Private and Confidential.
MY DEAR SIR:—I am
this morning in receipt of yours of the 26th as to the next Union nomination
for governor. Since General Cox's declination one or two persons, in a merely
casual way, have spoken to me on the subject. Your letter contains the first
and only serious suggestion of the sort I have received from Ohio. I therefore
do not wish to speak now decisively, or for the public. I will mention a few
things which strike me at first blush, one or the other of which will perhaps
end the matter.
Having been elected
by the Union people of the Second District to an office which they knew I
wanted, it would not be right to resign it without their approval. Again, I
would not go into the State Convention unless it was quite certain that I would
be supported by the delegates of Hamilton County. And, finally, I would not go
into a contest with any other Union man of Hamilton County for the support of
the delegation of that county. In short, nothing but the general desire and
approval of the party and its public men in the county would justify me in
consenting to leave the office to which I have just been elected.
I prefer you would
for the present keep this to yourself, with the understanding that I will write
you fully, frankly, and definitely when I am a little better informed in the
premises.
Columbus.
SOURCE: Charles
Richard Williams, editor, Diary and Letters of Rutherford Birchard
Hayes, Volume 3, p. 39
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