Nashville patriot. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1858-1860, 1860-05-28
Ie,ter fro,,,Er seward

NEW YORK, May 24-The following letter
has been addressed by Mr.. Seward TO the gem
tlcmen of the Central Republican Committee,
who invited him to attend meeting for the
ratification of the proceedings OF the Nation
al Convention:
AUBURN, May 81, 1860.
GExTLEMEN:-I will not affect 10 consult
the sensibillty with which / have received
the letters in which you and so many other
respected friends have rendered to me ex-
pressions of renewed and enduring conf
dence. These letters will remain with me
as ursnces in future years, that althou Oh
l was not unwilling TO await, even fer anotli-
eT age, the yindicatiOn of my political prin-
cipher, yet that th' did nevertheless receive
the generous support of many good. wise and
patriotic men Of my own time.
Such assurances, however. made under the
circumstances. now existing, derive their
priceless value largely from the fact that
they steal upon ME through the channels of
private correspondence, aud although I'M
known 10 The world, you will at once per-
ceive that such expressions would become
painful TO me. and justly offensive to the
country, il they should be allowed TO take
in any public or conventional form of mani
festatiOu. For this reason. If il were respect
full and consistent for your own public pur-
poses, | would have delayed my reply TO you
until l could Lave had an oppc rtunity of
making it verbally next week on my way TO
Washington, after completing the arrange
ments for the repairs upon my dwelling, rem
dered necessary by recent lire.
The same reason determines me also to de-
cline your kind invitation to attend the meet
ing in which you propose soIna demonsrra-
tons of respect to myself While SO justly
considering the nominations which have just
been made by tie National Convention at
Chicago, at the same time it is Your right to
have a frank and candid expression of my
own opinions aud sentiments on that import
ant subject.
My friends. knowing very well that while
they have always generously made my pro-
motion TO public trusts their own exclusive
care, mine has only been to execute them
faithfully, as to be able, at the close of
their assigned terms, to resign them into the
hands of the people without forfeiture of
the public confidence.
The presentation of my rs me to the Chi
cage Convention was thus then their act,
not mine; the disappointment therefore
theirs, not mine 1t may have found them
unprepared. On the other band, l have no
sentiment either OF disappointment or dis
content; for who in any possible case could,
without presumption, claim that great ma
ton al party ought to choose him for It's can
didaic for the first Office in the gilt IF the
American people. l find in the resolution
of the Convention platform satisfactory
to me as if it had been fran, d with my own
hands, aud in The candidates adopted by it,
eminent and able Republicans with whom
have cordially cO-Operatrd in maintaining
the principles embodied in that creed.
| cheerlully give them a sincere and ear
nest support. | trust, moreover, that those
with whom | have lAbOred so long that COM
mon service in IL noble cause has created be-
tween them and myself, relations OF personal
unsurpassed in the experience of
political men, will indulge me in confident
belief that no sense of disappointment will
be allowed by them to hinder or delay, or in
any way embarrass, the progress OF that
cause to The cOnsummaticn which is demand
ed by patriotic regard to the safety and
welfare of the country, and the best interests
OF mankind.
(Sinucd) WM III SEWARD