answer a letter, not intended
for publication, but expressing what I would do in the contingency
mentioned by him, as follows:

"What I would aspire to, in case public opinion should decide to
make me a candidate for President, would be to unite in co-operation
with the Republican party all the national elements of the country
that contributed to or aided in any way in the successful vindication
of national authority during the war. I would do this, not for
the purpose of irritating the south or oppressing them in any way,
but to assert and maintain the supremacy of national authority to
the full extent of all the powers conferred by the constitution.
This, as I understand it, is the Jacksonian as well as the Republican
view of national powers.

* * * * *

"You see my general ideas would lead me to lean greatly upon the
war Democrats and soldiers in the service, who have been influenced
by political events since the war to withhold support from the
Republican party.

"The true issue for 1880 is national supremacy in national matters,
honest money and an honest dollar."

Mr. Haskin gave, or showed, this letter to a New York paper, and
it was published. I expressed my opinion, but it was not one that
should have been made public without authority. The letter was
the subject of comment and criticism, and was treated as an open
declaration of my candidacy for the office of President. It was
not written with this purpose, as the context clearly shows. This
incident was a caution to me not to answer such letters, unless I
was assured that my replies would be treated as confidential. Yet
I do not see how a man in public life can refuse to answer a friendly
letter, even if his meaning can be perverted.

During the months of May and June I had a correspondence with John
B. Henderson, of St. Louis, in which he expressed his great interest
in my nomination. This resulted in a conference, which he advised,
with President Hayes. My reply was as follows:

"Treasury Department, June 23, 1879.
"My Dear Sir:--In compliance with your suggestion, I yesterday
mentioned to the President my embarrassment from the general
discussion of my name as a possible candidate for the Republican
nomination. The points I mentioned were how far I should commit
myself to a candidacy and what I should do to promote it, and second
whether, under certain circumstances, he would not, in spite of
his declination, become a candidate for re