Marshall County Republican. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1856-1878, 1864-03-31
Letter from Mr. Colfax.
= UoUsE OE KEPREsENTATIyEs, I
W XAsHINoroN Cry, March. 16. 1

NAsHiSofoNOtffr March, ~.
J. ". Eldridge, Esq and 4. Lrping Gould,
IEsQ.g a44g r,fl .f~sHt.f 8
y Dean SIEs: i received few weeks ago.
the resoldtion passed unanimously by the
delegates to tho Union State Convention
from the 9th District. of which meeting
you were Chairman and Secretary; and,
while desiring 1T. once to express my graf
itude for its declarations of unabsted con-
fidence. ana It's friendly congratulations
upon my election 70 the Speakership of
the 3Sth Congress. this reply has been de-
layod for more mature consideration Of .hs
desire. also expressed in the resolution,
that would accept another nomination
as Representative. aaa
1t is known to many valued friends
present at your meeting. that had inten-
ded two years ago % decline reelection,
and return to the qniet of my home as q
private citizen, aud that this determine
tion was only changed in consequence ol
the critical condition o: the District politi.
cally, from the absensc of so many thous.
ands Of its voters in the field. Successful
then, amid the gloom that. during that
fall. caused SO many adverse results to the
nominees of our cause. had expected fol
year past. now that the prospect of sue
cess seemed less hazardous. to surrender
at the end Of the present Congress the
trust so long eon6led to me. to whoever
might be tho choice Of our political friends
and return to the private life from which
the kindness and confidence OF the people
of the District called me SO many years
ago. 0ssn i.p tgs .
To represent District as populous aad
intelligent as ours in the councils of the ns
tion for ten years continuously. should fil
the measure OF any ones ambition; and to
receive q. each recurring campaign al
unanimous nomination. has made the deb
of obligation against me heavier than
could ever hope. by even the most faithful
and laborious service. and the most un,
swerying devotion to Principle. to Free
dom, to Duty, adequately to repay.
had felt averse to standing longer in
the way of other worthier ani abler citi
zens who might desire to be candidates
and had supposed. ere this. in view Of the
well known fact that did not expect to
be sgain before the convention for nom
nation. that some of them. at least. would
have been announced. But several of those
whom had inferred would present lhei,
names, have insisted that as o matter oI
duty. shoald yield my wishes to those
expressed in your resolution. le.i
81 After thorough reconsideration of the
\ r
ions. / feel that l ought not to desert my
post If my constituents insist otherwise
If in public life at all, prefer represent.
ing the 9th District, to which l owe SO
, much. to any other position in the Gov.
ernment; and yet cannot stand in the way
of others, If they are presented by their
friends for nomination. | write this note
therefore. to say that if. when the Con
vention meets. it shall appear that the res
olssion adopted so unanimously by your
meeting. was correct expression of the
views OF those who support. as do, tho
Union State ticket aud the Natio..al Ad.
ministration. 1 shall feel that duty TO prin
ciple and the cause will require me to ac
cept. But il any portion Of the District
desires the nomination of another. shal
most cheerfully carry out my original IN
tention: and. after supporting him with
zeal and flelity during the impending
canvass, return to the people at the end o
this Congress. the important and respon
sible trust. FIRST committed SO long ago te
my inexperienced hands. but unsoiled. a.
their msjorities have SO often reafirmed
by any unworthy deed.
$50 % oa Very truly yours.
/ asf1ainr y SCHUYLER CoLrix.