The daily exchange. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1858-1861, 1860-06-08
To the Honorable John Bell.
JOHN BELL TO WASHINGTON HUNT.


NASHVILLE, Nav 81 1860
DEAR SIR: Official information of nv nomina-
ton to the Presidency by the National Union Con.
| Ventlon, OF which you were the PRESIDING officer
was communicated to me bv vour letter nf - ,
llth instant, at Philadelphia, on the eve of NV do
| parture with my family for nv place of residenoo
IN tennessee, and diffident, as was of nv WORTH
ness, did not hesitate to signify NV intention r.
| accept the position assigned to me bv that dis
ungulshed and patriotic body. But for CON
sehlence, ana under sense of propriety of actng
III so grave matter with greater deliberation /
| concluded, as informed you at the time bv a pri
Vate note, TO defer formal acceptance until after
| my arrival at home. Now, that [ have had ali
| the leisure could desire for reflection upon the
| circumstances under which the nomination ,vos
made the purity of the motives and the lofty
spirit OF patriotism by which the Convention was
animated, as evinced all its proceedings, I can
appreciate more justly the honor done me by the
nomination; and though it might have been more
fortunate for the country had il fallen unon so, ~
OF the many distinguished statesmen whose namas
were brought to the notice of the Convnnt;on
naener !han myself accept it, with all its possible
responsibilities Whatever may be the issue of the
ensuing canvass, as for myself | shall ever REGARD
IL as proud distinction, one worth LIFELONG effort
10 attaln, to be pronounced worthy to receiva tho
~ mnlshest once In the Government at such time as
the present, and by such Convention as that
which recently met in Baltimore-a Convention
far less imposing by the number of its members
large as 1T was, than by their high character. In
1t were men venerable alike for their age and Their
pubic services who could not have been called
from their voluntary retirement from public life
out by the strongest sense of patriotic duty.
others, though still in the prime of life rapking
with the first men of the ,uptrv by honors and |
distinctions already acquired in high official nos
hons, State and National; many of them statesmen |
worthy to fill the highest office in the government.
a SUN greater number, occupying the highest rank
In their respective professional pursuits. othars
distinguished by their intelligence and wei, earned
influence in various walks of private life: and ali |
animated and united by ole spirit and one pur-
pose, the result OF a strong conviction that our
political system, under the operation of a comnI |
cation OF disorders is rapidly approa ching crisis
when speedy change must take place, indi. |
eating, as In diseases of the physical BODY,
recovery recovery or death. The Convention, in dis
cardlng the use of platforms, exacts mo |
pledges from those whom they deem WORTHY
OF the highest trusts under the Government. |
wisely considering that the surest guaranty of a |
mans future usefulness and fidelity to the great
interests OF the country, in any official station to
whlch he may be chosen, is to be found in his past
history, connected with the public service The
piedge implied IN my acceptance OF the nomination
of the National Union Convention is, that sbould I
be elected, will not depart from the sprit and
tenor OF my past course; and the obligation to
Keep this pledge derives double force from the |
consideration that none is required from me
ou, sir, in your letter containing the official an
nouncement OF my nomination, have been pleased
TO ascrlbe to me the merit of moderation and inc
tlce In my past public career. You have likewise
gwen me credit for uniform support of all wise
finn
resistance to all measures calculated to engendr
sectional discord, and for lifelong devotion TO the
union, harmony and prosperity of these States
"hetner your personal partiality has led Won to
oVerstate my merits as public man or not in |
your enumeration of lhem YOU have nrasantad q |
summary-a basis of all sound American statesman
ship. 1t may be objected that nothing is said in
thls summary, In express terms, of the obligations
imposed by the Constitution, but the duty to re-
spect and observe them is clearly impIied for
without the due observance, in the conduct of the
Government, of the Constitution, its restrictions
and requirements, fairly interpreted in accordance
with its spirit and objects, there can be no end IN
sectional discord-no security for the harmony of
the Union. have not the vanity to assume that |
in my past connection with the public service,
have exemplihed the course of a sound American |
statesman, but If L have deserved the favorable
view taken of it, in yoar letter. may hope by a
faithful adherence to the maxims by which | have
heretofore been guided, not altogether to disap- |
point the confidence and expectations of those who
nave placed me In my present relation to the public.
ana II, under Providence should be called to pre-
de over the affairs of this great country as the .
Ixecutve chlet OF the Government, the only fur !
her pl' dge feel called upon to make is that Tn
he utmost o! my ability, and with whatever
trength of will can command, all the mowers
md influence belonging to my official station shall
,e employea ana directed for the promotion of all
he great objects for which the government WAS
instituted; but more especially for the maintenance
II the constitution and the Union against all oo- C
'osng influences and tendencies | cannot con
'n.S leIter without expressing my high | Q
ialihcatlon at the nomination of the second office s.
nuer the Government of that eminently gifted and
istlnguished statesman of Massachusetts, Edward e
;Verett, gentleman held by-general consent to be
together worthy of the first. rendering my
rateful acknowlments for the kind and compli- a
lentary remarks with which you were pleased to o
company the communication of my nomination L
am, dear sir, with the highest respect, your obe-
lent servant, JOHN BELL
To the Hon. Washington Hunt. A
The SoUTH CAROLINA REsoLUTIoNs-The fnlIou Il
,g are the resolutions adopted by the late Demo- b
ratio Convention of South Carolina which selected
Iessrs Rhett & Co. to represent the State in the -
Convention =
Resolred That this Convention heartily approves the
,urse of the delegates from South Carolina tn The |
harleston convention IN Withdrawing therefrom with
e other seeding Southern States fl
2 ReSored, That this Convention approves the
principles which occasioned by its rejection the seces
on cf the Southern States ~ e' "
g. Resolved, That this Convention in confor,ntx 10 A.
and invitation of the seeding delegates tt
ems 1t expedent that South Carolina should send deia
ties to the Richmond Convention o.
BALTIMORE AND THE CONVENTION. Donolos
EN- are resolved to have large force at Ralt;,
ore on the 18th oil June. 1t is understood that N
e keystone Club Philadelphia will be early on "
e gI1una, ana that Cincinnati, Cleveland Toledo.
ID other Ohio towns, and New ork. Boston and
her cities, will have immense delagatons rnsot ic
ny monument House will be- it is said the head e.
iarters OF the Pennsylvania "Rebels, ,"-PhiIadel-
lta Press. 4,
me Cubans are in great state OF excitement W
bout some slaves captured bv United States
Gamer, when about to be landed on their coast G.
ne Africans number about ], $50, and are now at O
ey w est, with very small guard over them
nere are projects on foot in Havana to carry them