Year: 1860




NASHVILLE, May 81, 1860.


DEAR SIR: Official information of my nomina-
ton to the Presidency by the National Union
Convention, of which you were the presiding of
fcer communicated to me, by your letter of
the I1th instant. at Philadelphia, on the eve of
my departure with my family for my place of resi-
dence in Tennessee, and diffident as was of nv
werthiness, did not hesitate to signify my in
tention to accept the position assigned to by
that distinguished and patriotic body. But for
convenience and under the sense of the propriety
of acting in SO grave matter with greater delib-
Grafton, concluded, as / informed you at the
time by private note, to defer a formal accept
ance until after my arrival at home.


Now, that I have had all the leisure that
could desire for reflection upon the circumstances
under which the nomination was made the puri-
ty of the motives and the lofty spirit of patriot
ism by which the Convention was animated, ast
evnced in all its proceedings, can appreciate |
more Justly the honor done me by the nonina- |
ton; and though it might have been for
tunate for the country had it fallen upon some
one of the many distinguished statesmen whose
names were brought to the notice of the Conven-
tion rather than myself, accept 1t, with all its
possible responsibilities.


Whatever may be the iss1es of the ensuing can
vass as for myself shall ever regard it as proud
distinction-one worth lifelong effort to attain
to be pronounced worthy to receive the highest
office in the Government at such a time the
present, and by such Convention as that recent
ly met in Baltimore-a Convention far less impo-
sing by the number of its members, large as it
was than by their high character In it were
men venerable alike for their age and their pub
lie services. who could not have been called from
their voluntary retirement from public life but
by the strongest of patriotic duty; others,
though still in the prime of life ranking with the
first men ofthe country by honors and distinctions
already acquired in high official positions, State
and National many of them statesmen worthy
to fill the highest Office in the Government; a
still greater number occupying the highest rank





distinguished by their intelligence and we'll
earned influence in various walks of private life
and all animated and united by spirit and
one purpose the result Of strong conviction that
our political system, under the operation of a
complication of disorders is rapidly approaching
a crises when speedy change must take place,
Indicating, as in diseases of the physical body,
recovery death.
: The Convention, in discarding the use OF plat
forms, exacts no pledges from those whom they
deem worthy of the highest trusts under the
Government wisely considering that the surest
guaranty of a mans future usefulness and fdeli-
ty to the great interests of the country, in any
official station to which he may be chosen. is to
be found in his past history connected with the
public service The pledge implied in my ac-
ceptance of the nomination of the National Union
Convention is, that should I be elected, l will
not depart from the spirit and tenor of my past
course; and the obligation to keep this pledge
derives double force from the consideration that
none is required from me.


You, sir in your letter containg the official an
nouncement of my nomination. have been pleas
ed to ascribe to me the merit of moderation and
Justice in my past public career. You have like
wise given me credit for uniform support of all
wise and benefcient measures OF legislation, for
a firm resistance to all measures calculated to en-
gender sectional discord, and for lifelong de-
votion to the union, harmony, and prosperity of
these States. Whether your personal partiality
has led you to overstate my merits as public
man or not in your enumeration of them you
have presented a summary basis of all sound
American craftsmanship. 1t may be objected
that nothing is said in this summary, in express
terms, of the obligation imposed by the Consti-
tution but the duty to respect and observe them
is clearly implied for, without the due obser-
vance, in the conduct of the Government. of the
Constitution, its restrictions and requirements,
fairly interpreted, in accordance with its spirit
and objects, there can be end to sectional dis
cord. no security of the harmony of the Union.


have not the vanity to assume that in my
past connection with the public service I have
exempifed the course of sound American states !
man, but if I have deserved the favorable view
taken of it in your letter, may hope, by a faith
full adherence to the maXims by which | have |
heretofore been guided not altogether to disap- !
point the confidence and expectations of those |
who have placed mo in my present relation to the !
public and if under Providence, / should be |
called to preside over the affairs of this great
country as the Executive Chief of the Govern !
ment. the only further pledge | feel called upon
to make is, that to the utmost of my ability, and
with whatever strength of will can command,
all the powers and influence belonging TO my of
fetal station shall be employed and directed for
the promotion of all the great objects for which |
the Government was instituted. but more espe-
ciay for the maintenance of the Constitution
and the Union against all opposing influences
and tendencies.


7 cannot conclude this letter without express
ing my high qualification at the nomination to
the second office under the Government of that |
eminently gifted and distinguished statesman of
EDWARD EVERETT, gentleman
held by general consent to be altogether worthy
of the first.


rendering my grateful Acknowledgements for
the kind and complimentary remarks with which
you We're pleased to accompany the communica-
ton of my nomination, I am, dear sir, with the
highest respect, your obedient servant,


JOHN BELL.


To the Hon WASHINGTON HUNT


C0NGRESSEONAL.