New Orleans daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1851-1866, 1860-06-12
The Union Termination.
AocErrAscE or NON John BE

AccErTANcE OF MON. JOHN BELLE
@7 BalraoaK, May II, 1860. =
Dear Sir-It has become my agreeable duty, as
the presiding officer of the National Union Con-
vention, which terminated its session in this city
last evening, to inform you that you have received
the nomination of that body as its candidate for
the Office OF President of the United States.
After frank interchange of sentiment, in which
the merits of all the distinguished candidates pre-
scented for our consideration were eanYasscd in the
most friendly spirit, the Convention resolved with
entire nnanimty and great enthusiasm to place
your name before the American people, as the
chosen representative of its principles of constitu-
tional liberty and union.
With jest appreciation of your known modera-
ton and justice; your uniform support ofwise and
benifcent measures of legislation; your firm and
heroic resistance of the repeal of the Missouri
Compromise and oil kindred measures calculated
to engender sectional discord and your life long
devotion to the union harmony and prosperity of
these States, it was decided with one accord that
you the man for the crisis, and that, with your
honored name inscribed on our banner, an earnest
appeal shall be made to the people to rally for the
preservation Of national Institutions. We feel
one and ALL that your election to the Presidency
would ensure the integrity of our Government, re-
store the peace of the Union, and afford an unfal
ing guaranty for the supremacy Of the Constitution
and the Laws.
l have the honor to be, with high respect, your
obedient servant, WASHINGTON HUNT.
To the Hon. Joay BELL.
John Bell to Washington Hunt.
Dear Sir-0fical information OF my nomination
to the Presidency by the National Union Conven-
ton, of which you were the presiding officer, was
communicated to me by your letter OF the llth
instant at Philadelphia, on the eve of my depart
ure with my family for my place of residence in
Tennessee, and diffident as was of my worthiness
did not hesitate to signify my intention to accept
the position assigned to me by that distinguished
and patriotic body. But for convenience, aud
.1ar onf,N, ~
a matter with greater deberation, Concluded as
informed you at the time by private note, to
defer formal acceptance until after my arrival at
home.
sire 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 animated, US evinced in all the
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 canvass, as for myself,
shall ever regard it as proud Distinction Zone
worth lifelong effort to attain to be pronounced
worthy to receive the highest Office of the Govern
ment at such time as the present. and by such a
Convention as that which recently met in Balt
more-a Convention far less imposing by the num-
Der of its members large as it was, than by their
high character.
In ii were 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 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 posi-.
tions, State and National; many Of them states.
men worthy to fill the highest office in the govern
ment; still greater number, occupying the
highest rank in their respective professional pur
suits; others distinguished by their intelligence
and well earned influence in various walks of pri
yate life; and all animated and united by one spirit
that our political system, under the operation of
complication of disorders, is rapidly approaching
crisis when speedy change must take place, in
dieatng, as in diseases of the physical body, re-
coVery or death.
The Convention in discarding the use Of plat
forms, exacts no pledges from those whom they
deem worthy OF the highest trusts under the Gov
efnment wisely considering that the sufesL guar
anty OF man,s future usefulness and fidelity 10
/ the great interests of the country in any OIL
/ cal Station to which he may be chosen, is to be
/ found in his past history connected with the pubic
service The pledge implied in my acceptance of
i the nomination of the National Union Convention
is that should be elected. will not depart from
the spirit and tenor of my past course and the OBJ
! legations to keep this pledge derives double force
| from the consideration that none is required from
me.
You sir, in your letter containing the official an
nouneement of my nomination, have been pleased
to ascribe to me the merit of moderation and JUS.
tice in my public, career. YOU have likewise
given me credit for uniform support of all wise
and benl6cent measures of legislation, for u firm
resistance to all measures calculated to engender