Year: 1860

Your obedient servant,
WASHINGTON HUNT.


To the Hon. JoHN BELL.


JOHN BELL TO wASHINTON HUNT.
NASHVILLE May 2lst, 1860.
! Dear Sir Official information Of my nomination
to the Presidency, by the National Union Conyen-
ton, Of which you the presiding officer, was
communicated TO me by your letter of the til inst
at Philadelphia, on the eve Of departure with my
family for my place Of residence in Tennessee, and
difident, as | was, of my worthness | did not
hesitate TO signify my intention to accept the posi-
ton assigned to by that distinguished and patr-
otto body. But for convenience and under a sense
of the proprety of acting in grave a matter with
greater dcberation, concluded, as ! informed you
at the time by private note to defer formal ac-
ceptance until after my arrival at home.


Now, that have had all the leisure could de-
sire for reflection upon the circumstances under
which the nomination made, the purity of the
motives and the lofty spirit of patriotism by which
the Convention animated, as evinced in all its
proceedings, can appreciate more justly the honor
done me by the nomination, and though it might
have been more fortunate for the country had il
fallen upon some one of the many distinguished
statesmen whose names were brought to the notice
of the Convention, rather than myself accept it,
with all its possible responsibilities. Whatever
may be the issue of the ensuing canvass as for my
self, shall ever regard it a proud distinction
Zone worth lifelong effort to attain,) to be pro-
nounced worthy to receive the highest Office in the
Government at such time the present and by
such Convention that which recently met in
! BALTIMORE Convention far less imposing by the
number OF its members, large it was, thna by
their high character. In it men venerable
alike for their age and their public services who
could not have been called from their voluntary re-
tiremen from public life but by the strongest sense
of patriotic duty; Others though still in the prime
of rink nO with the first pnan ofth tha
by honors and distinctions already acquired in high
official positions State and National; many of them
statesmen worthy to fill he highest office in the
Government; n still greater number, occupying the
rank in their respective professional pursuits others
distinguished by their intelligence and well-earned
influence in various walks of private life; and all
animated and united by one spirit and one purpose
the result of strong conviction that political
system, under the operation of complication of fdis-
order is rapidly approaching crisis when speedy
change must take place, indicating, in diseases of
the physical body, recovery or DEATH


The Convention, in discarding the use of plat
forms, cXacts no pledges from those whom they
deem worthy ofthe highest trusts under the Gov
ernment wisely considering that the surest guaran-
ty of a mans future usefulness and fidelity TO the
great interests of the country in any official station
TO which he may hc chosen is to be found in his
past history connected with public service The
pledge implied in my acceptance of the nomination
VI VIZ .Natlbnhl mon NOiNtnliOn is lnHI SnOuu
be elected | will not depart from the spirit and
tenor ofmy past course and the obligation to keep
this pledge derives double force from the consid-
Grafton that none is required from me.


You sir, in your letter containing the official an
nouncement ofmy nomination, have been pleased
to ascrihc to me the merit of moderation and Justice
inmy past public career. You have likewise given
me credit for a uniform support of all wise and
henefcent measures of legislation, for firm resist
ance to all measures calculated TO engender section
al discord and for a lifelong devotion TO the union
harmony, and prosperity of these States. Whether
your personal partiality has led you to overstate
my merits MS public man or not in your enumera-
ton OF them you have presented SUMMARY
basis of all sound American StateSmanship. II may
be objected that nothing is said in this summary
In express terms of the obligations imposed by the
Constitution, hut the duty TO respect and observe
them is clearly implied for without the due obser-
vance in the conduct of the Government ofthe Con-
sututlon, its restrictions and requirements fairly
interpreted IN accordance with its spirit and objects
there can be no end to sectional discord--no secu-
rity for the harmony of the Union.


have not the vanity to assume that in my past
connection with the public service, have exempli-
fed the course Of q sound American statesman but
it have deserved the favorable view taken of it In
your ietter may hope by faithful adherence TO
the maxms by which have heretofore been guided,
not altogether 10 disappoint the confidence and ex
] 'N'NNN
sent relation TO the public and it. under PROVIDENCE


should be called upon to preside over the affairs Of
tins great country aS the Executive chief of the
Government the only further pledge feel called
upon 10 make is that 10 the utmost of my ability,
aud with whatever strength of will can command,
all the powers and influence belonging to my official
station shall be employed and directed for the pro-
motion Of all the great objects for which the gov
ernmcnt was instituted; but more especially for the
maintainence Of the Constitution aud the Union
against all opposing influences and tendencies.


cannot conclude this letter without expressing
my high qualification at the nomination to the
second office under the Government Of that emf
ncntly gifted aud distinguished statesman Of Massa-
chuscttS Edward Everett, gentleman held by gem
eral consent to he altogether worthy of the first


rendering my grateful Acknowledgements for the
Aihd ana complimentary remarks with which You
were pleased to accompany the communication Of
my nomination.


am, dear Sir, With the highest respect
lour Ubcdlent servant


JOHN BELL.