Year: 1872

country must approve them OF the ballot
box In November. Before closing this
interview we cannot refrain from express.
ing also our high appreciation Of the hon.
orable manner In which you saw fit to
conduct yourself during the earnest can.
vass made by the Indiana Republican
COMMITTEE To assure your nomination.
While we cannot resist the impression
that fyou had consented to make per-
sonal efforts In your own behalf, such as
all candidates are permitted 10 make
without loss OF character or manhood,
your success would have crowned our
efforts, We are at the same time con.
strained to admit that the dlgnihed course
which you chose to adopt deserves greater
honor than could be conferred by any OF.
flee within the gift Of the American peo.
pie. We beg leave 10 reassure you ot our
gratitude for the patriotic services you
have rendered the country and Of our per.
sonal esteem and confidence,


Mr. Coltax replied that he was proud to
be the recipient Of such warm and earnest
friendship as that exhibited by the delega.
ton from Indiana and other States, and
so kindly expressed in Judge Dunny's
cordial remarks, He bowed 70 the decis.
ion Of the Convention without a murmur
or regret, and should prove hereafter as
faithful 10 the Republican creed In private
life as when he had been the standard
bearer Of the cause. He rejoiced that af.
ter eighteen years Of public lie, with all
his acts like the open pages Of a
book before the people, the worst
that was said Of lin at Phils.
delphia was that he had written a
letter stating his willingness and desire to
withdraw from official position, and had
afterwards consented 10 accept the re.
nomination If the party deemed best
This charge he could not deny, but he
had never written or said anything better
than Is found In the expressions OF that
much quoted letter. So much had been
said about 1t that, now the Convention Is
over, he felt that he had a right to tell
his home friends what his lips had been
sealed on heretofore, namely:


That It was not written nor intended for
publication. BE had expected to submit
the desire he felt, and which was express.
ed in 1t, to leading Republicans from
his own State and elsewhere when Con.
gress reassembled for their advice; but he
said he must add in Justice to the valued
friend to whom he wrote that the letter
was not marked confidential, and from
Its being on public question that friend
had an nnQuestionsble right to infer that
1t was not private, and therefore he justi.
ed him fully In printing 1t. When be de-
etded last November, at the appeal ofactive
Republicans from Indiana and other sec.
tions Of the Union that his denomination
or This retiracy was question which the
party should decide rather than himself,
he telt itwould be beimproper to electioneer
with any one on the subject, and he did
not. On thecontrary be told every dele.
gate he saw that his name ought not be
presented, If another could give greater
unity and certainty OF victory to the cause
he loved far better than political honors.
The Republican organization, whose
great deeds for liberty, humanity, Justice
and nationality during the past decade,
are unspproached by any political party
In any age, has other advancing steps ID
progress and reform to take before dis.
bandment or iurlough from duty. While
going himself, therefore, to the retired
list, without the slightest unkind feeling
towards any one who desired change in
the Vice Presidency, and wishing them
especially decisive victory in October in
our closely contested State, he should
join with them in November In cordially
supporting the tiChet OF Grant and Henry
Wilson for President and Vice President
of the United States.