Year: 1860

NEW L oRk, May "A.


The following letter has been addressed by


Mr.. Seward, to the gentlemen of the Central
Republican Committee, who invited him to at
tend meeting for the ratification of the pro
ceedings of the National Convention


AuBURs May 2Ist 1860.


GENTS Il viii not affect to conceal the
.sensibility with which have received the let
tiers in which you and So many other respected
friends have rendered to me expressions Of re-
newed and enduring confidence. These letters


will remain with me as assurances in future
years that, although I was not unwilling To
swait even for another age the vin3icution Of
my political principles, yet that they DID nev-
erthclesS receive the generous support of ma
ny good, wise and patriotic men Of my own
time. Such assurances, however, made under
the circumstances now existing, derive their
priceless value largely from the fact that they
steal upon me through the cl,anni Is of private
correspondence, ard altogether unknown to
the world I on will at once perceive that
such expressions would become powerful TO
me- and justly offensive to the country, if
should be allowed to take part in any public
or conventional form of manifestation. For
this reason if it were respectful and consistent
for yonr own public purpose, I would have de


ayed my reply TO you until l could have had
an opportunity of making it verbally next
week, or Esy way to Washington, after coul-
plotting the arrangements for the repairs upon
my dwelling here, rendered necessary by ii re-
cent fire.


The same reason determines mc also to de-
cline your kind invitation to attend the meet
ing in which you propose some demonstrations
Of respect to myself while so justly consider
ing the nominations which have just been
made by the National Convention at Chicago.
At the same time it is your right to have
frank and candid expression of my own opin-
ions and sentiments on that important subject.
My friends know very well that while they
have always generously made my promotion
to public trusts their own exclusive care, mine
has only been to execute them faithfully so as
to be able at the close. OF the assigned time to
resign them into the hands Of the people with
out forfeiture of the public confidence. The
presentation Of my name to the Chicago Con
venton was their act, not mine. II may have
found them nnprepared. On the other hand
L have no sentiment ei:her of disappointment or
discomfort, for who in any possible case could,
without presumption, claim that a national
party ought TO choose him for its candidate
for the first Office in the gift of the American
people. l find in the resolutions of the Con
vention platform as satisfactory TO me as if it
had been framed with my own hands; and in
the candidates, adopted By it, eminent and able
Republicans, with whom have cordially CO.
operated in maintaining the principles embod-
led in that excellent creed | cbeerfully give
them a sincere and earnest support.


I trust moreover that those with whom l
have labored so long in that common service
in noble cause, has created between them
and myself relations of personal friendship un-
surpassed in tie experience of political men,
will indulge me in a confident belief that no
sense of disappointment viii be allowed by
them to hinder Or delay or in any way clnbar-
rass the progress of that cause to the consunl-
nation which is demanded by a prtriotic re-
gard to the safety and welfare of the country,
and the best interests of mankind.