Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1853-1862, 1860-08-04

WETUxrKA, ALA. July q, 1860.
Col J. J. Seibels, Montgomery, Ala:
DEAR SIR :-In the daily Confederation Of The 24th
inst in an article headed Gov. Fitzpasrick's Let
teri the following occurs, 70 wit:
We insert this letter part Of the curious his
tory Of the times We, of course, do not question
the Governors most perfect right to advonate the
claims Of the seceders ticket for the Presidency
but we feel bound to add thar he would have saved
himself much embarrassment. and his true friends
world of modification, humihatiop and we had al
most sad disgrace, By letting them know IN advance
his real opinions and Intentions in this regard. They
are men Of at least ordinary sagacty at most they
are not smpletons and would not have put the Gov
ernor in position disagreeable 70 him and SO dis
astrous TO them unless they had been induced to pc
lieTe that he would acquiesce in what they dld.
That they were mistaken is now unfortunately 100
apparent but they do not hold themselves RESPONSE
bic for it, @
This extract from the article (which seems TO
have been written by yourself. and, therefore, al
dress you individually instead of tie editors OF tue
papeP.) does me en- injustice, and involves charge
| under which cannot remain silent l, therefore,,
hope you will do me the justice to insert this COM
municauon in your paper
Whether my friends knew my " real opinions ana
intentions" or whether they were induced Dy any
act of mine to the course taken by them IN nomins
ting me at Baltimore, will be more clearly seen Cy
/ statement of facts rather than conclusions. ms
statement propose to give with mlnuteness winch
the occasion requires, though it IS needless for me
TO say, with much regret that 1t snouid De neces-
sary
! for Viee-President, previous to the assembling OF
| the Convention at Baltimore, uniformly salo tnat
the Vice Presidency was high position, ana one d
nomination for which would not decline II tenoer-
cd to me by NV political friends on proper plat
/ form. | said this to you, and many other OF my
friends among the delegates as you passed through
Washington on your way to the Convention at Bal
timore No one, suppose, at that time apprenend-
ed know did not the discord and serious DIVISION
| in tile Convention, that subsequently TOOK place.
These divisions it will be remembered, took place
on Friday aud Saturday. Early on Saturday morn
ing YOU called to see me at my room IN Washington
and gave me the first authentic information OF the
retirement from the Convention OF some states
finally and others for consultation; telegraphlc &C
counts of some of which had seen. During our
conversation. which was rather hurried, because
YOU wished to return to Baltimore by the early
morning train you informed me that Mr.. Douglas
would probably be nominated for PRESIDENT ane
I Mr. Stephens or johnson of Georgia, or myself
/, would be put on the ticket with him. told you
that one of the above named gentlemen or some o!.s
else must be nominated, and that my mime must o.
excluded, as / did not desire the nomination, an
Woud not accept il unless made on a GOOD plauorii
and by a majority of twO-thirds. On your leaving
in reply TO some remark that l must not deser
youD or nv friends, or one of similar character
? / said emphatically, standing at the door OF M
room, that -betore Cod would not go on the tcke
: with Mr.. Douglas or any DOuJ elSc NAbhO01o 5OO'
PLATFORM and the two-thirds majority of two hun
> dred and two votes" You said that yOn would d
: the best you could, )" and replied that 'you mus
keen nv name off of the ticket" This was the on
y conversation had on this subject with any dele
gate to the Convention after it assembled
In addition to this little before ii o'clock, A M
b of the same day, while in the Senate chamber,
learned that several other States had hnaly seceo
8 ed of which l had not before heard enough Z
satisfy me that there was complete split IN tn
II I fowl ri j we'll
f sitting in the gallery, and upon his coming to me
repeated to him what had occurred in the morning ot
. tween you and myself also told him OF the addition
al information had just received OF further sece
sion from the Convention and requested him TO go
Baltimore forthwith and to tell my friends, partcr
Iarly you and Col William Garrett to keep my nam
from going on the ticket. Heafterwards informed N
that he delivered my message to yourself and 20
Garrett and others, that afternoon before the eVe
ing session at which was nominated MY surprls
therefore may be imagined when was informed
my nomination. -. :.
~ with what semblance of consistency could accel
- q nomination from Convention which had lost l
nationality by the secession of so many States, upc
lie the platform presented, with any one holding OPP
IONS so entirely opposite mine on the Terrltorl
E. questions as those of Mr.. Douglas. Both IN N
= letter of last fall to Mr. Hudgns and by my vote
the Senate or Davis resolutions, gwen a lew wee
le before the nomination, expressed the opinion tn
Congress not only has the power but 1t is It's duty
intervene to protect slave property in the Terrt
. ries when necessary. The letter of Mr.. Douglas
Mr.. Richardson read in the Convention in which
saws intervention disunion, would, OK ltse
have rendered my position Oh the ticket with nj
IA wholly incompatible and inconsistent
= 1t was unpleasant indeed painful, to pursue Il
~ course have. No one, am sure, has felt mo
re keenly than myself, the embarrassment caused
lie nv nomination. My trouble, though has been sol
y on account of friends who were actors IN the ma
> ter and whose honesty and fidelity do not now al
W never have questioned, but, on the contrary ful
IF acknowledge and appreciate.
ly Very respectfully, your obedient servant
Ben. FITZPATRICK.