The Shasta courier., 1867-08-03
McCallum's Letter.

MEssRs. EDITORS An article in to.day's
Union relative to my nomination for Secre-
tary of State was evidently written under
misapprehension of the facts and as have
never been officially notified of that nomina-
tion, and therefore had no opportunity to
answer publicly l trust you will give this
communication place in your columns.
Yon state correctly that / have declined
the nomination. | so stated to the Chairman
of the Republican State Committee several
days ago. The facts are these | was at no
time candidate for that or anv other State
office. Delegates called at my Office and pro.
posed to use my name in that connection.
and urged as reasons that certain Union
nominees would decline that, in fact the
nominee for Secretary of State had already
placed his resignation in the hands of the
Union State Committee, and that nv name
would be acceptable to that Committee. if |
was nominated that it would tend TO mite
the party. TO which | answered that nv
name could be used for that purpose, but
not for any other. did not ask the nomina.
tlon, nor dld L make any promise or pied ge
to not decline it but did consent to il in the
single view stated. | was not present at
any caucus, nor was | in the Convention on
the day when the nominations were made
nave never entertained any doubt that
the gentlemen who conferred this honor had
tor their leading object the success of the
Union party-that their object was to unite.
not 70 divide, the party, as stated bv the
Chairman VIE the Convention was organ
lied. In this view, | would take this nv
first opportunity to return my sincere thanks
for the honor conferred | regarded these
nominations merely as Indicating to the
Union State Committee such persons as
would be acceptable to those who were dis.
affected by the action of the Union State
Convention, 1t being then understood that
certain changes would be made accordingly.
This understanding, though apparently we'll
founded at the time. has proved totally in
correct. The four Union nominees proposed
to be taken off absolutely decline to with
draw, and the State Committee decline to ask
any one of them to do so.
L have never entertained or expressed the
purpose to run independent for anv Office.
nor as the candidate of a third party. am
a member of and support the Union party
have done so since its organization, and
believing that to be a candidate under such
circumstances would not tend to restore
harmony but to defeat the Union nominees
and elect the Democratic nominees in their
stead, have respectfully declined. With
out producing any evidence. you seem to
question my motive. May l not without
vanity appeal to my past record as some
evidence that you have done me injustice in
that respect.
/ do propose, as you say, to attend the ap.
pointments published in your columas.-
Then there will be an opportunity to give
some reasons for "the faith that is in me-"
which reasons, trust, will not be condemn
ed by any Union man before they are heard
l cannot but recognize the fact that disaffec.
ton exists, especially in this county. Were
it in my power, | would so revise the ticket
that it might be acceptable to all true Union
men. That power rests with the nominees
and the Union State Committee. With
them is the responsibility, and l shall abide
their action
J. G. McCALLUM.
SACRAMFNTo Jn1v Of 1867