Daily Nashville patriot. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1860-1862, 1860-06-11
To the Honorable JoHS Bell.
JOHN BELL To WASHINGTON HUNT


NASHVILLE, May 2Ist, 1860.
Dear SIR: Official information Of my noni
nation TO the Presidency, by the Nationa
Union Convention, Of which you were the pre-
siding officer. was communicated TO NE by you
letter Of the 18th inst, at Philadelphia, on the
eve Of nv departure with my family for nv
place Of residence IL Tennessee, and diffdent
as was, of nv worthiness, 1 did not hesitate
10 signify nv intention TO accept the position
assigned to me by that distinguished and patri-
otic body. Bat toT convenience, and under a
sense of the pTopriety Of seting in so grave j
matter with greater deliberation, I concluded,
as ! informed YOU at the time by private
note, to defer 4 formal acceptance until after
nv arrival at home.
Now, that have had all the lesure [ could
desire for reflection upon the circumstances
under which the nomination was made the
purity of the motives, and the lofty spirit of
patriotism BY which the Convention was ami
mated, as evincei IN all its proceedings, | can
appreciate more Justly the honor done me by
the nomination, and though it might have been
more fortunate for the country had it fallen
upon some one of the many distinguished
statesmen whose names were brought to the
notice of the Convention rather than myself,
accept it. with all its possible responsibilities.
Whatever may be the issue of the ensuing can
vass, as for myself, | shall ever regard it as a
proud distinction, tone worth lifelong effort
70 attain to he pronounced worthy TO receive
the highest office in the Government at such q
time as the present, and by such Convention
as that which recently met in Baltimore
Convention far less imposing BY the number
of its members, large as ii was, than by their
high character. In it were men venerable alike
for their age and their public services, who
hax-a thtai7s Vol
retirement from public life but by the strongest
sense of patriotic duty; others, though still in
the prime Of life ranking with the first men of
the country by honors and distinctions already
acquired in high official positions, State and
National; MANY of them statemen worthy TO fill
the highest Office in the Government; a still
greater number, occupying the highest rank in
their respective professional pursuits; others
distinguished by their intelligence and well
earned influence in various walks of private
life; and all animated and united by one spirit
and one purpose, the result of a strong convic-
ton that our political system, under the opera
ton of complication of disorders, is rapidly
approaching a crisis when a speedy change
must take place, indicating, as in diseases of
the physical body, recovery or death.
The Convention, in discaring the use of
platforms. exacts no 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 coUn-
try. in any official station to which he may be
chosen, Is to be found in his past history con-
nected with the public service. The pledge
implied in my acceptance OF the nomination of
the National Union Convention is that, should
l be elected, l will not depart from the spirit
and tenor of my past course, and the obligation
IN icon This nlaGpp derives q 1OuhlP force from
the consideration that none IS required from
me.
You, sir, in YOUR letter containing the official
announcement of my nomination, have been
pleased 10 ascribe to me the merit of modera-
ton and justice in nv past public career. You
have likewise given me credit for uniform
support of all wise and benefcent measures of
legislation, for firm resistance to all measures
calculated TO engender sectional discord, and
for lifelong devotion to the union, harmony,
and prosperity of these States. Whether your
personal partially has led you TO oyerstate my
merits as 4 public man or not, in your enum-
Grafton of them You have presented summa-
ry--a basis of all sound American statesman
ship. Ii may be objected that nothing is said
in this summary IN express terms eff the obliga-
tons imposed by the Constitution. but the duty
to respect and observe them Is clearly implied
for without the due observance in the conduct
of the Government of the Constitution its re-
strictions and requirements fairly interpreted in
accordance with tsspirit and objects, there can
be no end to 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
exemplifed the course of sound American
statesman. but if have deserved the favorable
view taken OF it IN your letter, may hope by
faitbfJrl 1riszrp1Ga m tho yirnc which
have heretofore been guided, not altogether to
disappOint the confidence and expectations of
those who have placed nie in my present rela-
ton to the public; and if, under Providence,
should be called upon TO preside over the af
fairs OF this great county as the Executive chief
OF the Government, the only further pledge
feel called upon TO make, is, that to the ut
most Of my ability, and with whatever strength
of will | can command all the powers and in
huence belonging to my official station shall
be employed and directed for the promotion of
all the great objects for which the government
was Instituted; but more especially for the
maintenance OF the Constitution and the Union
against all opposing influences and tendencies.
| cannot conclude this letter without expires
sing my high qualification at the nomination to
the second Office under the Government of
that eminently gifted and distinguished states
man of Massachusetts,, Edward Everett, gem
tleman held By general consent to be altogeth-
er worthy of the first.
rendering my grateful acknowledgements
for the kind and complimentary remarks with
which you were pleased TO accompany the com
munication of my nomination.
i am, dear Sir,
With the highest respect,
Your obedient servant,
JOHN BELL
To the Hon. WASHINGTON HUsr