The Indianapolis leader. (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1879-1890, 1881-10-08
BLAINE's ACCFPTAN CE.

The Letter of the Secretary to the Late
President Accepting the secretaryship.
PHILADELPHIA, Oct The Press tomorrow
will publish the letter of Secretary Blaine
accepting the tender of the State Depart
ment, made him by the late President Gar
field:
WASHINGTON, December %, 1850.
Ny DEAR GARFIELD-Your generous invitation
to enter your Cabinet as Secretary OF State has
been under consideration for more than three
weeks. The thought had really never occurred to
my mind until at our late conference you pre-
sented ii with such cOgent arguments in its favor
and with such warmth of personal friendship in
aid of your kind offer. | know that an early
answer Is desirable ana | have only waited wa long
and 10 make up my mind definitely and con-
clusiyely. / now say to YOU iii the same cordial
spirit in which you have invited me that ac-
1t is no affectation for me to add that make
this decision, not for the honor OF the promotion
ii gives in the public service but because think
/ can be useful the country and to the party ;
useful to you responsible leader OF the party
and the great head OF the Government. / am in
fiuenced somewhat, perhaps, by the shower of let
ters have received, urging me TO accept, written
me in consequence of mere unauthorized news
paper reports, that you had been pleased TO offer
me the place While have received these letters
from all sections of the Union, have been espe-
ally pleased and even surprised at the cordial and
New England where had expected to encounter
local jealousy and perhaps rural aspiration. In
our new relation, / shall give all that am and
all that | can hope 10 be, freely and
joyfully to your service. You need
pledge of my loyalty in heart ana in act. /
should be false to myself did i not prove true;
both to the great trust you cOnfde to me and to
your own personal and political features in the
present and in the future Your administration
confidence and pride Of the people, not at all
directing its energies for reelection. and yet com
pelling that result by logic of events and by the
imperiOus necessities of the situation. To that
most desirable consummatiOn i feel that next to
yourself. / can possibly contribute as much in
flUence any other one man. | say this not
from egotism or vain glory but merely as a deduc-
which have been at work in the country for five
years past and which have been significantly
shown in two great National Conventions.
i accept ii as one OF the happleSt circumstances
connected with this affair that, in alying my po-
litical fortunes with yours rather for the time
merging mine in yours my heart goes with my
head, and in that carry TO you not only political
support, but perso al and devoted friendship. |
can but regard 1t as somewhat remarkable that
two men of the same age, entering Congress at
the same time. Influenced by the same aims. and
cherishing the same ambitions, should never for
a single moment in eighteen years close the init
macy have had no misunderstanding or GOODNESS,
and that our friendship has steadily grown with
our growth and strengthened With our strength.
1t is this fact which has led me the conclusion
embodied in this letter For however much my
| would not enter your Cabinet If did not be-
lieve i'll you a man and love you friend.
Always faithfully yours,
JAMES e. BLAINE.