Year: 1860

Convention, recently in session at Baltimore,
had done me the honor to nominate me as
its candidate for the office of Vice Presi-
dent Of the U lited States. a
+ l am deeply impressed with this mani
festation of the favorable opinion Of the
Convention, comprising as it did among its
members SO many persons distinguished for
public service, patriotism and intelligence,
and fairly representing a considerable por-
lion of the conservative feeling of the coun-
try. For the great cordially with which,
as you inform me, my name was proposed
and received, my warmest thanks are due.


The grateful acceptance of such noni-
nation would, under ordinary circumstan-
ces. be matter of course; but it has una
voidably been with me the subject of long
and anxious hesitation. The grounds of
this hesitation owe it 10 the Convention,
which has honored me with This mark of lis
confidence, and 10 myself, to explain, 10th
as | am TO dwell on matters of personal in
terest of no importance 10 the public.


1t is generally known that l have, for
some years past, retired from active partic-
ipaiion in political life, not, as hope have
shown, from incidence or want of sympathy
with my fellOw-ciiizens in the pursuit Of
the great objects of social life. The rea-
sons Of my retirement have been more
than once publicly stated, and l beg to re-
peat them here from my speech at the Union
meeting in Faneul Hall, last December


Il did not suppose that anything could
occur which would make me think it my
duty 10 appear again on this platform, on
any occasion Of a political character; and
had this meeting been Of party nature, or
designed TO promote any party purposes,
should not have been here. When COIN
PEELED by the prostrailen OF nv health, five
years $50, to resign The distinguished place
which then filled in the public service, it
was, with no expectation, no wish and no
intention of ever again minging IN the
scenes Of public life. / have, accordingly,
with the partial restoration of my health,
abs,ained from all participation in political
action OF any kind; partly because | have
found more congenial, and, as | venture
10 think, a more useful occupation in seek
Ing to rally the affections Of my country
men North and South, TO tha. great name
and precious memory which are left almost
alone OF all the numerous kindly associa-
tions which once bound The different Sec
tions OF the country together; and also, be-
cause between the extremes Of opinion that
have long distracted and now threaten 10
convulse the country, l find no middle
ground of practical usefulness on which q
friend Of moderate counsels can stand"


1t having been suggested TO me, not
wihstanding these avowals, that l might be
thought Of, at the. Union Convention, as q
candidate for the Presidency. l requested
by telegraphic message and by letter, that
my name, if brought forward, might be
Withdrawn. 1t is true tnat in these CON-
municatiOns had only in view o nomina-
tion TO the Presidency, none other have been
suggested 10 me; but all the reasons above
indicated, which led me inadvance 10 decline
such nomination, apply with equal force to
the Vice Presidency. These, reasons, Of
course, still exist in unimpared force, and |
cannot now take an active part in politics
without abandoning a deliberately formed
purpose, and even exposing myself TO the
suspicion of insincerity in its persistent
avoWal.


Without dwelling upon these considera-
tions, Of which, however, | am sure the
weight will be admitted, beg leave 10 ad-
vert for moment TO my connection with
the movement Tor the purchase of Mount
Vernon, TO which you allude in such OBJ
iging terms. The favor which has attend
ed my exertiOns in that cause, (if | may
without indelicasy say anything on that sub
iect } has been the result of my known aud
recognized disconnection from party poll
tics. If it could have been even plausibly
insinuated that | was, or intended to become
candidate for high political hOnors, /
should, in my various excursions in aid of
that fund, have laid myself open to the i'm
putation of speaking one word for Noun,
Vernon and two for myself. As it is, the
people throughout the Union have gener-
Ously given me credit for having
single eye to that meritorious object. As
far as the purchase Of Mount Vernon is
concerned, that object has been effected,
under the judicious and efficient manage
ment of the Regent and Vice Regents of
the Association, with the aid of their active
and intelligent assistants throughout the
Union.


But sum Of money equal TO that already