Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1862-02-28

Secretary seward and the Presidency.
An association was formed in Philadel-
paia few weeks since whose designs and
object was to press the claim Of VIM, h.
Seward for the Presidency in 1854. Having
informed Secretary Seward of that design,
he wrote to them the following letter, refas-
ing to be considered among the candidates
for that position. The letter is first pub
lished in the Inquirer Of Tuesday last;
~ WAsH1EGToN Dec. I6, 1861.
DEAR SIR:-I have received the letter
which was addressed to me on the 9Th in
stant by Jon, an ofhcer OF a political associa-
tion recently organized in Philadelphia.
You viii excuse me, dear sir, for what may
seem unkind or ungratefll in this reply to
that communication, which has given me
some uneasiness, and which only fails to in-
hict severe pain upon me because l do not
regard the movement which it describes as
one of very considerable magnitude.
The club, as you inform me, have adopted
a resolution TO exert themselves to secure nv
advancement to the Presidency ofthe United
States, and this resolution is generously
based upon a high appreciation of such pub
lie services as have hitherto attempted to
perform.
avail myself of the good will Of the club,
thus hatteringly manifested, to say that
consider the proceeding as one altogether
unwise, and tending to produce only evil in
a crisis when every possible path of danger
ought to be carefully avoided. It is a parti-
san movement and, worst Of all, partisan
movement of personal character.
II, when the present civil war was loom.
ing up before US, had cherished an ambi-
ton to attain the high position you have in
dicated, i should have adopted one of two
courses which lay open to me-aamely, Ell
ther to withdraw from the public service at
home to position Of honor without great
responsibility abroad, or to retire to private
life, and, avoiding the eaprices Of fortune,
await the chances of public favor.
But deliberately took, another course. I
renounced all ambition, and came into the
Executive Government to aid in saving the
Constitution and the integrity of my coun-
try, or TO perish with them. 1t seemed to
re, then, that must necessarily renounce
all expectationof future personal advantage,
in order that the counsels might give to the
President in such crisis should not only be,
but be recognized as being, disintetested, 10y
al aRd patriotic.
Acting on this principle, shun no dan
ger and shrink from no responsibility. So
neither look for, nor, if it should be offered
to me, would ever hereafter accept any re-
ward.
The country Is TO be saved or lost by the
highest efforts of public and private virtue
before another Presidential election shall oc-
cur. If il shall be saved, as believe 1t will,
do not fear that my zeal in that great
achievement will be overlooked by the CRATE
full generations to come after Us. II, on the
other hand, it shall be lost, be who shall
study the cause Of the great ruin shall not
find among them any want of self sacrifice
on my part. could never consent, if funan-
imouBly called upon, to be President Of
division Of the Republic I cheerfully give
up my aspirations for rule in the whole Re-
public, as contribution to the efforts ns&S
sary to maintain it in its integrity 1.tu- y.
ly need add that it results from '.eSe sS.-I c,l-
Cumstsnces, that not only as(5o P'teI bs5aif
torily require, my friends, ~ nv nv name
you have written to mo- ulOP ~ ;h1sa .,-ts -
heuceforth and forevey4fom AlnOl .ls5. suose s y
whom thew look possible candidates los
I national 6istinst81s and prefermetts
Eery truly,5ours, VIZ. h. sEVAAD'