Bell candidates for the high
est offices in the gift of the nation, would Of itself consti
tu,e an irresistible appeal to the patriotism loyalty and
national spirit of the whole American people.
In this season of dsCord and distraction, we feel it to
be paramount duty to make an earnest effort to revive
sentiments of harmony and brotherhood between the dill
ferent States and sections of our Union.
We were not ignorant of your cherished purpose to
decline in future the and hOnOrs of official station
vet we do not permit ourselves doubt that the same
sentiment of patriotism which your voice and example
have inspired in the hearts of Others will prompt you to
Weld to the call made upon you, by large and re-
spectacle portion Of YOUR countrymen.
have the honor TO be-
With high respect,
Your obedient servant
lSignedl WASHINGTON HUST.
To the Honorable EDWARD EVERETT
Mr.. EvERTrr TO HON. WASHINGTON HUNT
BOSTON, May %, 1860.
M Dear Sri have duly received your letter OF
the lth in which YOU inform officially, that the Ma
tona Union Convention recently in session at Baltimore,
had done the honor TO nominate me Is It's candidate
for the office of Vice President of the United States
am deeply impressed with this manifestation Of the
favorable opinion Of the Convention comprising as did
among its members many persons distinguished for
public service patriotism, and intelligence and fairly
representing considerable portion OF the conservative
feeling Of the country For the great cordially with
which as YOU inform me, my name was proposed and
received, my warmest thanks are due.
5sThe grateful acceptance of such nomination would,
under ordinary circumstances be matter of course but
il has unavodaby been with the subject of long and
anxious hesitation The grounds Of this hesitation owe
il to the Convention which has honored me with this
mark Of its confidence and to myself explain loath
as / am to dwell on matters of personal interest Of no
importance to the public.
II is generally known that have for years past
retired from active participation in political lie, nos as
hope have shown, from Incidence or want of sympa-
thy with my fellow citizens in the pursuit Of the great
objects of social life The Of my retirement have
been than publicly stated, and beg to re-
peat them here from my speech at the Union meeting IN
Faneuil Hail. last December:
81 did not suppose that anything could which
would make think it my duty appear again on this
PLATFORM on any occasion Of political character and
bad this meeting been OF party nature or designed 10
promote any party purposes should not have been here
When compelled by the prostraton of my health, five
years ago 10 resign the distinguished place which then
filled in the public service 1t was with no expectation,
no wish and no intention of ever again mnglng in the
scenes Of public fe have accordingly with tue par
tal restoration Of my health absianed from all partci
patton in political action OF any kind; partly because
have found more coDgenia and as venture TO think
useful occupation IN seeking to rally the alice
tons Of my cOuntlmen, North and South to that great
name and precious memory which LETT almost alone
Of all the numerous kindly associations which once
bound the different sections Of the country together and
also because between the extremes OF opinion that have
long distracted and threaten 10 coayuse the
try find no middle ground Of practical usefulness on
which friend Of moderate cOunsels can stand
Il having been suggested 10 me- Notwithstanding these
ayowals that might be thought Of at the liou Con-
yenton as a candidate for the Presidency, l requested
by tegaphc message aud by cttes, that nv name, if
brought forward might be Withdrawn. lt Is that in
these communications had only in view a nomination
th, 9TH hay d,
me; but all the reasons above indicated which led me in
advance 10 decline such nomination apply with equal
force the Vice Presidency These reasons Of course
still exist in uuimplred force, and cannot take an
active part politics without abandoning deliberately
formed purpose and exposing myself to the suspi
cion Of nsucerity in its persistent avowal
: Without dwelling upon these considerations, Of which
however, | am sure the weight will be admitted, beg
leave 70 advert for moment 10 my connection with the
movement for the purchase Of Mount Vernon, TO which
your letter aludes in such obigjug terms. The favor
which has attended my cXerOus in that cause DC may
without iDdelcacy say anything that su.ect) has
been mainly the result OF my known and recognized dis
connection from party poucs. Ii 1t could have been
pausibly insnuated that was intended to be-
come candidate for high political houOrs should, in
my various excursions in aid Of that fund.- have laid my
self open 70 the impgtatiOn Of speaking word for
Mount Vernon and two for myself A it is the people
throughout the Union have generously given me credit
for having single eve TO that mertorous object As far
the purchase of Mount Vernon is concerned that OBJ
ject has been effected under the ud'cOus aud efficient
management of the Regent aud Vice Regents of the As
ISOLATION with the aid Of their intelligent and active
sistauts throughout the Union. But a sum Of money
equal that already raised is still wanting for the repair
OF the Mansion the enclosure OF the land purchased the
restoration OF the house and grounds far practical
be their condition in 1900 aud the establishment Of
permanent fund tor their conservation. own that
am DESTROYS still to enjoy the privilege of cooperating
in this noble work. which, however, it will be impossible
for do TO any advantage whatever may be the
suit OF the present canvass, 1t am now drawn into the
vortex Of a streuuOusy contested election. There
any parts of the country which have not yet visited.
