To THE EDITORS -
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To THE EpIToRs


ASHLAND, September Is, 1874.


Gentemen-Since my nomination at Baltimore
in May las, by the Wing Convention, as a candi-
date for the Office Of President OF the United States,
have received many letters propounding to me
questions on public affairs, and others may have
been addressed to me which never received. To
most OF those which have reached me have re
Piled; but TO some have not, because either the
subjects OF which they treated were such as that,
IN respect OF them, my opinions, thought, had
been sufficiently promulgated, or that they did not
possess, In my judgment, sufficient Importance to
require answer from me. desire now to say 10
the public, though you, that considering the near
approach OF the Presidential Election, | shall
hsnceforward respectfully decline to transmit for
publication any letters from me In answer TO In
quiries upon public matters.


After my nomination, doubted the propriety,
as still do, of answering any letters upon new
questions Of public policy. One who may be a
candidate for the Chief Magistracy OF the Nation,


It elected, ought to enter upon the discharge OF the
high duties connected with that office with his
mind openland uncommtted upon all new questions
which may arise in the course Of his admnstra-
tisn, and ready to avail himself of ell the lights
which he may derive from his Cabinet, from Con-
gress, and, above all, from the public opinion
II, in advance, he should commit himself to in
divlduals who may think proper TO address him,
he may deprive the public and himself Of the bene
fit of those great guides. Entertaining this view,
II was my intention, after my nomination, to de-
cline answering for publication all questions that
might beypropounded Ito me. But, on further re-
hect on, it appeared to me that if imposed this ST.
lence upon myself, might, contrary TO the uni
fOIm tenor OF my lite, seem TO be unwilling frank
ly and fearlessly to submit my opinions to the
public judgment. therefore so far deviated from
my first purpose as to respond to letters addressed
to me, making inquiries in regard to subjects
which had been much agltated OF the answers
which | 80 transmitted, some were intended ex-
cusivey for the satisfaction OF my correspondents,
without any expectation on my part OF their being
deemed worthy OF publication. In regard to those
,xhc hov heau nYaa ted IN 10
ceptions and erroneous constructions have been
given to some of them which think they did not
authorise, which, at all events, were contrary to
nv Intentions.


In announcing my determination to permit no
other letters to be drawn from me on public al
fairs think it right TO avail myself OF the occa'
sion to correct the erroneous Interpretation OF one
or two of those which | had previously written.-
In April last | addressed to you, from Raleigh, a
letter in respect to the proposed Treaty annexing
Texas TO the United States, and have since ad-
dressed two letters to Alabama sPon the same sub
lect. Most unwarranted allegations have been
maCe that those letters are inconsistent with each
other, and, to make il out, particular phrases or
expressions have been torn from their context, and
meaning attributed to me which ! never enter
tanned.


wish now distinctly to say that there IS not
feeling, sentiment, or an opinion expressed In my
Raleigh letter to which do not adhere. | am de-
cdedly opposed to the immediate annexation of
Texas to the United States. | think it would be
dshonorable, might involve them in war, would
be dangerous to the integrity and harmony OF the
Union, and, If all these objections were removed,
could not be Effected according to any lnforma-
ton possess, upon just and admissible conditions


II was not my intention, in either OF the two let.
tiers which | addressed to Alabama, TO express any
contrary opinion. Representations had been made
10 me that was considered infiexiby opposed
to the annexation Of Texas under any clrcum-
stances; and that my opposition was so extreme
that would not waive 1t, even II there were &c.
neral consent to the measure by all the States OF
the Union replied, in my first letter to Alabama,
that personally had no objection to annexation.
thought that my meaning was sufficiently obvious,
that had no personal, private, or individual mo-
tives for opposing, as have none tor espousing,
the measure, my judgment being altogether ln-
huenced by general and political considerations,
which have ever beer the guide OF my public con-
duct.


In nv second letter to Alabama, assuming that
the Annexation of Texas might be accomplished
without national dishonor, without war, with the
general consent Of the States OF the Union, and
upon fair and reasonable terms, stated that
should be glad to see 1t. did not suppose that u
was possible could be misunderstood. imagined
every body would comprehend me as intending
that, whatever might be my particular views and
opinions | should be happy to see what the whole
nation might concur in desiring under the condl-
tions stated. Nothing was further from my purpose
than to intimate any change 0i opinion as long as
any considerable and respectable portion OF the
Contederacy should continue TO stand out IN opposi-
ton TO the Annexation Of Texas.


In all three Of my letters upon the subject OF
Texas. stated that Annexation was inadmissible
except upon fair and reasonable terms, II every
Other objection were removed. In speech which
addressed TO the Senate OF the United States
more than three years ago, avowed my opposi-
tion, for the reasons there stated TO the assumption
by the General Government, OF the debts ef the
several States II was hardly, therefore, to be pre-.