lding themselves
behind a written combination to prevent the majority of the House
from prescribing rules for its organization. They have heard others
openly pronounce threats of disunion; proclaim that if a Republican
be duly elected President of the United States, they would tear
down this fair fabric of our rights and liberties, and break up
the union of these states. And now we have seen our ancient
adversary, broken, dispersed and disorganized, unite in supporting
a gentleman who was elected to Congress as an American, in open,
avowed opposition to the Democratic organization.

"I should regret exceedingly, and believe it would be a national
calamity, to have anyone who is a supporter, directly or indirectly,
of this administration, or who owes it any allegiance, favor or
affection, occupying a position of importance or prominence in this
House. I would regard it as a public calamity to have the power
of this House placed, directly or indirectly, under the control of
this administration. It would be, it seems to me, a fatal policy
to trust the power of this House to the control of gentlemen who
have proclaimed that under any circumstances, or in any event, they
would dissolve the union of these states. For this reason we would
be wanting in our duty to our God and our country, if we did not
avert such a result of this contest. I regard it as the highest
duty of patriotism to submerge personal feelings, to sacrifice all
personal preferences and all private interests, to the good of our
common country. I said here a few days ago, and I always stood in
the position, that when I became convinced that any of my political
friends or associates could receive further support outside of the
Republican organization, I would retire from the field and yield
to him the honor of the position that the partiality of friends
has assigned to me. I believe that time has now arrived. I believe
that a greater concentration can now be made on another gentleman,
who, from the beginning, has acted with me.

"Therefore, I respectfully withdraw my name as a candidate. And
in doing so, allow me to return my heartfelt thanks for the generous
and hearty support of all my political friends, and especially to
those gentlemen with whom I have not the tie of a party name, but
the higher one of a common purpose and sympathy. And if I can ask
of them one more favor, it would be that in an unbroken column,
with an unfaltering front and