Clarksville chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1857-1865, 1860-09-14
Letter from Gen. Houston.
AIsIINi august TO, IoOU,
To my Friends IN ae United States:

AUsTlS, August is, 1850.
To my Friends IN .he United States:
] will withdraw my name from the list of candi-
dates for the Presidency. consented to its use be-
cause the call from the spontaneous voices of
respectable numbers of the people themselves not
because desired the Office. But the time has now
arrived when it behooves every patriot to act for
himself and to do all in his power to save his coun-
try from dangerous war Of scctionalisni, and
reckless spirit of disunion North and South. The
responsibility now devolyes upon the candidates
themselves whether called into the field by the un-
trammelled will of the people, or by the several
Conventions, which have unfortunately destroyed
all harmony and threatened the stability of the
Union itself cannot hesitate, in my belief that
IL is the duty of the candidates TO sacrifice their
hopes upon the altar of our common country. II
may be said that yield least as my chances of
success are not so apparent But with four oppo-
nents of the nominee of the Black Republican Con-
venton in the field the defeat of all is equally GER
tain. In such scramble, the pleasure or mortif-
cation of getting more popular or fewer electoral
votes would only be comparative and neither cam
didate would stand relieved before the country from
the charge of having recklessly tampered with the
! liberties of the best government in the world.
Let not those who rely upon carrying the cleo
tion into the House of Representatives deceive
themselves The people have been taught to dread
such consummation. Neither four three nor two
there and if they could, the strife which is being
engendered amongthe different factions, wouldren-
der the result very uncertain. There must be an
abandonment of specious dogmas clap-trap plat
forms and electioneering can't and q concentration
upon common principle. for a common pur.
pose or else the factions which, united, would con-
stitute majority must make up their minds to the
elevation of sectional President whose claim to
success is based upon opposition to the institution
whose existence should never have been brought
into national politics. timely union of all Ma
tional Union men to defeat this sectionalsm would
put an end TO discord and elamorous tendency to-
ward dsunion.
call upon my countrymen TO forget me and tc
forget the claims and Endorsements of all mere men
as well as the hopes of the mere ofice-seekers who
mean to profit by the elevation of one man or an
other. They should remember the farewell address
of the Father of his Country, and the immortal SEN
timent Of the Hero of New Orleans, and Sage O
the HERMITAGE I" The Federal Union must b,
preserved" Could the spirits of Jackson CLAY ant
Webster be recalled to takepar in the active trans
actions of the political arena the Union would bC
ipreeeryed Laboring through life to perpetuate III
glory, they knew its value and appreciated its bless
ings.
| am aware that would be pleasing to my friends
Of different preferences as to the remaining candi
dates to have me express choice for one or the 9th
er of them. But | trust that it will be seen from
this and my previous letters that my sentiment!
rise above mere personal preferences.
desire to see union of all national minded men
to defeat dangerous sectionasm; and leave my
friends free to pursue whatever course may appear
to them best at such a crisis.
cannot conclude without returning my SINGER,
thanks to those who have in various ways expressed
desire to see me occupy the distinguished position
Of President. But to remain longer in the field
= could he productive of no good, and it might be
stumbling block in the way of those who desir,
harmony.
Very Respectfully
SAM HOUSTON