The weekly Mississippian. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1859-1864, 1860-06-20
Acceptance Of the Hon. John Bell.

The Hon. John Bell, of Tennessee, address
ID the following letter to the Hon. Washing
ton Hunt, accepting the nomination for the
Presidency, rendered by the Constitutional |
Union Convention
NASHVILLE, May 21st, 1860. |
DrAp StR Official information of nv /
to the Presidency by the National |
Union Convention. of which you were the |
presiding officer, was communicated to me by
vour letter of the llth inst, at Philadelphia, |
on the eve of nv departure with my family, |
for nv place of residence in Tennessee and
difiident, as / was, OF my wortnynesS, did
not hesitate to signify my intention to accept
the position assigned to me oy that distin-
puisbed and patriotic body. But for cOnven-
fence, and under sense oil proprlety OF &C
ting in so grave a matter with greater deliber-
at;en ( concluded, as informed you at the
time BY private note, to defer a formal &C
cantance until after my arrival at home.
Now. that have had all the leisure | could
desire for reflection upon the circumstances
under which the nomination was made, the
nurity of the motives, and the lofty spirit OF
natriot;sm. by which the convention was ami
mated as evinced in all its proceedings, l can
anDreciate 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 distinguish
oil statesmen whose names were brought to
| the notice of the convention, rather than my
| self accept it, with all its possible response
blities. Whatever may BE- the issue of the
| ensuing canvass, as for myself, | shall ever
regard it as a proud distinction, Zone worth a
lifelong effort to ATTAIN to be pronounced
worthy to receive the highest office in the
government at such time as the present, and
by such a convention as that which recently
met in Baltimore convention far less i'm
posing by the NUM- er of its members, large
as it was, than by their high character.
In it 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 o
patriotic duty; others, though still in the
prime of life, ranking with the first men o
the country by honors and dis motions al
ready acquired in high official positions, Stat
and National, many Of them statesmen wdr
thy to fill the highest office in the government
a Still greater number occupying the highes
rank in their respective professional pursuits
others distinguished by their intelligence an
well earned influence in various positions {
private life: and all animated by one spirit an
one purpose, the result of strong convictlo
that our political system, under the operatlo
of a complication OF disorders. is rapidly ap
proaching crisis when speedy change mu,
: lake place, indicating as in diseases Of tn
physical body, recovery or death.
The convention, in discarding the use
platforms exact no pledges from those wi
they deem worthy Of the highest trust undo
: the government, wisely considering that tt
{ surest guarantee of mans future usetulne'
and fidelity to the great interests OF the coul
try. in any official station to which he may
e chosen. is TO be found in his past history Gel
: nected with the public service. he pied!
4 implied in my acceptance of the nominate
of the National Union Convention Is tia
= should be elected, will not depart from Il
u spirit and tenor OF my past course, and the o
r legation to keep this pledge dePrlves dout
is force from the consideration that none Is 7
Il duired from me-
You. sir, in sour letter containing the I
u fetal announcement of nay nomination, ha
g been pleased to aScribe to me the merit
j. moderation and Justice in my past pubic c
&c reer You have likewise given me the cre(
for uniform support of all wise and bene
cient measures of legislation, Tor firm resi-:
n, anre to all measures calculated to engend
S. sectional discord and for u life long devot:
r to the Union, harmony and prosperity OF the
States Whether your personal Partially /
Z led YOU to overstate my merits as a put
IN man or not, in your enumeration Of them Y
at have presented summary basis ofatl sou
an American craftsmanship. 1t may be objt
ted that nothing is said in this summary
y express terms, Of the obligations imposed
ne the Constitution, but the duty to respect u
i'll observe them is clearly implied, for witht
n, the due observance, in the conduct OF I
government, Of the Constitution, its restr
u tons and requirements, fairly interpreted
accordance with its spirit and objects, tn
,e- can be no end to sectional discord no secu
n ty for the harmony Of the MON.
. / have not the vanity to assume that IN
"a past connection with the public service,
p have exemplified the course ola sound Anne
IL statesman: but it | have deserved the fave
es BILE view taken of it. in your letter, | may he
by a faithful adherence TO the maXIms
- which have heretofore been guided, not
~ together to disappoint the confidence and I
IL pectations of those who have placed me in
- prcscrt rcfatioYi 70 tifes Istfttic- an ~ ttr'
:: Providence should be caleb 60 preside o
III the affairs of this great country as the E
cutive chief of the government, the only {
of tl.er pledge feel called upon to make, is I
Of to the utmost Of my ability, and with whate
strength Of will can command, all the pc
~ ers and influence belonging to my official S
ton shall be employed and directed for
r. promotion of all the great objects for VIII
ho the Government was instituted but m
especially for the maintenance of the Con!
Sc tuition and the Union against all opposing
st, fiuences and tendencies.
ii cannot conclude this letter without
If pressing my high qualification at the nomi
ton to second office under the goyernmen
he that eminently gifted and distinguished stat
de man Of Massachusetts, Edward Everett
he gentleman held by general consent to be a
~, gether worthy of the first.
rendering my grateful acknowledgment
for the kind and complimentary remarks "
which you were pleased to accompany
communication of my nomination, am, d
sir, with the highest repect your obedi
r servant JOHN BELL