WASHINGTON, June 1,
1850
GENTLEMEN—I have
received, and perused with the most profound sensibility, your esteemed favor
of a late date, inviting me to designate an early day when I will partake of a
complimentary public dinner with my Democratic Republican fellow-citizens of
the city of New York and the adjoining counties.
I trust I suitably
appreciate the distinguished honor conferred by this communication, and,
although I cannot describe, I will not seek to conceal the gratification
experienced in its reception.
By the kind
partiality of my Democratic fellow-citizens, it has been my fortune to have
held a place in the national councils during a period more fruitful of interesting
and extraordinary events than any which has marked the history of our
government since the Revolutionary struggle; events which have transpired in
rapid and startling succession, almost rivalling in grandeur the dreams of
romance, conquering and subduing as well the opinions of the world as enemies
upon the field of battle, and transferring within the control of free and happy
institutions new States and Empires. But amid the most glorious fruition. that
a beneficent Providence ever vouchsafed to man, the country has been painfully
excited and unhappily divided, and communities and States, united in political
and social bonds, rejoicing in the same sacred recollections, and upheld by a
common destiny, have been arrayed against each other upon a subject which the
prophectic vision of the Father of his Country discovered would create and
foster sectional combinations, and against which he warned his countrymen, as a
fearful element of evil. From the commencement of this unholy struggle, I
determined, regardless of all personal considerations, to resist the tendency
of sectionalism in any and every form; and the approbation of my humble efforts
which you so delicately convey, assures me that I have but discharged a sacred
duty. I early saw that the subject was surrounded with consequences of fearful
import, and determined to meet the responsibilities which my station imposed,
according to my own sense of duty, and leave my vindication to a just and
generous people, when the war and din of excitement shall become exhausted, and
truth and reason shall resume their empire. Upon the great questions which have
formed so conspicuous a portion of our history, I have been associated and
acted with some of the purest patriots of the land; and, though surrounded by difficulties,
I have been sustained by confiding friends, and have neither faltered nor fled.
Those who will
approve the course I have pursued may trace it with little effort, and those
who would condemn will fortunately not be driven for proof to the inferences of
circumstantial evidence.
The institutions
under which we live are ours for enjoyment and preservation, and not for the
performance of questionable or desperate experiments. We occupy but a point of
space in the great current of time, and should transmit to our successors the
rich heritage which we have received and hold in trust for others—strengthened
and invigorated by the support of superadded numbers, and by the developments
of man's capacity for self-government, which time and free institutions cannot
fail to produce.
Should the political
or social bonds which unite this glorious confederacy of States be permanently
sundered, it might justly be denominated the second failure of man—more sinful
than that of our common progenitor, because preceded by no temptation; and more
fatal, because beyond the prospect of redemption. I have long regretted that I
was denied the benefit of free social intercourse with my friends in the
commercial emporium, by a remote residence and unceasing engagements; and I
embrace the opportunity, which your kind invitation has
presented, to meet
you as requested-proposing to do so on Monday, the 17th instant.
I am, gentlemen,
With high consideration and regard,
To Messrs. CHARLES
O'CONOR, CORNELIUS W. LAWRENCE, LEROY M. WILEY, FRANCIS B. CUTTING, ANDREW H.
MICKLE, ROBERT H. MORRIS, WILLIAM M'MURRAY, and others.
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