Cedar Falls gazette. [volume] (Cedar Falls, Iowa) 1860-1895, 1860-06-01

The following letter has been addressed by
Mr.. Seward to the gentlemen Of the Contra
Republican Committee, who invited him t
attend meeting for ratification Of the pro
ceedings Of the National Convention:
~ a. -. Auburn, May'21.
GENTLEMEN IL will not affect to concea
the scnsibilty with which have received
the letter in which you and so many othe1
respected friends have rendered to me expires
sions of renewed and enduring confidence
These letters will remain with me as assuran
ccs in future years that although | was no
unwilling to wait even for another age the win
dication Of my political principles, yet tha
they did nevertheless receive the gencrou.
support Of many good, wise and patriotic
men Of my own time Such assurances
however made, under such circumstance.
now existing derive their priceless value large
ly from the fact that they steal upon m'
through the channels of private corresp0n
dence, and altogether unknown to the world
You will at once perceive that such expires
sions would become painful to me, and pref
ty justly offensive to the country, if | should
be allowed to take them in any public or con
ventional form of manifestation, for this rea
son: if it were respectful and consistent fo1
your own public purposes, would have de
layed my reply to you until could have hat
an opportunity Of making it verbally, mex
week, on my way to Washington. After
completing the arrangements for the repairs
upon my dwelling here, rendered necessary
by a recent fire, the same reason determine.
me also, to decline your kind invitation t.
attend the meeting in which you propose
some demonstrations of respect while sc
justly considering the nominations which
have just been made by the National Conven
ton at Chicago, at the same time it is YOU
right to have frank and candid expression
Of my own opinions and sentiments on thai
important subject. My friends know very
well that, while they have always generously
made my promotion to public trusts, Their
own exclusive care, mine has only been to
execute them faithfully, so as to be able al
the close of their assigned terms to resign
them into the hands Of the people without
the forfeiture of the public confidence. The
prosecution of my name to the Chicago Con.
vention was thus their act, not mine the
disappointment, therefore, is theirs; not
Nine 1t may have found them unprepared
on the other hand, have no sentiment eth.
er Of disappointment or of discomfort; fol
who, in any possible case could, without pre-.
sumption, claim that great national party
ought to choose him for its candidate for tht
first Office in the gift of the American people
find in the resolutions of the Convention a
platform as satisfactory to me as if it had
been framed with my own hands, and in thu
candidates adopted by it, eminent and able
Republicans, with whom have cordially co
operated in maintaining the principles embed
led in that excellent creed. cheerfully give
them sincere and earnest support TRUST
moreover, that those with whom have Ia
bored 50 long, that common service in a no
BILE cause has created between them and my
self relations of personal friendship, unsur
passed in the experience ofpolitical men, viii
indulge me confident belief that no sense o
disappointment will be allowed by them t,
hinder, or delay, or in any way cmbarras'
the progress of that cailse the contamination
which is demanded by patriotic regard tt
the safety and welfare of the country and tn,
best interests of mankind