WASHINGTON, November
1, 1851.
DEAR COOMBS [sic],—I received your kind and friendly
letter, for which I thank you. My position in respect to the senatorial
election is just this, no more, no less: At the instance of some friends in
Kentucky, I consented to their presenting my name as a candidate if they
thought proper to do so upon the meeting of the legislature and upon a survey
of all the circumstances. I thought I might go thus far without presumption or
giving just cause of offense, and yet I confess that I felt some reluctance to
do even that, because it might cross or conflict with the hopes and wishes of
good friends and cause some dissatisfaction on their part. Yet, having yielded
my seat in the Senate to obey the wishes of the Whigs of Kentucky in becoming,
at their bidding, a candidate for the office of governor, it seemed to me that
I might naturally and reasonably indulge the desire of being restored to my
former position; yet I did not make myself a candidate,—I left that to the
discretion and the will of others. From what I hear, I suppose they have
presented me as a candidate. I therefore desire to be elected; it is the
situation most agreeable to me, and a re-election would be felt as a great
honor. Still, I want nothing that cannot be freely awarded to me; I am not to
be regarded as a disturber of the party. Disturbance already existed so far as
it could be produced by the conflicting pretensions or claims of many
candidates, each one of whom is, to say the least, as chargeable as I am with
causing any controversy. But enough of this. I desire, of course, not to be
beaten, and I thankfully accept your proffered services and friendship. I hope
that you will go to Frankfort and take such part in the contest as you deem
proper. I never felt less like controversy. Wounded as I have been, I naturally
turn away from the battle like a bleeding soldier. My friends must act for me.
SOURCE: Ann Mary
Butler Crittenden Coleman, Editor, The Life of John J. Crittenden: With
Selections from His Correspondence and Speeches, Vol. 2, p. 19-20
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