New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1862-03-01
MR.. SEWARD DECLINES THE NEXT PRESI
DINCY,

BIZ Seward, having been Informed OF the exist
enee Of Clob in Pbiadelt hia tie purpose OF which
was 70 nominate him for the rext Presidency, sen
the following letter to is President
WasHi.oTON Dee l6, 1861.
DEAR SIR: have received tie letter wbici va.
addressed to me on the 9Th met. by you, sn officer 81
Il polii al association ro' emily oreanized IN iiiia
de Ina.
ion will excuse me, NY dear Sir, for what may
seem unkud or upgrattful in this reply 20 that com
lnunicaiicn, which as gwen me sOuie uneatlness,
and which only tails 10 in1ict severe pain UPON ne
because do not regard TIE movement when IL de-
scribes as one Of very considerable magnitude
The Climb. az YOU inform me, have adopted ieeo-
luton 10 exert themselves to secure ny adYsLte-
m,nt 20 tbe Presidency Of the United States, s11
tins resolution is generously based upoD bgh a.
probation Of such public services ne have hlthsI'o
attempted 10 perform. c,-, 49,.
I wall myself of the good will Of the Club tnus
fatt.ripgly manifested 70 say that i consi' er The
proceeding as one altogether Use, ana tending ="
,roducs only hubble evil in Il cfls when every ps-
IDLE palh OF danger ought TO be carefully aNod' o.
ID lie q palisan movement and, worst oi All, pa IL
san movement OF d personal character
IT. when the present civil war Wa looming ul
bef re us lad cherished an AMBITION 10 attain ih'
high position you have Indicated, j should nave
adopted one of two courses whieD lay open 10 Mt
namely either 10 withdraw from the pubic ser'!es
~ home 10 position of honor without great rtspop-
b;itv abroad or 10 retire 10 private Ii e. aud avoid
iuQ tie caurices Of fortune, await The chances OF
public favor.
Bur | deliberately took another course. re-
pouuced all ambition, AID came into the ENscutlNc
Government TO aid ia saving the Constitution Hr1
the integrity of ny oOuntTy, or 10 IeTltb WIN th.h'
Ii seen..d 10 me tbeu, that | must necessarily re-
nominee all expectation Of future perfona advantage,
in order uat the cOunstis trat might give 10 toe
President IN such crisis should not only tie, but be
recognized as being, dlsiuteresied, loyal snd pa
tfiolic.
Acting on this principle, ] sbun no danger ana
shrink ron 10 responsibility. so neither look Tor
nor # IT should De Offered 10 NE, would ever here
after accept any reward.
The country il to be saved or lost by the highest
efforts OF public and private virtue before auolbel
pre.leeutil election shall occur. II IL slall Dc
sayed 10 believe il will do not fear that my res
in Tint great achievement viii be overlooked by toe
grateful generals us 10 come after us. ii, Oh the
oh-r hand Il shall be lost he who shall study tie
causes # tie great ruiz shall not find among lbel
ny want Of Gcii-saciiii,e ny part. could never
ci,seit il Bnauiuolely called upon, 10 be iresi-
dem a. division 81 tue Republic. che eriully slye
Up NV as;irltols f1r rule ~ the whole Republic
Ac,Atribglinu TO the Efforts ucccsaaIy 10 maintain
IN lie iutcp fiiy. bafdl' need add that It Iesuits
IRON these circulns stances that | not ony ark bat
percmptoriy require, my friends. In whose behalf
YOU have written TO me, - crop NY name Lenceiofh
ard forever from smOlg those 10 whom they look ss
possible candidates Tor national distinctions aud
pfeie.meuls. ....,,.,,
EeTs truly yo1f, WILLIAM ii. SEWARD