Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1860-06-14
l. etter from the Hon. John Bell.

NASHVILLE, May 81, 1860. i
DEAR SIR: Offiriel information of INV
nominations to the Presidency by the Nation.
al Union Convention. of which YOU we're
the presiding officer, was Communicated TO
me by your letter Of the llth instant, at
Phi aje phia, on the eve Of nv departure
with my family fer my place of residence in
Tennessee, and difiiJcnt ssI was of nv
wcrihiness, Ibid not hesitate to signify nv
intention to accept the posit ion assigned TO
me by that distinguished and patriotic body.
But Tor convenience, and uader a sense OF
the prppriety Of acting in so grave q matter
with greater deliberaton. | concluded as
informed you at the time by a private note
10 defer a formal acceptance unit my. orriva
at home. a- r... -sL.t -..,.,.t u, .-lt,,.,
Now that have had all the leisure I could
desire for reflection upon the crcumstsn es
under whch the nomination was made, the
purity Of the motives and the lofty spirit Of
patriotism by which the Convent tion was an
mated, as evinced IN all it's proceedings, I
can appreciate more justly the honor done
me by the nomination.; and, though il might
have been more fortunate for the countrv
had 1t fallen upon some one of the mauy
distinguished statesmen whose names we're
brought 10 the notice of the Convention,
rather than myselC ! accept it. with all its
possible responsibilities. Whateeer mov
be the issue Of the ensuing canvass, as for
myself, shall ever regard 1t as proud dis.
tinction--one worth life. long effort TO at.
tain-'o be pronounced worthy to receive
the highest office in The government t such
time as the present. and by such Con.
vcntion as that which recently met in Bal.
timore--a Convention. far less imposino bv
the number of its members, large as i, was
than by their. high character. In il we,e
men venerable alike for their age and their
public services, who could not have been
called from their voluntary retirement from
public life but by the strongest sense of pa.
triotic duty; others, though still in the prime
Of life, ranking with the first men of the
country by hcnors and distinctions already
acquired in high official positions, State and
national; many Of them statesmen WORTHY
to Fl Il the highest office in the government,
still greater number occupying the highest
rank in their respective professional pursuits;
others distinguished by their inte elligence
and well earned influence in various walk,
OF private life, and all animated and united
by one spirit and one purpose-the result o
strong conviction that our political sys
tenn, under the operation of complication
of disorders, is rapidly approaching crisi.
when speedy change must take place, in
dicating,the in diseases Of he physical body
recovery or death. .r.. ..'g f
The Convention, In discarding the use o
platforms, exacts no pledges from thos,
whom they deem worthy of the hiyhes
trusts under the government; wisely consid
crng that the surest guaranty Of man
future usefulness and fidelity to the great in
'erests OF the country. in any official station
to which he may be cbos'n, is to oe foun,
in his past history connected with the pub
lie service. The pledge implied in nv nc
ceptance of the nomination of the Nationa
Union Convention is. that should be cleo,
ed, will not depart from the spirit an,
tenor OF my past course; and the obligation
TO keep this pledge derivesa duuale tore,
from the consideration that none is require,
from me. "H' -i''In' ''
! You, sir, in your letter containing the of
ficinl announcement OF my nomination, ,hav,
been pleased to ascrbe 10 me the merit o
moderation and Justice in my past publi,
career, You have likewise given me cred
for n uniform support of all wise and bene
licent measures Of legislation, for firm re
| sistancn IN all ,oa,s,ro. =. .i...t.l
genle' sectional discord, aud for liieloni
devotion to. the union, harmony, aud pros
pority OF these States. Whether your per
sonol partially has led you to, overstate IN
merits as public mpn or not. in your emu
meratlon OF them. you have presented
summary-a basis or all sound America,
statesmanship, II may be objected tha
nothing Is said in this summary. in expires
terms, oi the obligations Imposed by ,b
Constitution, but the du'y to respect an,
observe Them is clearly imp led, for withou
due Observance in the conduct of the GOV
ernmen,, Of the Constitution, its restriction
and requirements, fairly Interpreted, in sc
cordance with its spirit and objects, .tber
can De no emu to sectional discord--n
'ro"'v ~ Wv h"fmpay OF The Union.
II l have not the vanity TO assumo that |,
my past connection with the publ, seryic,
| have exemplifed the course of a som,
American t slsiesmap; but if | haze. deserve,
the favorable view taken OF ii in,your letter
may hope, bv faithful adherence to I'll
maxinls BY which ] have heretofore beer
guided not altogether to disappoin, the con
fdenco and expectations of those who bay,
placed mo in my present relation to the pub
lici and if, under Providence, | should b.
called TO preside over the affairs ef thi
great country as The executive Chief of tn
govornmen'' the only further pledge | fec
called upon to make Is, that to the u,mos
: OF my ability, and with whaiever strength
OF will ! csn coDmand, all the powers an
/ influence belonging 10 my official STATIC
shall be employed and directed for the pro
motion OF a.. the great objects for whicI
the government was instituted. but NOR
especially for the maintenance Of the Con
!, stllu'iap and The Union against ali opposin
influences and tendencies, Ann -,
/ cannot conclude this letter without ex
pressing my high qualification at the nom
nation to the second Office under the goyern