had promised myself rich harvest from the patriotic
i1eralty Of the States the Gulf Of Mexico, and Of
those Oh the Mississippi river, (which | have not yet
been able TO visit with the exception Of Missouri though
often kindly invited and confess that it is very painful
to to withdraw from that brosd field OF congenia la
Dor 70 tread the thorny and Hdukess paths OF politics.
Apart from the pecuniary aspects of the case which,
however, Of considerable importance, will canddly
say that in holding up TO the admrng vcneaOn of tue
American people the peerless OF Washington, (al-
most the only bond OF traternal sentiment which the bit
terneSs Of sectional controversies has left US
feel as il was doing more good far as able TO DO
lny good and contributing more to revive the kindly
feeling which existed between North and South and
which Is now | grieye TO saw nearly extinct than |
could possibly do By engaging in the wreched scramble
for ofce-whch is great OF the dangers that
threaten the country.
These considerations and others Of still more per
sona nature, have necessarily Occasoned to reflect
long aud anNousy before accepting the nomination with
which the Union Convention has hOnOred me- In yield
ing length the earnest solicitations which have been
addressed TO me, from the most respectable in al
most every part of the Unou make painful sacrifice
of inclination to what am led to believe a public duty
l. has been urged upon me- and cannot deny that such
is feeling, that have fallen upon times which
call upon all good citizens whatever of personal
convenience 10 contribute their share however humble
to the public service.
suppose it 10 be the almost universal impression-t
IS certainly mine,that the existing of affairs is
remely critical Our political controversies have sub
santialy assumed an almost purely sectional character
that Of fearful struggle between the North and the
South. IL would not be difficult to show at length the
perous nature and tendency of this struggle but can
only say this OCCASION that in my opinion it cannot
be much longer kept up, without rending the Union.
DO not mean that either OF the great parties in the
try desires or aims az separation of the States as final
object although there extremists in considerable
numbers who have that object in view. While potent
and blleful influence exercised by men OF this class
in both sections Of the Union portion of the conserva
tive masses are insenSibly and gradually goaded into
concurrence with opinions and sentiments with which
IN the ont set, they had no sympathy Meantime al
most wholly neglecting the main public interests
political controversies turn more and more on qGes-
tons in reference which, as abstract formulsm the
great sections of the country differ irreconciably
though there is nothing practically important at stake
which requires the discussion to be kept up These con-
roTeres are carried on with steadily increasing bitter.
and evaporation The passions thus kinded have
already led to acts Of violence and boodshed approaching
to civil in the Territories and attempted servile in
srrecoa in the States The great religious and philan-
thropic associations of the country are sundered and
the kindly social relation Of North and South seriously
impaired The national House Of Representatives, hov.
erng on the verge Of anarchy requires weeks to effect
the organization, which ought to be the work of an