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MR. DICKINSON TO MRS. RIPLEY.

THE ORCHARD, February 5, 1860.

MY DEAR MRS. RIPLEY-Since we have been permitted the pleasure of seeing you, and making our acquaintance real, which was before quite too diplomatic for relatives of kindred sympathies, we desire much more than ever that you would visit us and since the ice is broken by our incursion to St. Lawrence, and the kind visit of your daughter and grandson here, we feel that the way is fully prepared for you to follow.

If you desire to see the classic valley of the Susquehanna robed in its best attire, the months of May and June will present it. We now hope to have you determine upon the visit, at as early a day as is practicable, and the precise time can be arranged afterwards.

Mrs. D. and daughter join in affectionate remembrance.

Sincerely yours,

D. S. DICKINSON,

MR. DICKINSON TO MR. ROGERS.

BINGHAMTON, April 12, 1860.

MY DEAR SIR-I am glad to learn that you will attend the Charleston Convention, for your presence there cannot fail to exert a happy influence upon conflicting elements and induce harmonious action. Circumstances indicate that my name will be before the Convention in connection with the nomination for President, and while I have full confidence in the excellent friends who have seats in the Convention, it is perhaps as well due to the occasion as to such delegates, that there should be some one for them to confer with, and to speak for me in such matters as may seem proper. The life-long friendship which has existed between us personally, and corresponding political views, suggest yourself as one to whom I can with propriety confide a trust so delicate and important, and you will oblige. me by discharging it-consulting from time to time with my brother, Judge Dickinson, who will be present, and such other

friends in the delegation or out of it as you may think proper, under the exigencies of the occasion.

I have been made a candidate with my own consent, but not by my own procurement or agency. I have not sought the Presidency, and, if tendered me, I will not decline it. I have not much faith in mere paper platforms, and their modern flexibility; but in my retirement I stand personally upon the platform of Cincinnatus-politically upon the federal constitution, and upon that wholesome Democratic constitution of it, both in theory and in practice, which secured in person, property, and political right, complete equality to all, and grants special favors to none and as earnest of my faith, I point to the records of a life of unusual activity in practical affairs, much of which has been spent in the public service. The past and present are the only guaranty I can give for the future.

I regard the Democratic party of New York as united in one body, in all great essentials of doctrine, and that whatever of conflict or schism now exists or has of late existed is to a great extent personal and temporary, and that with every true Democrat all such feelings must and will yield to a spirit of forbearance and mutual concession, and intestine broils be buried in oblivion, as the great battle over principles begins to rage in the coming campaign.

If honored with the confidence of the party in a station so responsible and commanding, it would be my highest ambition to build it up rather than to break it down; to ignore cliques and not create them; to foster unity and not division; to regard the fidelity of the present and the promises of the future, and neither look myself nor encourage others to look back to the history of former conflicts either personal or political or both, for the purpose of determining the present status of public men. I would have no friends to reward but such as the Democracy delight to honor, and no enemies to punish but the enemies of the Constitution.

In accepting the candidacy for such a station, I would give no pledges except such as give further assurance of the public good, and raise no expectations, public or personal, except such as are to be realized in letter and in spirit.

With the foregoing outline, I commend the whole matter to you, with such associates as you chose to summon, and au

thorize and desire you fully and freely to speak for me in the premises, and to say all that a high-minded and honorable man, standing in such a relation, and having due regard to its delicacy, ought to say to those who have a voice in the nominations, and all that those, of an equally honorable and delicate sense, standing in that relation would desire to receive.

Sincerely yours,

D. S. DICKINSON.

MR. DICKINSON TO MR. SPENCER.

BINGHAMTON, May 18, 1860.

MY DEAR S.-Your favor of the 14th is at hand. I thank you and all my friends for their exertions, but shall say no more until the business closes and is completed.

I am a tolerably keen observer of what is going on, and the reasons for it, and have withal patience and can bide my time. I do not regret the course I have taken. It has been in good faith for the purpose of uniting the Democratic party. If it prove unsuccessful, it will not be my fault. I have done all I could to give the power of the State into the hands of a single delegation. Now if they exercise it in the same spirit, there is hope for the future.

Yours sincerely,

D. S. DICKINSON.

Hon. J. C. SPENCER.

MR. DICKINSON TO MRS. WESTCOTT.

BINGHAMTON, June 23, 1860.

MY DEAR SISTER LUCIE-Your kind note of the 21st has just reached me, and I thank you for it, for I like to hear from you. It gives promise that dear Louise may be some better, and one from Mr. Stevens, of the 22d, represents that there is a decided and favorable change. I pray it may be so, but I fear that it is the mere glimmer of the light of life before it is finally extin

guished. Her face looked bright and cheerful, for one so pale and attenuated, and I shall have hope, but I would that it were founded in better reason. Oh, that she might be spared to us to die finally in her own dear home! It is, I assure you, a consolation to know that she has your affectionate and generous care, and that of others who love her, and that they are near and with her.

Very affectionately, your brother,

D. S. DICKINSON.

MR. DICKINSON TO MISS KNAPP.

[EXTRACTS.]

BINGHAMTON, June 24, 1860.

MY DEAR ELIZA—I returned from New York on Tuesday. I left Louise about as I described her in my last. Some days better, and others worse again, but, on the whole, no decided change, except, as I fear, the slow and sure decay of worn-out nature, which at no distant day must terminate fatally. Your aunt went to see her on Thursday, and returned last night.

July 13th.

Our dear Louise is no more. She expired to-day at twelve, as we have just been advised by telegraph. She was a pure and lovely being, and leaves many torn and bleeding hearts. We are all bowed in grief, although somewhat prepared for the painful intelligence.

July 15th.

I went yesterday to the Cemetery, and selected a beautiful place for our poor Louise. Her remains reached here yesterday by the express train, accompanied by your aunt Lucie, my brother John R. and wife, and other mourning friends; Mr. Birdsall was too ill to come.

The funeral will take place from the cottage at five o'clock. Rev. Dr. Andrews, who married them in 1836, will assist Dr Beach in the exercises, and make some remarks. Her death

overwhelms us with gloom and sadness. Thus, dear Eliza, the tendrils which bind me to earth are severed one by one. She

was as dear to me as my own daughters, and I loved her dearly, and she loved me as a father. She died in peace, and is happy. She remembered all her relatives by some tasteful present— generally a book. There is one for you, and also for Melissa, which I will send by mail.

Your affectionate uncle,

D. S. DICKINSON.

MR. BRECKINRIDGE TO MR. DICKINSON.

WASHINGTON CITY, June 29, 1860.

MY DEAR SIR-I beg you to accept my cordial thanks for your friendly letter of the 27th inst.

This nomination, as you may perhaps know, was neither sought nor desired by me. I would have much preferred many other gentlemen in both sections of the Union. Your own name would have been eminently acceptable to my State, whose people have long admired your personal and public character, while I could have supported you all the more cordially, from the pleasant intercourse we had in 1856. But the issue is made, and I must accept the position in which I find myself.

With good wishes and high regard, I am

Yours truly,

JOHN C. BRECKINRIDGE.

MR. FLETCHER WEBSTER TO MR. DICKINSON.

BOSTON, July 21, 1860.

MY DEAR SIR-I write merely to say that I have read your late great and bold speech with unalloyed satisfaction. A friend has just been in who said that he heard it, and it made me regret that I could not have been present, as he described it to me. This is certainly a time to speak plainly.

Yours always truly,

FLETCHER WEBSTER.

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