Page:Life and Works of Abraham Lincoln, v6.djvu/102

80 SPEECHES [May 19

Reply to the Committee Informing Him of His Nomination for President by the Chicago Convention.

May 19, i860.

Mr. Chairman and Gentlemen of the Com- mittee: I tender to you, and through you to the RepubHcan National Convention, and all the people represented in it, my profoundc-.t thanks for tlie high honor done me, which you now formally announce. Deeply and even painfully sensible of the great responsibility which is in- separable from this high honor — a responsibility which I could almost wish had fallen upon some one of the far more eminent men and experi- enced statesmen whose distinguished names were before the convention — I shall, by your leave, consider more fully the resolutions of the convention, denominated the platform,* and without any unnecessary or unreasonable delay respond to you, jIr. Chairman, in writing, not doubting that the platform will be found satis- factory, and the nomination gratefully accepted.

And now I will not longer defer the pleasure of taking you, and each of you, by the hand.

Acceptance of Nomination as President.

Letter to George Ashmun and Others.

Springfield, III. May 23, i860. Hon. George Ashmun,

President of the Republican National Con- vention. Sir : I accept the nomination tendered irio. by


 * See succeeding pages.