Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1862-02-27
THE NEXT PRESIDENCY.
A Letter from Secretary Seward


A Philadelphia Republican Club, having for
the object Of its organisation the bringing for.
ward Of Mr.. Stewards name in connection with
the next Presidency, that gentleman wrote the
following reply:
WASHINGTON Dec Is, 1851.
DEAR SIR have received the letter which
was addressed to me on the 9Th instant by you,
an oficer Of political association recently or
zsniked in Philadelphia.
You will excuse me, my dear sir, for what
may seem unkind or ungrateful in this reply
10 that communication, which has given me
some uneasiness, and which only fails to inhict
severe pain upon me because de not regard
the movement which it describes as one of
very considerable magnitude.
The club, as you inform me, have adopted q
resolution to exert themselves to secure NV
advancement to the Presidency Of the United
States, and this resolution is generously based
upon q high appreciation Of such public ser
vices az have hitherto attempted TO perform.
avail myself Of the good will of the club,
thus fatteringly manifested, to say, that
consider the proceeding a. one altogether un.
wise, and tending to produce only public evil
in q crisis when every possible path Of danger
ought to be carefully avoided. It is partisan
movement, and, worst of all, partisan move
ment Of personal character.
If, when the present civil war was looming
up before us, i had cherished an ambition to
attain the high position you have indicated,
should have adopted one Of two courses which
lay open TO me-namely, either to withdraw
from the public service at home to q position
Of honor without great responsibility abroad,
or to retire to private life, and, avoiding the
caprices Of fortune, await the chances of pub
lie favor
But deliberately took another course. I
renOunced all ambition, and came into the Ex.
ecutiye Government TO aid in saving the Con-
ffnRfio anA snk. ~r
perish with them 1t seemed to me, then, that
I must necessarily reno uncs all expectation of
future personal advantage, in order that tn q
esunsels might give to the President in suc d
crisis should not only be, but be recognised
ss being, disinterested, loyal and patriotic.
Acting on this principle, I shun no danger
and shrink from no responsibility. So /
neither lsok for, nor if it should be offered to
me, would ever accept any reward.
The country is to be saved or lost by the
highest efforts Of public and private virtue be-
fore smother Presidential election shall occur.
If it shall be saved, as / believe II will, I do
not fear that my zeal in that great achieve
ment viii be overlooked by the grateful gem
erstions 10 como after u.s. If, on the other
hand, il shall be lost, he who shall study the
causes Of the great ruin shall not find among
them any want Of self-sacrifce on my part. I
could never consent If unanimously called
upon, to be q President Of division Of the Re-
public. cheefully give up my aspira tions for
rule in the whole Republic, as contribution
10 the efforts necessary to maintain il in its In.
tegrity. hardly need add thstit result, from
these circumstances, that not only ask, bat
perenptoriiy require, my friends, in whose be-
half you have written 10 ne, to drop my name
hsneeforth and forever from among those 10
whom they looked as possible candidates for
national distinctions and preferments.
Very truly yours,
WILLIAM ii. SEWARD