The Jeffersonian Democrat. [volume] (Chardon, Ohio) 1854-1865, 1862-03-14

Secretary Seward and the Presidency

Secretary Seward and the Presidency.
An association was formed in Phila.
delpbia few weeks since whose designs
and object was to press the claim Of Wm.
II. Seward for the Presidency in 1861
Having informed Secretary Seward OF
that design, he wrote TO them the follow
ing letter. refusing 10 be considered among
the candidates for that position ..s'
WASHINGTON, Dec. l6, 1861.
DEAR Sra I'll have received the letter
which was addressed to me OH the 0sh
instant by you, an officer Of political
association recently organized in Phila.
delphia.
You will excuse me, dear sir, for what
may seem uhkind or ungrateful in .his re.
ply 10 that communication, which has
given me some uneasincss, and which
only Fails TO inaict severe pain upon me.
because do not regard the movement
which |, describes as one Of very consid-
cradle magnitude.
The club. as you inform me. have
adopted resolution 10 exert themselves
to secure my advancement TO the Presi-
dency Of the United States, and this res
olution is generously based upon high
appreciation OF such public services as
have hitherto attempted 10 perform.
| avail myself Of the good will Of the
club, thns hatteringly manifested, TO say
that | consider the proceeding as one
altogether unwise, and tending TO pro.
duce only evil in a crisis when every pos
sible path OF danger ought 10 be carefully
avoided. II is partisan movement, and,
worst of all, a partisan movement Of a
personal character.
| If,when the present civil war was
looming up before us, had cherished an
ambition to attain the high position you
have indicated, / should have adopted
one OF two courses which lay open 10 me
namely, either TO Withdraw from the
public service at home 10 q position o!
honor withou; great responsibility abroad,
or TO retire 10 private life. and, avoiding
the caprices o. fortune, await the cianc es
of public favor. a,
But deliberately took another course.
renounced all ambition, and came into
the Executive Government 10 aid in saw.
ing the Constitution and the integrity Of
my country, or 10 perish with them. Ii
seemed TO me, then, that l must neces.
sarily renounce all expectation Of future
personal advantage, in order that the
counsels might give 20 the President in
such crisis should not only be, but be
recognized as being. disin,eresied. loyal
and patriotic.
Acting on this principle. shun no
danger aud shrink from no responsibility,
So neither look for, nor. il il should be
offered TO me. would I ever hereafter ac-
cept any reward.
The country is TO be saved or lost by
the highest efforts Of public or private
virtue before another Presidential election
shall occur. II il shall be saved, as | be.
lieve il will, / do not fear that my zeal in
that great achievement viii be overlooked
by the grateful generations to come after
US. II, on the other hand, il shall oe lost.
he who shall study the cause Of the great
ruin shall not find among them any want
Of seif.sacrifice on my part. l could
never consent. .if unanimously called upon,
TO be a President OF a division Of the Re-
public. cheerfully give up my aspira.
lions for rule iu the whole Republic, as a
contribution to the efforts necessary TO
maintain its integrity. hardly need
add that it results from these circum.
stances, that not only ask, but peremp.
torily require. my friends, in whose be-
half you have written 10 me, 10 drop my
name hencefortb and forever from among
those TO whom they look as possible can.
didates for national distinctions and pre-.
ferments. Very truly yours. .'
f t. s WM. ii. SEWARD. sL