The Saint Paul globe., 1898-03-06

FRIENDS AND FELLOW CITIZENS:
The period for a new election of
citizen to administer the execu-
tive government of the United States
being not far distant, and the time
Friends and Fellow Citizens: The period
for new election of citizen to administer
the executive government of the United
States being not far distant, and the time
actually arrived when your thoughts must
be employed in designating the person who
is to be clothed with that important trust,
II appears TO me proper, especially as 1t may
conduce to more distinct expression Of the
public voice, that l should now apprise you
of the resolution | have formed to decline
being considered among the number of those
out of whom a choice is to be made.
l beg you at the same time to do me the
justice to be assured that this resolution
has not been taken without strict regard
TO all the considerations appertaining to the
relation which binds dutiful citizen to his
country; and that in withdrawing the ten
der of service, which silence in my situation
might imply am influenced by no diminu-
tion OF zeal for your future interest, no de-
iciency of grateful respect for your past
kindness, but am supported by full con-
viction that the step is compatible with
both.
The acceptance of and continuance hith-
erto in the office to which your suffrages
have twice called me have been uniform
sacrifice of inclination to the opinion of
duty and to Difference for what appeared
to be your desire. | constantly hoped that
it would have been much earlier in my
power, consistently with motives which l
was not at liberty to disregard to return
TO that retirement from which | had
been reluctantly drawn. The strength
OF my inclination to DO this
previous to the last election had even
led to the preparation of an address to de-
clare ii to you but mature reflection on
the then perpleXed and critical posture of
affairs with foreign nations and the
unanimous advice of persons entitled to my
n
| rejoice that the state of your concerns,
external as well as internal no longer rem
ders the pursuit of inclination incompat. BILE
with the sentiment of duty propriety, and
am persuaded, whatever partiality may be
retained for my services, that in the pres
ent circumstances of our country you will
not disapprove my determination to re-
tire
The impressions with which first under
took the arduous trust were explained on
the proper occasion. In the discharge of this
trust | will only say that | have, with good
intentions, contributed toward the organiZa-
tion and administration of the govern
ment the best exertions of which very
.allible judgment was capable. Not uncon-
sciouS in the outset of the inferiority of my
qualifications, experience in my own eyes,
perhaps still more in the eyes of others,
has strengthened the motives to difIidence
of myself; and every day the increasing
weight of years admonishes me more and
more that the shade of retirement is as nee
essary to me as 1t will be welcome. Sat
isfied that If any circumstances have given
peculiar value to my services they were
temporary, l have the consolation to be-
lieve that while choice and prudence invite
me to quit the political scene, patriotism
does not forbid it.
In looking forward to the moment which
is intended to terminate the career of my
political life my feelings do not permit me
to suspend the deep acknowledgment of
that debt of gratitude which | owe to my
beloved country for the many honors 1t has
pODfprrpd still for the stead
fast confidence with which 1t has supported
me. and for the opportunities l have thence
enjoyed of manifesting my inviolable attach
ment by services faithful and perSevering,
though in usefulness unequal to my zeal.
If benefits have resulted to our country
from these services let it always be remem-
bered to your praise and as an instructive
example in our annals that under clrcum-
stances in which the passions, agitated in
every direction, were liable to mislead;
amidst appearances sometimes dubious; vi
cissitudes of fortune often discouraging; in
situations in which not unfrequently want
of success has countenanced the spirit of
criticism, the constancy of your support
was the essential prop of the efforts and a
guaranty of the plans by which they were
effected. Profoundly penetrated with this
idea, l shall carry 1t with me to my grave
= as a strong Indictment to unceasing VOWS
that heaven may continue to you the
choicest tokens of its benefcence; that its
administration in every department may be
stamped with wisdom and virtue; that in
fine. the happiness of the people of these
States, under the auspices of liberty, may be
made complete by so careful preservation
and so prudent a use of this blessing as will
acquire to them the glory of recommending
it to the applause, the affection. and adop
tion of every nation which is yet stranger
to it.
Here, perhaps, I ought to stop. But a
solcitude for your welfare which cannot
end but with my life, and the apprehension
of danger natural to that solictude. urge
ma on q sion like the fO ffpr
to your solemn contemplation and to rec
ommend to your frequent review some senti-
ments which are the result of much refiec-
tion, of no inconsiderable observation, and