The Constitutional. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1860-1861, 1860-08-04
To the Hen JOHN BELL.
Reply Of Mr. Bill to Nr. HgHt.
NASHVILLE, MAY q, 1850

Reply Of lTr Bal to ilr Hunt
NASHVILLE, May 81, 1SGO.
DEAR SIR: Official information ofmy ncniina-
ton to the Presidency by the National Union
Convention, Of which you were the presiding
officer, WAS communicated to mo. by your lctt r
Of the 18th inst, at Philadelphia on the eve Of my
departure with nay fnm.iy ior my place of resi-
dencn in Tennessee, and, difident as was Of my
worthiness, Il! not hesitate to signify my inten-
ton TO acycg; the position assigned to me- by that
distinguished and patriotic body. But for conyc-
ui,ne-, End un4-r sense Of ihe propri, ~ of &C
ing IL 50 grave ma ,sr with greater elaboration
| conclu4cd,as informed you at the time by a
private mote, defer formal acccptance until af-
Ter my arrival AZ home.
Now, that have had all the leisure that /
could desire for lection upon the eircum3;anc Is
under which the nomination was made, the purity
OF th.m)dye5 ana III, lofty spirit of patriotism by
which the Convention was animated as eyineed
II all its proceedings, can appreciate N, justly
the honor done by the nomination. and. though it
might hsvef tllenupUn some one of he many dis
| tinguished statesman whose names were brought
to the notice of The Convention rather than my
self accept il, with al its possible responsible
| ties
| Whatcveriray b. :hc Issue If the ensuing can
yass, IS .Ur myself s!-li ever gard it as proud
ti.tinc:icn-ore worth III long iio.i to attain
| 90 b. pronounced we. :hy to receive The high,
5.ice il he Government: at su-h g t'ui- 49, Ii
| p.-sln., sIG by sU,h Convention as :.at which
recently Il ~ G@..I-y.c-a ConY ljca i~r les
- 20 b iaa nual5.. If :. n3...5 rs ago e, :.
was, .l,-a by their hch character, In it wrr- mn
Ta-y.~bo a.ik- f.. II l.. agt and ;r public selv:-
c.,, w.o could not haze been ca,,.d from the,
rc-J.l AIRY tii,ln-n, i,om public lie bat hy tn
s.-o-s -st sense q patriotic duty others, though
sti. IN ihe p!.ue Of If, ranking with d, fist men
.. .ae ccur,iv by honq.s AMI distinctions already
acquired il higa official positions, State ana
National: IUany Of them statesmen worthy 10 fill
he highest oEitc in the Governments s;il great
ernuinbrr occupying ths highest rank in their
respective Professional purs uils: olhsrs Distinguish
ed by their intelligence and weli-carned influence
n vaiious walks Of private If; aud al sninat. d
and ur.ted by one split and cne purpos', the ie-
suit OF strcag conviction that our pol;ic. system
Under tLe operation Ola 60 Implication Of di.crd s
is rapidly approaching crisis when = speedy
c..ai.ee ma take pace, indicating as il LIsga.
0. tll ply s.ea. DO y, recovery OF death.
The Convention, in discarGing the use Of plat-
forms oxacts no pledges from those whom they
| s. -, 4
,rnm.n' wisely considering TIA! the surcst guar.
antsc Of mans future Us. fuIness and fidelity to
the grca. interests Of the country, in any c..,ia
station 10 vhichhe may BE- chosen, Is h b. found
il Ii, pas. history connected with tn public ser.
vice. III ptdgc implied il my acco ptancc of the
nomination Of the National Union Convention is
hat, should b. elected, viii not depart from
the spili: ard tenor my past course; and tn" Oh
i.gaion 70 keep this p.edgs derives a double
fore from the CONSIDERATION tia; none IS required
nom me.
You, sir in your letter containing the oficia,
announcement Of my nomination, have been
p., as,d to ascribe TO me the m@it Of moderation
and justice in my pa public career. You hav,
li< wise given me credit for uniform support OF
al wise and benefc,ut measures Of leeisa.i ION, foi
4 Arm resistance to all measures calculated t,
enreEder sectional Gi-cord, and for a If Hong
devotion % ;h1 union, harmony, and prosperity Ci
these States. Whistler your personal pmta!.ty
has you TO oyeistae my L, IFS as public nl;u
o, rut, in your enumeration oitht.A you hav,
,.lcs Il. q 4 SUMMARY bass Of ali sound American
s.lt,smausLy. Ii may b. objected that nothing
70 said b.. IL, s.uuuary, in express terms, Of til
Obligations imposed by til Constitutions; but til
lily 10 lesp.c; ana oJ>.lye tn Ii is clearly in.
pied; fyr, Will. ut TIA. dus observance, in III
cy.t..-t %. ,la ,.oy...... 1T, Of ,he Constitution
l., .;s ..iat.yus anu ,lu-ttments fairly inielp.,
q, a. accordance WI: =. s.t AL obacts tn at
Al j. no nd 10 c:.cnai d.scord, Nc sccu.isy fOl
.ne harmony Of IL. Union.
1 have not the VAN y to assume thst in my
past connection with the pubic service l hay,
cxempFfed the course Of as,rnd American states
man. but il | have deserved the favorable view
taken OF it in your Letter, may h,pa, by a faith
iul adherence to th" mayiuIs by which have
heretofore been guided, not altogether to disap
point the confidence and KIP = rs # thcs
who hav. paced !ur IN my present Ie.a.iou to III,
pDJ..ci and If, under Pru'.d nee, should BE-
c.,.lsd to pr-s.I, over he afaiIs Of this great
-.vI..y a. thy l. ruIye Chgfof the Govern
l..lt, tie only further p..dr" feel called upol
go II .l.r g. thai 30 ia U,llos. Of NY ability and
w,h w.atcr -. stl,r,.A If W.. can command
an tn powers and influence bioneMg t. H.y
o.ii,:l. s.-,i. sha. be employed and d.t1,5 fol
he p.cmo..on e.. a. .Le great objac,s .or wIicl
th ,,ov,Eu-.,It was instituted, but more cspac
ally ior the u-;r -cI.ance Of III, Corsiu,ion an
til, lr.cn agaas. all appo-iug influence and ten
d,nc;rs.
] cnuo; conc.u,s tbs letter without expressing
ny high Qualification :. the nomination to tn,
second Office under he Government of that emf
nifty gif,ed and dis,iEe uished statesman 0
Massachusetts,, EDWARD EVERETT. 4 gentleman
held by general consent to be altogether worth,
Of the frat.
J T,naeT'r- ~ c-anH'l Judgements 70