"NEW YORK, _Sept. 9th, 1855_.
"MY DEAR RICHMOND,--I expected to find you here yesterday on my return
from Lebanon, where I had occasion to go on Sat. But I suppose you
stopped at Albany.
"Since our conversation I have thought over the question of my running
for Atty. Gen. The ground you put it on--expediency for our friends,
without much prospect of success to me--is not one which makes it easy
for me to decline. I could not render that reason or, with such friends
as you, act on it while rendering another. Nor do I, in truth, care
much for any consequences I can conceive as resulting from defeat. But
I am worn from overwork. I have upon my hands now more than I can do
for the next six months. And if upon the ticket I shall be expected to
share in the canvass more than will be possible, and subjected to those
special annoyances that are peculiar to a candidate residing in this
city. I therefore greatly desire that you should make up the ticket so
as to let me off."
"NEW YORK, _Sept 14th, 1855_.
"GENTLEMEN,--Your letter appraising me that the recent Democratic
State Convention 'have signified their unanimous desire that the votes
of their constituents should be cast for "my" name for the office of
Attorney General,' has been received.
"In accepting their nomination thus tendered, I acknowledge my deep
sense of an honor, conferred by a convention in which was assembled
so much of remarkable and varied abilities, of political virtue and
personal worth, and enhanced by association with a ticket which, in
my judgment, will, if elected, constitute a working body, capable of
acting with unity, wisdom and effect, for a restoration of the honest
and wise policy indicated by the convention, and for _reestablishing
good government within this State_."
"With great respect, gentlemen, I remain,
"Very truly, yours, &c.,
"S. J. TILDEN.[23]
"_Messrs. John B. Miller,
"Wm. Cassidy, and
"Thos. O. Alvord,
"Committee, &c._"