Year: 1874

10 tHe lDuOt1C Ill Is uOW uedIly IWo year.
since ceased to be State officer. During
this interval I have closely followed my pro
fession, taking no part whatever in public or
political affairs, and seeking no return to of:
fetal position. No man living has ever heard
me, directly or indirectly, solicit office; nol
can a single act of mine during the last two
years be pointed out which could reasonably
indicate that sought any office in this State
Notwithstanding my constant and studlouS
avoidance of politics, many friends have, from
time to time, expressed their desire that
should be candidate for the office of Cover
nor. Within the last few months a large
number of prominent gentlemen of the Re-
publican party have urged that candidacy
upon me as matter of grave and urgent duty
which I owed to the State as we'll as to my
political party. have laid before them my
reasons for not wishing to share in political
affairs at the present time, and have earnestly
endeavored to show them that others could
serve the public better than in the office OF
Governor.


Their judgment has apparently remained
unchanged, and / have, up to the present
time, simply maintained this position that if
the Republican party should, when duly as
sembled in State Convention, tender me its
nomination for Governor, I should not decline
it.


In that sense, and to that extent only, am
candidate now. / have not sought or de-
sired the office 1t is burden from which
shrink, and which shall take up only at the
unsolicited call of the best men of my party
as expressed in the coming State Convention


Such being my unvarying attitude toward
this question, 1 have, as think reasonably
felt no solicitude to repel adverse criticisms
or to deny or disprove charges made against
me for the purpose Of defeating my nomlna'
ton. have now lived in this State for nine
years, and for the last six years this commu
nifty has had full opportunity to note my per-
sonal character and to estimate my worth as
man and citizen. am one Of those who
still believe, amidst the fiercest storms of de-
traction, that an honorable and correct per-
sonal life is the best answer to all such charges
as are now hurled at me. Of this have con-
stant and touching evidence in the numberless
assurances which come to me from those who
are in strenuous political opposition to me, that
LllS Cllul SCo uO" NV ehN WV Nv
tempt to drag me down to the level of Others
whom 1 might name, are regarded by all
who know me as a temporary eXpedient tc
accomplish political end Personally, | am
wholly Indifferent to the charges recently
made against me. Those who care to examine
them will find them to be baseless, and those
who do not care to examine them are not OBJ
iects of anxiety to me. l am sufficiently an
egotist to firmly believe that no man who
knows me believes that am, in polite or pri
vate affairs dishonest man.


have yielded to the wishes of my friends
in this case, however, to the extent ofnow set
ting forth, briefly and emphatically, my an
swer to the charges which have recently been
put forth against me as candidate.


<rhe charges, 50 far as they have taken an
: answerabe shape, concern my actions as
member of various public boards or commits
sions from 1868 to 1872. During that period
! was, ex oficio, member of the financial
board, of the board known as the commits
sioners of the sinking fund, of the advisory
board Of the land commission, and OF the
board to take charge of the congressional lano
scrip for an agricultural college.


In connection with the 6rstnamed board
one of the charges most constantly repeated is
that 1 was specially responsible for the ap
pointment Of Mr.. Kimpton as the 6nanca
agent of the State in New York. Beyond
the single fact that Mr.. Kimpton was col
lege classmate of mine, there is not the slight
est ground forsuch statement. Mr. Kimp
ton came to this State without my knowledge
and without any reference to me or to any
employment by the State. had not seer
him nor communicated with him since leaving
colleue He hrnupht his own recnmmenda