Year: 1860

DEAR SIH--lt has become my agreeable
duty, as the presiding officer of the National
Unun Conventions which terminated its ses-
sion in this city last evening, to inform YOU
that YOU have received the nomination of that
body as its candidate for the office of Vice
President of the United States.


1t would be far beyond my power to convey
TO you AN adequate impression Of the intense
ardor and enthusiasm with which the nomin-
alton was made, without the formality of
ballot, your name was ON every lip, and was
adopted with loud acclamations, coming from
grateful and patriotic hearts.


State after State Wed with each other for
the privilege of rendering to you its tribute of
affectionate homage and admiration.


The high estimate of your valuable public
services entertained by the whole country, and
the universal gratitude excited by your yolun-
tary efforts as a private citizen to imbue the
minds of your countrymen with feelings of
love and veneration for the character ofWash-
ington, and respect for his example and teach
ings, were reflected by the Convention in
manner at once impressive, appropriate and
gratifying.


1t was believed, moreover, that the assoeia-
ton OF your name with that of John Bell, as
candidates for the highest offices in the gift of
the nation, would OF itself constitute an ire
sistibe appeal TO the patriotism, loyalty and
national spirit of the whole American people


In this season of discord and distraction, we
feel it to be "a paramount duty TO make an
earnest effort to revive sentiments of harmony
and brotherhood between the different States
and sections of our Union.


We were not ignorant Of your cherished
purpose to decline in future the cares and
honors of official stotion; yet we do not per-
nit ourselves to doubt that the same sentiment
of patriotism which your voice and example
have inspired in the hearts of others will
prompt you to yield to the call now made upon
you by large and respectable portion of your
countrymen.


have the honor to be, with high respect,
your obedient servant,


WASHINGTON HUNT


TO the Hon EDWARD EVERETT.


MR. EVERETT To HON WASHINGTON HUNT.


BosToN May 30 1860


My DEAR SIR have duly received your
letter of the lth, in which you inform me of
icially that the National Union Convention,
recently in session at Baltimore had done me
the honor TO nominate me as its candidate for
the office of Vice President of the United
States.


am deeply impressed with the manifesto
tion of the favorable opinion of the Conven-
ton, comprising as il did among its members
so many persons distinguished for public SER
vice, potrlotism, and intelligence, and fairly
representing considerable portion Of the
conservative feeling of the country. For the
great cordaity with which, as you inform me,
my name was proposed and deceived my
warmest thanks are due.


The grateful acceptance Of such n nOmina-
ton would under ordinary circumstances, be
a matter of course; but it has unavodably
been with me the subject of long and anxious
hesitation The grounds Of this hesitation
owe ii to the Convention, which has honored
me with this mark of its confidence, and to
myself, to explain, 10th as | am to dwell on
matters Of personal interest Of no importance
to the public


1t is generally known that have, for some
years past, retired from active participation in
political life, not, as hope have shown, from
Incidence or want of sympathy with my fellow
citizens in the pursuit of the great objects OF
social life The reasons ofmy retirement have
been more than once publicly stated, and beg
to repeat them here from my speech at the
+ Union meeting in Faneuil Hall, last Decem


did not suppose that anything could Occur
which would make me think it my duty 10 ap

pear again on this platform, on any occasion
! ofa political character; and had this meeting
been OF party nature, or designed to promot,
any party purposes, should not have beer
here. When compelled by the prostration o
my health, FIVE years ago to resign the distin
guished place which ! then filled in the public
service, i was with no expectation, nowish anC
no intention of ever again minglmg in the
scenes of public life ! have, accordingly, will
the partial restoration of my health, abstaines
from all participation in political action of an!
kind partly because have found more con
genial, aud, rs 1 venture to think, more use
iul occupation in seeking TO rally the affections
Of my countrymen North and South to tina
great name and precious memory which arr
left almost alone Of all the numerous kindly as
saciations which once bound the different sec
tions of the country together and also becausl
between the extremes Of opinion that hay,
long distracted and now threaten TO eonvuls,
the country, find no middle ground of practi