The Lansing state Republican. [volume] (Lansing, Mich.) 1855-1874, 1860-05-30

The following wise, considerate, and patriotic
note, is in reply to an invitation of the Central
Committee to Mr.. Seward to take part in pub
lie political demonstration. 1t is one OF the
greatest charm of Mr.. Stewards character, that
under all circumstances Of an adverse charac-
ter, so far as they have affected him personally
he has merged himself, and thought, spoken,
written, and acted only for the elevation oil
principle, and for the benefit of its champions.
To himself, Mr. Seward is nothing. but defeat
or danger to the cause which he has made his
own for a generation, touches his heart
Little do his enemies know, and little can
thew appreciate Mr.. Seward, who believe him
capable of Withholding an efficient and cordial
support to candidates who, like Lincoln and
Hamlin, are identified, heart and soul, with
principles and measures of which he has been
the advocate and in no small degree the found
er. 1t is the peculiar good fortune Of the Re-
publican party, that Mr.. Seward, and no other,
is called upon to stand in the trying position oc-
cupied by him in this canvass. He is equal to
it-others might not have been. Here is the
letter:
"AUBURN, May q, lSG0.
"GEyrIEuES-I will not affect to conceal the
sensibility with which have received the let
tiers in which you and SO many other respected
friends have rendered to me expressions oil re
newed and enduring confidence. These letter!
will remain with me a. assurances Ill futur,
years that, although i was not unwilling Il
await. even for another age, the ylndlcatlon
my political principles, yet that they did never
| theless receive the generous support oil many
good, wise, and patriotic men OF my own time
Such assurances. however. made under the cir
cumstances now existing, derive their priceless
value largely from the fact that they steal upoI
me through the channels Of private correspon
dence, and altogether unknown to the world
You will at once perceive that such expressions
would become painful to me, and justly oiien
sive to the country, if | should he allowed t.
take them in any public or conventional form
Of manifestation For this reason, if it wer,
respectable and consistent for your own public
purposes [ would have delayed my reply L
You until could have had an opportunity o
making it verbally next week on my way I,
Washington after completing the arrangement
for the repairs upon my dwelling here, rendered
necessary by recent fire. The same reason
determines me also to decline your kind invita-
ton to attend the meeting in which you prOpOs
some demonstrations Of respect to myself, Will
so Justly considering the nominations which
have Just been made by the national convention
at Chicago. At the same time 1t Is your RICH
to have frank and candid expression OF IN.
own opinions and sentiments on that impOrtan
subject My friends know very well that, Will
they have always generously made my promo
ton to public trusts their own exclusive care
mine has only been to execute them faithfully
leo To no ahlp sat the clos. of their aSSipnp,
terms, to resign them into the hands of the PEG
pie without forfeiture of the public confidence
The presentation Of my name to the Chicag
convention was thus their act. not mine. Tn
disappointment, therefore, is theirs, not mine
1t may have found them unprepared. On tn
other hand, l have no sentiment, either of dis
appointment or discomfort for who, in any pos
sible case, could without presumption, claim tina
a great national party ought to choose him 70
the first office in the gift of the American pee
pie? find in the resolutions Of the convention
platform as satisfactory to me as though it ha
been framed with my own hands, and, in tn
candidates adopted by it, eminent and able re
publicans, with whom have cordially co-opera
ted in maintaining the principles embodied i
that excellent creed. l cheerfully give them
sincere and earnest support l trust moreover
that those with whom have abored so Ion
/ that common service in a noble cause has cres
ted between them and myself relations of friend
ship unsurpassed in the experience of politics
men-I will indulge in a confident belief that n
sense of disappointment will be allowed by ther
to hinder or delay, or in any way embarrass, tn
p.v5.c,s VI th~s 10 .ho esn,un,natio
which is demanded by patriotic regard to tn
safety and welfare of the country, and the bes
interest of mankind"