_"Confidential._
"SATURDAY EVENING, _Sept. 9th, 1876_.
"MY DEAR GOVERNOR,--I had supposed, after what was said at
Saratoga, Tuesday and Wednesday, that our friends tacitly agreed
with me that the idea of bringing my name forward for Governor
should not be seriously entertained, and therefore I did not think
it necessary or becoming to take any further steps about. But I
learn, on my return from the North, from Mr. Manning and others,
that the project is assuming definite shape and may, unless at once
ended, be carried to a nomination.
[11] Mr. Horatio Seymour having refused to accept a nomination for
Governor to succeed Governor Tilden, Mr. Hand, a leading barrister
at Albany, was urged by Mr. Tilden and his friends to accept such
nomination.
"I appreciate how high the office is, and of what importance and
conspicuousness, and am sensible how much it is beyond anything to
which I could at present naturally aspire. I feel gratified that I
should have been thought of at all in connection with so great a
trust, and am especially proud that you should have deemed me fit
successor.
"The more I reflect, however, the more convinced I am that _it will
not do_.
"I feel certain that under the present circumstances my nomination
would be a mistake, and _know_ that it might be fatal.
"Aside from these public considerations, I have private reasons
which you would admit sufficient, if I could trouble you with them,
to prevent my acceptance of the nomination. I should deeply regret
it if these, in fact, interfered with the success of our party, but
I am sure such is not the case. I regard them as insuperable, and I
have written Mr. Manning a note, of which he can make public use,
declining to have my name used at the convention.
"I write this that you may first and at the earliest moment know of
my conclusion.
"Yours with the greatest respect,
"SAMUEL HAND."